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Dr. Samantha Moss

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation

(940) 369-7533

Email: Samantha.Moss@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Texas at Arlington, 2022
    Major: Kinesiology
    Dissertation: Reducing Disparities in Physical Activity and Early Child Development Systematic and Observational Approach

Professional Memberships

  • American Public Health Association. (2025 - Present).
  • Society of Health and Physical Educators of America. (2020 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Workshop, Research BREAKS - Understanding GRAMs and Pre-Award Processes, University of North Texas. United States of America. (September 11, 2025).
  • Seminar, Grant Planning for Wearable-based Research: Insights and Best Practices, Ametrus (formerly ActiGraph). United States of America. (July 30, 2025).
  • Workshop, Fall Faculty Grantsmanship Workshop, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (December 10, 2024).
  • Workshop, Grants Process Primer: Application to Award, National Institute of Health. United States of America. (November 13, 2024 - November 14, 2024).
  • Workshop, Find Funding Opportunities - Pivot Overview, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (November 12, 2024).
  • Workshop, Tenure/Promotion Workshop, College of Education, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (November 8, 2024).
  • Seminar, Texas Research and Evaluation Network for Development, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (October 29, 2024).
  • Workshop, Mentoring Luncheon and Faculty Speed Mentoring Session, Faculty Success, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (October 7, 2024).
  • Workshop, Talon Tidbits - Teaching Effectiveness, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (October 1, 2024).
  • Workshop, Responsible Conduct of Research Training, Institutional Review Board, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (September 25, 2024).
  • Workshop, Grant Development Workshop, College of Education, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (September 20, 2024).
  • Seminar, Land Use 101 for Increasing Physical Activity through Community Design, Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network. United States of America. (September 16, 2024).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • HLTH 2200 - Family Life and Human Sexuality, 1 course.
  • KINE 2050 - Sociology of Sport, 1 course.
  • KINE 3090 - Motor Behavior, 5 courses.
  • KINE 5860 - Practicum, Field Problem or Internship, 1 course.
  • KINE 5900 - Special Problems, 1 course.
  • KINE 5920 - Research Problems in Lieu of Thesis, 2 courses.
  • KINE 6910 - Independent Research, 2 courses.
  • PHED 1000 - Scientific Principles and Practices of Health Related Fitness, 2 courses.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 449/549 Motor Behavior, Spring 2024.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 380 Motor Control and Learning, Spring 2024.
  • Texas A&M University - Commerce, HHPK 350 Motor Learning and Control, Spring 2024.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 380 Motor Control and Learning, Fall 2023.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 250 Research Skills in Kinesiology, Fall 2023.
  • Texas A&M University - Commerce, HHPK 417 Measurement and Evaluation, Spring 2023.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 380 Motor Control and Learning, Spring 2023.
  • Texas A&M University - Commerce, HHPK 350 Motor Learning and Control, Spring 2023.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 250 Research Skills in Kinesiology, Spring 2023.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 449/549 Motor Behavior, Fall 2022.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 380 Motor Control and Learning, Fall 2022.
  • State University of New York at Cortland, EXS 250 Research Skills in Kinesiology, Fall 2022.
  • Texas A&M University - Commerce, HHPK 350 Motor Learning and Control, Spring 2022.

Directed Student Learning

  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Associations of Motor Ability, Balance, and Health-related Fitness among Adolescents," Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "The association of 24-hour movement guidelines adherence with mental health and academic performance among college students in post COVID-19," Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (2025).
  • Major Professor, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (2025).
  • Supervised Research, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (2025).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (September 10, 2024).
  • Supervised Research, "Association of Motor Ability, Physical Activity, and Health-related Fitness among Adolescents," Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (January 2025 - December 2025).
  • Internship Advisor, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (May 2025 - August 2025).
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (April 22, 2025 - April 23, 2025).
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Member or Grader, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation. (November 14, 2024 - November 15, 2024).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, "The Relationship between Social Cognition and Team Cohesion in Collegiate Athletes," Other - Outside UNT. (August 2023 - May 2024).
  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis Chair, "Relationships between Parental and Youth Physical Activity Behaviors and Perceptions," Other - Outside UNT. (September 2022 - April 2024).
  • Supervised Research, "The Effects of Sport Injury in Collegiate Athletes' Mental Health," Other - Outside UNT. (May 2023 - August 2023).

Awards and Honors

  • Supplemental Travel Award, College of Health and Public Service (formerly known). (2025).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Abstracts and Proceedings

  • Moss, S., Gu , X., Zhang, T. (2024). Associations between motor skills and neuro-psychomotor development in urban kindergarteners.. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 95, 4-47..

    • Journal Article

  • Gu, X., Moss, S., Zhang, X., Zhang, T., Greer, T.L. (2025). Effect of the virtual reality-infused movement and activity program (V-MAP) on physical activity and cognition in Head Start preschoolers.
  • Zhang, X., Moss, S., Wu, C., Keller, J., Gu, X. (2025). The whole day movement matters to executive function among college students. Behavioral Sciences.
  • Moss, S., Zhang, X., Taleb, Z.B., Gu, X. (2024). The associations of physical activity and health-risk behaviors toward depressive symptoms among college students: Gender and obesity disparities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 21 (4) 401. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
  • Moss, S., Zhang, X., Tamplain, P., Gu, X. (2023). Overweight/obesity and sociodemographic disparities in children's motor and cognitive function. Frontiers in Psychology. 14 2081.
  • Zhang, X., Moss, S., Gu, X. (2023). Disparities in physical activity and depressive symptoms among young adults in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Moss, S., Gu, X. (2022). Home- and community-based interventions for physical activity and early child development: A systematic review of effective strategies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (19) 19968.
  • Moss, S., Lind, E., McGinnis, P., Ferkel, R., True, L. (2020). Relationships among motor competency, perceived motor competency, and health-related fitness in college-aged males.
  • Rasberry, J., Zhang, X., Moss, S., Chen, S., Gu, X. (2020). Movement behaviors and health-related fitness among peripubertal adolescents: 2012 NHANES national youth fitness survey data. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 61 (7)
  • Xiang, M., Gu, X., Zhang, X., Moss, S., Huang, C., Nelson, L., Zhang, T. (2020). Psychosocial mechanism of adolescents' depression: A dose-response relation with physical activity.

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Undergraduate Research Methods, Motivation behind the methods: How to sustain your research agenda, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas Wesleyan University, United States of America. (2025).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Brandon, D. (Author & Presenter), Johnson, J.L. (Author), Button, A. (Author), Goodway, J. (Author), Moss (Author), Staiano, A. (Author), Webster, K. (Author), IMDRC annual meeting, Content Validity of the HOMErun Survey: A Parent-Reported Measure of Parental Support for Motor Skill Development., International Motor Development Research Consortium, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Brazil. (2026).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), True, L. (Author), Spring, K.E. (Author), Staiano, A.E. (Author), Webster, E.K. (Author), American Public Health Association 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo, Perception vs. reality: Comparison of parent-reported and objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time in young children, American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C., United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Vanhoose, K. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), West, A. (Author), Keller, J. (Author), Zhang, T. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America Annual Convention & Expo, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Implementing Evidence-based PA Strategies in Home Environments, SHAPE America, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. (2025).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention and Expo, Environmental Determinants of Physical Activity and Early Child Development - Findings from the Thomas L. McKenzie Research Grant, SHAPE America, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. (2025).
  • Gu, X. (Author & Presenter), Bao, S. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Zhang, T. (Author), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting, Examining physical activity, motor performance, and executive functioning among young minority children, ACSM, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).

    • Paper

  • Haque, S. (Author & Presenter), Henry, K. (Author), Saha, T. (Author), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Jobaidul, B. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Hyun, K. (Author), Lee, K. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Liegey-Dougal, A. (Author), Stephen, M. (Author), Csallner, C. (Author), European Conference on Computer-supported Cooperative Work 2025 Conference, What does it take? Developing a smartphone app that motivates older adults to be physically active, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, United Kingdom. (2025 - 2025).

    • Poster

  • Pegg, J. (Author & Presenter), Dunn, G. (Author), Dames, K.D. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Texas Chapter of American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Physical education as a determinant of adolescents' weekday activity behaviors, American College of Sports Medicine, Waco, TX, United States of America. (2026 - 2027).
  • Lovingood, A. (Author & Presenter), Webster, E.K. (Author), Brandon, D. (Author), Beets, M. (Author), Brewer, A. (Author), Dinkel, D. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Nauta, P. (Author), Parks, D. (Author), Rech, J.P. (Author), Sisson, S.B. (Author), St. Laurent, C. (Author), True, L. (Author), Zeng, N. (Author), Staiano, A.E. (Author), North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference, Parental screen usage and preschooler motor skill performance, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Montreal, Canada, Canada. (2026 - 2026).
  • Webster, E.K. (Author & Presenter), Brandon, D. (Author), Lovingood, A. (Author), Beets, M. (Author), Dinkel, D. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Nauta, P. (Author), Parks, D. (Author), Rech, J.P. (Author), Sisson, S.B. (Author), St. Laurent, C. (Author), True, L. (Author), Zeng, N. (Author), Staiano, A.E. (Author), North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Annual Conference, WHO 24-hour movement guideline adherence and motor skill performance in preschool-age children, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Montreal, Canada, Canada. (2026 - 2026).
  • Dunn, G. (Author & Presenter), Pegg, J. (Author), Dames, K.D. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Texas Chapter American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Physical education moderate-to-vigorous physical activity adherence and differences in fitness, cognitive function, and school day activity among adolescents, American College of Sports MEdicine, Waco, TX, United States of America. (2026 - 2026).
  • Dunn, G. (Author), Dames, K.D. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), University Research Day, Reliability and validity of postural stability assessment among adolescents, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2025).
  • Wu, C. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America Annual Convention & Expo, Built Environments' Impact on Adolescent Physical Activity and Executive Function, SHAPE America, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. (2025).
  • Jenkins, E. (Author & Presenter), Quintero, C. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), UNT Graduate Student Showcase, Investigating 24-hour movement behaviors and motor skill competency in preschoolers: The SUNRISE study, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2025).
  • Dunn, G. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), UNT Graduate Student Showcase, Motor ability, physical activity, and health-related fitness among adolescents, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (2025).
  • Oristian, S. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Transformations, Investigating mental health in injured and non-injured collegiate athletes, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY, United States of America. (2024).
  • DeAngelis, B. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Transformations, Relationships between parental and youth physical activity behaviors and perceptions, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY, United States of America. (2024).
  • Moss, S. (Presenter), Gu , X. (Presenter), Zhang, T. (Presenter), National Convention and Expo of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America), Associations between motor skills and neuro-psychomotor development in urban kindergarteners., Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America), United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Zhang, T. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) of America National Convention & Expo, Associations between motor skills and neuro-psychomotor development in urban kindergartners, SHAPE America, Cleveland, OH, United States of America. (2024).
  • Zhang, X. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting, Associations of movement behaviors and executive function among college students, ACSM, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Zhang, T. (Author), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting, The roles of home and neighborhood environments on childhood activity behaviors during weekend and weekday, ACSM, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Home- and community-based interventions in early childhood: A systematic review, SHAPE America, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2023).
  • Vanhoose, K. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Ghraizi, M. (Author), Guevara, M. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPERD) 99th Annual Convention, 24-hour movement behaviors and executive function during different phases of COVID-19: Obesity-related analysis among young adults, TAHPERD, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America. (2022).
  • Bao, S. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPERD) 99th Annual Convention, The longitudinal effects of movement behaviors on depression among college students, TAHPERD, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America. (2022).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Schuman, D. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting, Gender disparities in obesity-related behaviors and mental health during COVID-19: A repeated measures design, ACSM, San Diego, CA, United States of America. (2022).
  • Ghraizi, M. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Graduate Research Day, Obesity and physical activity profiles during COVID-19 and their associations with health-related quality of life, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2022).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Nelson, L. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Dose-response relationship of physical activity with cognition and classroom behaviors, SHAPE America, New Orleans, LA, United States of America. (2022).
  • Vanhoose, K. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Zhang, X. (Author), Taleb, Z.B. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Obesity and ethnic disparities in physical activity, tobacco use, and depression during COVID-19 pandemic, SHAPE America, New Orleans, LA, United States of America. (2022).
  • Jones, A. (Author & Presenter), Gray, K. (Author & Presenter), Ghraizi, M. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Undergraduate Research Day, Identifying environmental and social inequity in physical activity and childhood obesity among preschool-aged children, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2022).
  • Ghraizi, M. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Vanhoose, K. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPERD) 98th Annual Convention, The associations of obesity and physical activity with health-related quality of life among young adults during COVID-19, TAHPERD, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2021).
  • Vanhoose, K. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPERD) 98th Annual Convention, The effects of virtual reality exercise on mental health in adults: A systematic review, TAHPERD, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2021).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Build and Broaden: Conference on Social Connections to Promote Individual and Community Resilience in Post-COVID-19 Society, Ethnic and SES disparities in built environment: Impact on youth activity and behaviors during COVID-19, National Science Foundation, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2021).
  • Gu, X. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Zhang, X. (Author), International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC) 5th Annual Meeting, Effect of the virtual reality-infused movement and activity program (V-MAP) on physical activity and cognition in Head Start preschoolers, I-MDRC, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Graduate Research Day, Sedentary behavior, physical activity, and classroom behavior among preschoolers: Gender disparity exploration, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States of America. (2021).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Zhang, T. (Author), Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 42nd Annual Meeting, Health disparities and socio-demographic correlates among overweight and obese children and adolescents, SBM, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Moss, S. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Melton, M. (Author), Zhang, A. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with classroom behavior in preschoolers: A gender-based approach, SHAPE America, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Zhang, X. (Author & Presenter), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Effects of weight status and sedentary behavior on depression among young adults, SHAPE America, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Pham, S. (Author & Presenter), Shoaib, S. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Zhang, X. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention & Expo, Gender disparities in fundamental motor skills development during early childhood, SHAPE America, Virtual, United States of America. (2021).
  • Moss, S. (Author), Zhang, X. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Tamplain, P. (Author), International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC), Fundamental motor skills and cognitive function among preschoolers: Does weight status matter?, I-MDRC, Virtual, United States of America. (2020).
  • Corriddi, A. (Author & Presenter), Zhang, X. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Gu, X. (Author), Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Sport Medicine (TACSM), Assessing sleep, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity among college students, TACSM, Waco, TX, United States of America. (2020).
  • Zhang, X. (Author & Presenter), Gu, X. (Author), Moss, S. (Author), Annual Conference of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Sport Medicine (TACSM), Effects of weight status and sedentary behavior on depression among young adults, TACSM, Waco, TX, United States of America. (2020).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Fellowship

  • Oristian, S. (Principal), Moss, S. (Supporting), "Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship," sponsored by SUNY Cortland, Local, $2000 Funded. (2023 - 2023).

    • Grant - Research

  • Moss, S. (Principal), Gu, X. (Supporting), "Environmental Determinants of Physical Activity and Early Child Development," sponsored by Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America, National, $2000 Funded. (2021 - 2022).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Search Committee. (September 25, 2024 - Present).

Professional Service

  • Member, American Public Health Association. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Applied Measurement in Education. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, BMC Pediatrics. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Frontiers in Psychology. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Perceptual and Motor Skills. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Psychology, Health & Medicine. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal in Teaching in Physical Education. (2024 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. (2024 - Present).
  • Member, Society of Health and Physical Educators of America. (2020 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, American Public Health Association. (April 2025 - May 2025).
  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, Innovative Instruction Technology Grant Award from State University of New York. (February 2024 - March 2024).