Matthew Lucas
Professor of Physical Education and Health Education

Dr. Matthew D. Lucas serves as a Professor in the Department of Health, Recreation, and Kinesiology.

Dr. Lucas holds an Ed.D. in Adapted Physical Education from the University of Virginia. He has worked for over 27 years in the field including ten at the elementary school level and over seventeen at Longwood University. He has created and runs three free sports/recreation programs for children with disabilities in the Farmville, VA area. The first program, Buddy Baseball/T-Ball was started in 2009. Two additional programs have been added, Buddy Bowling (2011) and Buddy Basketball (2015). Buddy Bowling was changed to Buddy Kickball in 2021. D​r. Lucas also serves on the editorial boards of five journals including an international adapted physical education journal, Palaestra. The journals also include three international special education journals, Journal of American Academy of Special Education Services, Special Education Research Policy and Practice, and the Journal of International Association of Special Education. In addition Dr. Lucas serves on the editorial board of the VAHPERD state health, physical education, and recreation journal, the Virginia Journal.

Dr. Lucas has published/co-published over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts in state, national, and international physical education, special education at the national and international levels, and adapted physical education journals and presented over 30 presentations at the international, national, state, and local levels. Dr. Lucas also has published an e-monograph/e-course with a major publisher on the inclusion of individualized education programs in physical education.​