Dr. Lyras' curriculum vita

Dr. Alexis Lyras is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Sport Administration program. Lyras received his PhD and master’s degree in Kinesiology (Sport Management and Sociology) at the University of Connecticut, with the support from the Higher Education Scholarship for Sport Administrators, which is a program of the Olympic Solidarity of the International Olympic Committee. Prior to pursuing graduate studies he worked as a head basketball coach (Youth- Professionals) and consultant for national sport development programs in Greece and Cyprus. Lyras is the founder and the Principal Investigator of the Doves Olympic Movement, which is a theory-oriented sports initiative, inspired by the philosophy and principles of the Olympic Movement. The Doves Project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme and rests on the idea that Olympic education can be used as a useful tool to promote human development and social change. In practice, the Doves Olympic Movement created an interdisciplinary project that uses sports as a tool towards achieving the following educational objectives: (a) fundamental values and human rights, (b) global citizenship,(c) understanding and collaboration across cultures and diverse populations, (d) technological literacy, (e) healthy lifestyles and (f) conflict management and problem solving skills.

Educational Background

• PhD in Kinesiology (Sport Management and Sociology), University of Connecticut
• MA in Education (Sport Management and Sociology), University of Connecticut
• BA in Physical Education and Sport Science (with Top Level Coaching Certificate), University of Athens (Greece)

Teaching Areas

• Global Sport Management
• Sports for Peace and Development
• Organizational Theory
• Theory and Methods of Research
• Psycho-social Impacts of Sport and Exercise
• Educational Psychology
• Grant Proposal Writing

Research Areas

• Application of interdisciplinary approach to design, implement and assess the use of Olympism to promote human development and social change.
• Examining the impact of theory oriented sport interventions in cross-cultural tolerance, global citizenship, healthy life-styles, social perspective taking and collective efficacy.
• Examining the factors that promote and inherit holistic sport development (athletic performance and moral development).
• Structural, organizational and educational aspect in the coaching profession.

Honors & Awards

• Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Graduate School, University of Connecticut (2007)
• NGSA Scholarship and Leadership Award, University of Connecticut (2007)
• Received Higher Education Scholarship for Sport Administrators from International Olympic Committee (Worldwide selection-Extension for the second year of studies, 2002-2004)
• Scholarship from Cyprus Basketball Coaches' Association (2002)
• Received special award for the achievements of the national military basketball team at the World Basketball Championship at Beirut, Lebanon (2000)
• Runner-up for special achievement in sports award in the European Basketball Cup (2000)
• Cyprus "Coach of the Year" (1999)

Professional Activities

• Lyras, A. (2007). Social Responsibility in Sport Management. A symposium at the North American Society for Sport Management Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, May, 2007
• Lyras, A., Yiannakis, A., Kartakoullis, N., Kotziamani, E., & Loizou, C. (2006). Doves OlympicMovement: Organizational issues and psychosocial impact of a sport and cultural enrichment program on Cypriot youth. Presented at the 14th Congress of the European Association for Sport Management, Nicosia, Cyprus.
• Lyras, A., Yiannakis, A., Kartakoullis, N., & Loizou. C. (2005). Sports as a Medium for Personal and Social Change. Presentation at the 13th Congress of the European Association for Sport Management, Newcastle, England.
• Lyras, A. (2005). A global investigation of basketball coaches’ profession: Initial findings and future orientations. Presented at the 13th Congress of the European Association for Sport Management, Newcastle, England.
• Lyras, A., Brown S.W. & Radovic, Z. (2004). Educational issues in coaching: A global investigation of basketball coaches’ profession. Presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the Northeastern Educational Research Association in New York, USA.
• Yiannakis A., Kane G., Han J.Y. & Lyras A. (2004). Effects of physical activity on mood: A field experimental investigation. Presented at the Pre-Olympic Scientific Conference, Thessalonica, Greece.
• Lyras, A., Yiannakis, A. & Kartakoullis, N. (2007). Building a common future through sport and education. Grant awarded by the United Nations Development Programme ($197,619).
• Lyras, A., Yiannakis, A. & Kartakoullis, N. (2006). Doves Olympic Movement Summer Camps 2006-2007. Grant awarded by the United Nations Development Programme ($142,070).
• Lyras, A. Yiannakis, A., & Kartakoullis N. (2005). Doves Olympic Movement Summer Camp 2005. Grant awarded by the United Nations Office of Project Services ($64,500).
• Lyras, A. (2004). Multidimensional Sport Development: An investigation of the educational aspects and psycho-social impact of sports. Grant awarded from the Cyprus Research Foundation, Nicosia, Cyprus ($90,000).