Skip to main content
Intellect

National health association honors BYU director

The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recently recognized William J. Vincent, director of the General Education Wellness Program at Brigham Young University, with an Honor Award.

The award annually honors Alliance members’ outstanding dedication to the field. Recipients exemplify devoted service and have made noteworthy contributions to the advancement of health, physical education, recreation or dance. Roughly 10 Honor Awards are given each year.

Vincent completed his education at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1966 with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. After beginning his career teaching at a junior high school, he joined the faculty of California State University at Northridge as a professor and gymnastics coach, where he taught for 39 years. Vincent now serves as director of the BYU General Education Wellness Program.

In 1995, Vincent received the CSUN Distinguished Teaching Award for teaching excellence, and during his coaching career, his gymnastics teams won several regional and national competitions, including the NCAA Division II national championships, which his gymnasts won twice. He is also the author of four books and author or co-author of more than 70 articles.

The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a national organization designed to provide members with resources, support and programs to further the health and well-being of the American public, particularly within university communities. The alliance currently serves 25,000 members and has been in place since 1885.

For more information, contact William J. Vincent at (801) 422-0555.

Writer: Elizabeth Kasper

Vincent, William.jpg
Photo by Mark A. Philbrick/BYU Photo

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Wildflowers not wildfires: How BYU and Provo City are helping to restore Rock Canyon Trailhead

July 10, 2025
At Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo, Utah, BYU researchers are fighting fires with flowers. By replacing a problematic weed called cheatgrass with wildflowers, students and faculty are working to protect and restore one of Provo’s most popular hiking spots.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildfires in residential areas are on the rise; why hydrants and the water system behind them were never meant to stop those fires

July 01, 2025
BYU professor Rob Sowby teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability. He has particular expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of public water systems. That expertise has been increasingly important (and regularly sought out) in the wake of apocalyptic wildfires that have taxed those public water systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Meet the BYU math student helping make wildfire predictions faster and smarter

June 25, 2025
Using machine learning and math, a BYU student improved a key tool firefighters rely on during wildfire season
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=