Kinesiology Grad Program Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Teaching Assistants

Kinesiology Grad Program Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Teaching Assistants

Faculty

Robert Catena, Gait and Posture Biomechanics Lab

  • Research Interests: human balance control, pregnancy fall risk
  • Current research questions:
    • Why is there a mismatch between actual fall events during pregnancy and postpartum recall of fall events?
    • What changes during pregnancy factor into increased fall risk?
    • How did gestation shape hominin bipedal evolution?
  • More information

Chris Connolly, Exercise Physiology and Performance Lab

  • Research Interests: triathlon safety, medical care of ultra-endurance athletes, optimizing triathlete training and performance
  • Current research questions:
    • What is the global incidence of severe in-race triathlon injuries, illnesses, and death?
    • What in-race competition and pre-race training factors predict the severity of these injuries and illnesses?
    • How are these injuries and illnesses being treated worldwide and are there common trends in optimizing care to increase performance?
  • More information

Anne Cox, Psychology of Physical Activity Lab

  • Research Interests: Physical activity motivation, body image, mindfulness
  • Current research questions:
    • How does being mindful during exercise impact the quality of exercise experiences, motivation, and body image?
    • What is the impact of movement-based intervention programs that incorporate mindfulness and self-compassion on adolescent girls’ psychological development?
    • How does practicing yoga support positive body image and physical activity motivation?
  • More information

Shikha Prashad, Cognitive Motor Neuroscience Lab

  • Research Interests: relationship between cognition and motor learning, brain dynamics of motor behavior, effect of aging and substance use on motor behavior
  • Current research questions:
    • What are the neurocognitive contributions to motor learning?
    • How does aging affect motor learning and how can we mitigate impacts?
    • How does cannabis use affect cognition, motor behavior, and brain activity?
  • More information

Judy Schultz

Sarah Ullrich-French, Psychology of Physical Activity Lab

  • Research Interests: physical activity motivation, physical activity for promoting wellbeing
  • Current research questions:
    • How does the context and experience of physical activity facilitate or undermine adaptive motivation for long-term adherence?
    • How can movement and physical activity be used as a mechanism for positive development and wellbeing?
  • More information

Tami Goetz

Krista Jones

Amanda McMahon

Phillip Morgan

Staff

Jason Johnson – Department admin support

  • Handles: department administrative tasks

Alex Garcia – IT support

Kelly McGovern – Graduate office manager and Graduate Applications

  • Handles: any questions involving  grad applications, the logistics of navigating the grad program and grad school
  • More information

Jeanne Therrien – Smith Gym and PEB manager

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Pia Richards

Samantha Schmidt

James Scott