Joan Alice Whitby

Bio

Joan Whitby was born and raised in the state of Wisconsin. She was the youngest child of Robert and Theresa Whitby. Robert was a rural mail carrier in Fond du Lac County.

Joan graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Carthage College located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and attended graduate school at Arizona State University where she received her M.S. degree (1968) in Physical Education.

She was appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education at San Diego State College in August 1968. Joan received tenure and served on the faculty for 30 years. Her teaching areas of expertise were primarily in physical activity courses (tennis, badminton), including practicum activities in racquet sports and skill competencies in physical education. She also taught leadership in physical education and was a supervisor of student teachers. Joan published a practicum guide: Drills For Skills: A Manual of Tennis Drills, which was used in classroom practicum activities for racquet sports.

Ms. Whitby later took additional graduate courses at the University of Southern California (1973 and 1974) and at the University of Massachusetts (1983 and 1984), which enhanced her teaching skills.

Joan was a member of various professional organizations and served in various capacities. She served as Chair of a Committee and Conference Manager for the Western Society for Physical Education of College Women (WSPECW) in 1992. She was on the Executive Board of WSPECW 1994-96. Joan also served as a member of numerous departmental and college committees, including departmental scholarship and faculty search committees.

Joan retired as Emeritus Assistant Professor of Exercise & Nutritional Sciences in 1998 after a long and productive teaching career. She lived in La Mesa, California, a superb of San Diego. Joan kept in touch with her old friends at SDSU and enjoyed attending SDSU sports events, including Lady Aztec basketball games during retirement.

Joan Alice Whitby passed away in May of 2005 at the age of 67.

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