Dr. Jane Katz, Educator, Author, National and world-class competitive and long-distance swimmer, was just recently selected as Top Educator of the Year for 2020 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the industry.
While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations and contributions to their communities. All honorees are invited to attend the IAOTP’s annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements. www.iaotp.com/award-gala
With over 5 decades of professional experience educating thousands of students about the benefits of water fitness, Dr. Katz has certainly proven herself as an accomplished professional and expert in the field. As a dynamic, results-driven leader, Dr. Katz has demonstrated success not only as a Professor at John Jay College in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics where she teaches fitness and swimming to NY City’s Police and Firefighters, but in every role she has ever held. Dr. Katz’s impressive repertoire of many different roles have included educator, aquatics innovator, published author, coach, mentor and entrepreneur. Her outstanding accomplishments have included being a member of the 1964 US Synchronized Swimming Performance Team in Tokyo, where Dr. Katz pioneered the acceptance of Synchronized Swimming as an Olympic Event. Her achievements as a Masters competitive, long-distance, synchronized and fin swimmer have earned her All-American and World Masters championships. From 1974-87 she was the US Masters Synchronized Swimming National Solo Champion. In 1989 Dr. Katz won gold medals in the Second World Masters Games in Denmark in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500-m freestyle.
Aside from her successful career as a Professor and Swimmer, Dr. Katz is a sought-after speaker and published author. After being injured in a car accident when she was rammed by a drunk driver, Her company, Global Aquatics (www.globalaquatics.com) was inspired and has since published over 14 books on swimming, fitness and exercising in the water. Some include: Swimming for Total Fitness and Your Water Workout, and produced several DVDs on swimming for fun and fitness. Dr. Katz also sits on the advisory board of Aquatics International magazine, is a member of USA Swimming’s Education Committee and has been a consultant to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports since 1981. In 2015 Dr. Katz launched WETs 4 VETS, a service for rehabilitating the mind, body and spirit of military veterans re-entering civilian life using holistic water exercise techniques. In 2007, Dr. Katz helped create the KARE (Kids Aquatic Re-Entry) Program, in cooperation with the Department of Juvenile Justice to help troubled youth learn life’s lessons poolside.
Dr. Katz earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education at the City College of New York, a Masters in Education Administration from New York University and both a Master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation for Aging and her Doctor of Education Degree in Gerontology from Columbia University.
The President of IAOTP, Stephanie Cirami, stated “Choosing Dr. Katz for this award was an easy decision for our panel to make. She is brilliant at what she does and contributed so much of her expertise, wisdom, passion and strength to educate others of the benefits of physical fitness and swimming. She is humble, gracious, her accomplishments are extremely impressive and we felt she would make an amazing asset to our organization. We are looking forward to meeting her at the gala and know we will be seeing more amazing things from this incredible woman.”
Throughout her illustrious career Dr. Katz has received numerous awards, accolades and has been recognized worldwide for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. For 2020 she is being considered for a feature in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine and is being considered for the Empowered Woman of the Year Award. Also for 2020 Dr. Katz, was selected as Top Educator of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) and she will be honored at their Annual Awards Gala being held at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Presidents’ Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. In 2012 she received the Distinguished Educator Award from City College of New York and was inducted into the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2011 she received the US Masters Swimming Fitness Award and the USMS June Krauser Communications Award, at the United States Aquatics Sports Convention and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009 Dr. Katz competed for the 13th time at the Maccabi Games in Israel and won 4 Gold Medals at the World Senior Games at Stanford University. In 2008 Dr. Katz won 7 gold medals at the Pan American Masters Maccabi Swim Championships in Argentina, and won the US Masters Swimming Short Course 200-yard Backstroke Championship in Austin Texas. In 2005 and 2004 Dr. Katz earned US Masters Swimming All American Status and was selected by Aquatics International Magazine as one of the 25 most powerful people in the world of Aquatics. Also, for 2004 Dr. Katz was named for the second time, Women’s Swimming coach of the Year by the City University of New York. She is noted as becoming the first woman to be admitted to the City College of New York Sports Hall of Fame and in 2000 at the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia, Dr. Katz was awarded the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur Certificate of Merit to honor her lifetime of dedication and contribution to the development of the sport of swimming.
Looking back, Dr. Katz attributes her success to her perseverance, mentors she has had along the way, especially her father who was a track and swim coach, and staying passionate in all her endeavors. When not working, she enjoys travelling, reading, and swimming. For the future, she hopes to continue to make a difference in her students as well as people’s lives any way she can.
For more information on Dr. Katz please visit: www.globalaquatics.com
About IAOTP
The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization who handpicks the world’s finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.
IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.
For More Information on IAOTP please visit: www.iaotp.com
