Kathleen Howarth, who served SUNY Cortland for 15 years, retired on Oct. 2. She was designated professor emerita of physical education.
A native of England, Howarth earned a Certificate of Education in Physical Education from the Bedford College of Physical Education, Cambridge University Institute of Education. She received a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education from University of Sussex. Howarth obtained a Master of Education in Philosophy of Education from the University of Liverpool and a doctorate in physical education curriculum and instruction from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.
Howarth was an associate professor of physical education at the I. M. Marsh Campus of Liverpool Polytechnic for 17 years, from 1973-90, before moving to the U.S.
From 1967-75, Howarth played for the All England Women’s lacrosse team. In 1973, she was a member of the Great Britain Lacrosse Touring Team to the U.S. She was honored as an assistant coach for England Lacrosse in the World Cup in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1986 and in Perth, Australia, in 1989. She chaired the All England Women’s Lacrosse Association and served as secretary of the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse.
In 1990, Howarth was recognized by the London Times as runner-up in the administrator category as Sportswoman of the Year.
She joined SUNY Cortland’s Physical Education Department in 1995 as an assistant professor of physical education and was subsequently promoted to associate professor and, in 2006, to professor.
Howarth taught courses on The Physical Education Curriculum: Principles and Practice, Movement Education, Readings in Physical Education, Elementary School Physical Education Programs, and Tactical Concepts.
She performed administrative tasks for the Physical Education Department, including department coordinator and co-writer of submissions for the state and national reaccreditation process, and served on many personnel committees.