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Shawn Sorenson

Shawn SorensonShawn Sorenson is the Director of the Spirituality and Sports Program at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Sorenson received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University, where he was an academic all-conference long and triple jumper and assistant track coach. He subsequently spent five years as a NASA Space Shuttle engineer and program manager. At USC, Dr. Sorenson earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biokinesiology while establishing the Trojan Lifetime Champions health & wellness program. His research included the first study of lifetime health, exercise, and quality-of-life among modern competitive athletes. Dr. Sorenson promotes a whole person health approach that embraces interdependent physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, and welcomes the world’s diverse expression of faith, non-faith, and philosophical traditions. He also teaches ethical leadership as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Sorenson finds profound spiritual fulfillment through his lifelong love of nature.