Jeff McCubbin Biography Legacies Project

Jeff attended East Stroudsburg State College in Pennsylvania, earning an undergraduate degree in physical education in 1976. With the disability rights movement of the 1970s, Jeff’s adviser at East Stroudsburg State introduced him to serving diverse populations and traditionally underserved communities, specifically focusing on their health and kinesiology. Jeff next earned a Master’s degree in Special Physical Education in 1977 from the University of Connecticut. In 1983 he attained a Ph.D. in exercise science/special populations from the University of Virginia.

In 1983, Jeff accepted a post-doc position at The Ohio State University. Shortly thereafter, Jeff assumed an Assistant Professor role at Texas Christian University in 1986. After two years at TCU, Jeff took a faculty position at Oregon State University in the College of Health and Human Sciences. During his 23 years at Oregon State, Jeff moved to an administrative role as the Executive Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Health and Human Sciences and became a University Distinguished Professor of Exercise Science, the first ever in his College.

After a national search in 2011, Jeff was selected by Colorado State University, to serve as Dean of the College of Applied Human Sciences, a role he served until his retirement in 2019. As Dean, Jeff oversaw re-branding the College from Applied Human Sciences to Health and Human Sciences in 2012. He helped lead CSU in the State Your Purpose Campaign, raising nearly $83 million in private support for the College. He also brought many updates and changes to the College’s communications, including a website redesign, allowing for more straightforward navigation and information sharing and improved accessibility for people with disabilities; increased communication with internal and external audiences, including alumni, donors, retirees, and faculty emeriti; and growth in social media presence in the college and its units. During his time, Jeff implemented a new budget model for the College with increased expectations in units seeking grant money and philanthropic support from donors and industry.

During his time as Dean, Jeff directed the transformation of several key College spaces, classrooms, and labs, including the building of the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising, the Nancy Richardson Design Center, the renovation of the Human Performance Clinical Research Lab, The Fermentation Sciences labs, including the microbrewery in the Lory Student Center, and the across-campus move of the Early Childhood Center to the Washington School. These new and expanded spaces helped elevate the College’s impact across campus and provided additional opportunities for faculty and students to learn, thrive, and flourish.

While serving as Dean, Jeff was passionate about increasing engagement with alumni, faculty, and students by launching several programs, councils, and projects. Pride points for Jeff include:

• Executive Leadership Council (ExLC) – In 2012, Jeff spearheaded the Executive Leadership Council , a group of valued alumni and friends representing each department and school. Celebrating ten years in 2022, ExLC members have helped transform and advance the goals of the College through community outreach, partnership development, and financial support.
• Legacies and Leaders – Along with a group of engaged faculty emeriti, Jeff helped to envision the Legacies Project to preserve the history of the College and strengthen bonds among active and retired faculty and staff.
• Deans Leadership Council – Caring deeply for students’ success and achievement, Jeff loved working with the Deans Leadership Council, a student organization in CHHS that works with the Dean’s office to encourage the forward growth of our students within our College.