Gems publishes, presents, receives award

Gerald Gems, North Central College professor of health and physical education, published a chapter, article and book review; delivered presentations; and received a service award from the North American Society for Sport History.

His chapter, titled “Sport in the United States,” was published in a book edited by Claude Sobry and titled “Sports Governance in the World: A Socio-Historic Approach.” (Paris: Editions Le Manuscrit Press)

Gems gave a presentation titled “Sport and Acculturation in Chicago” at the Monarch Landing Independent Living Home in Naperville on April 17. Some 100 people attended.

His review of the book, “The Enduring Legacy of the Detroit Athletic Club: Driving the Motor City,” was published in the Spring 2013 issue of Michigan Historical  Review, a journal that features articles relating to Michigan’s political, economic, social and cultural history.

Gems’ article, titled “Past, Present, Future: The Cultural Power of Sport,” was published in the May 2013 issue of East Asian Sport Thoughts: The International Journal for the Sociology of Sport.

On May 27, he presented “The Urban Athletic Club: Crucible of Americanization” at the annual convention of the North American Society for Sport History (NASSH) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Also, Gems was honored with the NASSH service award for his contributions to the organization.

Gems has been a member of North Central’s faculty since 1988. He earned his B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University, his M.S. from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.