Dr. Meredtih Sims is Professor of Dance and Dance Program Coordinator at Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in jazz dance from the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She earned her Master of Science and PhD in Dance Education through the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Sims is a certified K-12 dance educator. She is certified in Language of Dance Level I and Levels I and II of Giordano Jazz Dance Technique though Nan Giordano Certification Program. She has taught dance forms at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, Southern Indiana School for the Arts, and School for the Creative and Performing Arts. She formerly served as the Director of the University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble. Her choreography has been performed by Coker University, University of Kentucky, Centre College, Berea College, and School for the Creative and Performing Arts as well as commissioned by Contemporary Dance Louisville and Movement Continuum. She has presented research and dance concepts for the National Dance Education Organization; American College Dance Association; South Carolina Dance Association; South Carolina Theatre Association; the Society of Health and Physical Educators (formerly AAHPERD) as well as the Kentucky and South Carolina state affiliates and Southeast Region. 

At Coker University, she serves as the faculty advisor for Delta Eta Pi National Dance Honor Society, of which she is on the National Dance Society’s Advisory Board. She served on the writing team for the 2017 South Carolina Visual and Performing Arts Academic Dance Standards. Her research has been published in the Journal of Dance Education, Research in Dance Education, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Science, and Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She currently serves on the editorial review board for the Journal of Dance Education, Research in Dance Education, and National Dance Society Journal. Dr. Sims is a founding member of the South Carolina Dance Education Network which provides professional development opportunities for dance educators throughout the state. 

Dr. Sims is the recipient of the 2017 and 2024 South Carolina Dance Association’s Advocacy Award and 2018 recipient of the Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award from Palmetto State Arts Education for her continued dedication to dance education access in all of the state. She received the 2022 SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award for Coker University. Dr. Sims' areas of interest include jazz dance, dance pedagogy, modern, ballet, social/folk dance forms, dance science, and physical activity in dance.