Faculty
Genevieve Albouy, PhD
genevieve.albouy@health.utah.edu
HPER N, Room 258
REASEARCH INTERESTS: Modulating the neurophysiological processes underlying motor learning and sleep-related motor memory consolidation in order to optimize motor behavior in healthy populations.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Motor Behavior
Jason Armstrong, ACSM-EP, PN1
HPER N, Room 237E
REASEARCH INTERESTS: Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity Epidemiology, Exercise Programming, Exercise Instructor Training.
Yang Bai, PhD
(Office) 801-587-0482
HPER N, Room 204
REASERCH INTERESTS: Physical activity and fitness assessment and epidemiology, school-based youth activity and healthy eating promotion, validation of consumer and research activity monitors, and behavior change with technology.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Epidemiology, Physical Activity Epidemiology
Shelly Beck
(Office) 801-587-2741
HPER W, Room 120
TEACHING INTERESTS: EMS Instructor, EMS Ethics, Diversity, and Law, Anatomy & Physiology for Health
Tim Brusseau, PhD, FACSM, FSA, FAISEP
(Office) 801-587-7900
HPER N, Room 252
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Design and implementation of physical activity and health programs. Secondarily, the surveillance of physical activity as well as physical activity measurement issues.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Foundations of Health and Kinesiology
Ryan Burns, PhD, RFSA
(Office) 801-695-5035
HPER N, Room 237D
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Developing prediction models to estimate aerobic capacity in adolescents, developing optimal low back pain assessment in adolescents, cross-validating prediction models, modeling physical activity behaviors during physical education, and examining the efficacy of comprehensive school physical activity programing.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Design and Analysis, Application of Human Motor Development Across the Lifespan
Wonwoo Byun, PhD, MS, MA
(Office) 801-585-1119
HPER N, Room 205
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Investigating effect of physical activity and nutrition on various health outcomes. Physical activity, fitness, and sedentary behavior in relation to metabolic risk factors, obesity and other health outcomes. Developing and implementing interventions to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Physical Activity Interventions, Introduction to Research Methods
Adriana Coletta, PhD, MS, RD
(Office) 801-213-1362
HPER N, Room 237H
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Integrating principles from exercise science and sports nutrition across the cancer continuum to optimize body composition, physical function and conditioning, and improve related biomarkers linked with cancer risk and progression.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Exercise Physiology, Exercise in the Context of Chronic Disease
Chris Depner, PhD
(Office) 801-581-2275
HPER N, Room 245
Sleep and Circadian Physiology Lab
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Investigating how insufficient sleep and circadian disruption contributes to risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, with long-term goal of developing sleep and circadian based interventions that improve metabolic health.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Sleep & Circadian Physiology and Disease
Paul Estabrooks, PhD
paul.estabrooks@health.utah.edu
(Office) 801-587-6223
HPER N, Room 248
REASEARCH INTERESTS: Dissemination and Implementation Science—studying the process of moving health promotion evidence into community and clinical action. Integrated research-practice partnership processes to improve system supports for physical activity promotion, healthful eating, and weight control. Testing innovative health promotion programs, policies, and practice interventions that can be adapted and adopted in schools, workplaces, communities and healthcare clinics—and provide health promotion opportunities for populations experiencing racial, ethnic, or geographic disparities.
Jackie Farnsworth, MS
HPER N, Room 237E
TEACHING INTERESTS: Health and Diversity, Teaching Health in Secondary Education, Stress Management
Peter Fino, PhD
(Office) 801-213-1363
HPER N, Room 257
Neuromechanics and Applied Locomotion Lab
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Improving mobility during daily life in people with neurological dysfunction, particularly those with brain injuries. Using core concepts from biomechanics and motor control, my lab concentrates on functionally relevant balance that is typical during daily life.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Advanced Biomechanics, Instrumentation and Measurement in Movement Science.
Julia Franklin, PhD, CHES
julia.franklin@health.utah.edu
(Office) 801-581-7289
HPER N, Room 237J
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Resilience, disordered eating (from clinical eating disorders to obesity), and body image. Having studied eating disturbances and body image concerns in Division I athletes and examined the relationship between resilience and eating disorder risks in female college students.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Eating Disorders & Body Image, Introduction to Grant Writing, Program Evaluation, Health Program Planning II, Introduction to Research and Assessment, Program Planning.
Arwen Fuller, PhD
(Office) 801-581-7734
HPER N, Room 256
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Clarify the role of exercise in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and to discover and implement effective ways to enable positive behavior change for improving health and wellness.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity Epidemiology, Aging and Exercise
Phrashiah Githinji, PhD, RD
HPER N, Room 249
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Community-focused health promotion aimed at addressing modifiable risk factors, such as diet and physical activity, to prevent or delay the onset of chronic diseases in adults. This involves developing and optimizing culturally sensitive, theory-based, behavioral health interventions and leveraging digital technology to enhance reach, access, and effectiveness in improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Matt Haberman, AEMT
(Office) 801-581-3785
HPER W, Room 101
TEACHING INTERESTS: High-Angle Rescue Techniques and Theory, Advanced High-Angle Rescue Techniques and Theory, Swiftwater Rescue
Tanya Halliday, PhD, RD
(Office) 801-213-1363
HPR N, Room 202
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Appetite regulation, particularly in response to exercise, and development of interventions to improve weight loss maintenance and cardiometabolic health.
Connie Holder, MS, AEMT
(Office) 801-581-4512
HPER W, Room 103
TEACHING INTERESTS: EMT Training, EMT Recertification
Mukta Joshi, MS
(Office) 801-581-7630
HPER N, Room 237B
TEACHING INTERESTS: Biomechanics, Human Motor Development
Bradley King, PhD
HPER N, Room 253
Lifespan Motor Neuroscience Lab
RESEARCH INTERESTS: The motor system as a model to investigate the neuroplasticity underlying learning and memory processes across the human lifespan, with emphases on childhood and older adulthood. This research utilizes multiple motor learning paradigms as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess learning-dependent neuroplasticity.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Application of Human Motor Development Across the Lifespan
Joshua LaReaux, MS
(Office) 801-581-7809
HPER N, Room 254
TEACHING INTERESTS: Introduction to Coaching, Perspectives on Sport and American Society, Promoting Physical Activity in the Community, PE for Individuals with Disabilities
Jennifer Lehmbeck, PhD, MPH
jennifer.lehmbeck@health.utah.edu
(Office) 801-581-3481
HPER N, Room 237K
TEACHING INTERESTS: Human Sexuality, Health Program Planning I, Health Practicum II, Global Health Promotion, Prevention Practices
Anita Leopardi, MEd, CHES
anita.leopardi@health.utah.edu
(Office) 801-585-1081
HPER N, Room 237F
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Chronic disease prevention, health concerns of women, school and community health.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Healthy Lifestyles, Health Practicum I & II
Julie Lucero, PhD, MPH
(Office) 801-581-7558
HPER N, Room 237G
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Using mixed methods and Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Julie Lucero's research is centered on the identification of modifiable social determinants to reduce the impact of health inequities within marginalized populations. Lucero has been involved with CBPR projects in collaboration with American Indian, Hispanic and LGBT communities. These projects examined factors associated with substance abuse, mental health, positive youth development and service utilization.
Kerry Magiske, DNP, MS
HPER N, Room 255
TEACHING INTERESTS: Foundations of Health and Kinesiology, Exercise Programming, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology Lab
Matt Moore, PhD, CMPC
HPER N, 237A
RESEARCH INTERESTS: My research centers on the holistic development of athletes through the integration of psychosocial, psychospiritual, and emotional skills. I investigate how resiliency and mental flexibility contribute to both performance outcomes and personal development. By examining the role of coaching in cultivating these attributes, my work seeks to develop evidence-based frameworks that empower athletes to navigate adversity, promote holistic well-being, and achieve sustained success both within and beyond the sporting context.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Sport Psychology, Exercise Psychology, Stress Management, Applied Behavior Change, Sociology of Sport, Facilitating Healthy Behavior, Leadership in Sport and Performance, Motor Behavior.
Maria Newton, PhD
(Office) 801-581-4729
HPER N, Room 203
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Optimizing the experience and motivation of individuals in physical activity settings. In doing so, I have examined how both dispositional goals and perceptions of the setting influence such outcomes as anxiety, enjoyment, cognitions, and character development.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Foundations of Health and Kinesiology, Exercise Psychology, Graduate Seminar.
Katelyn O'Farrell, MS, ACSM-EP, NBC-HWC
801-585-7325
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Trauma-informed care, well-being, physical activity, women’s health, refugee health, lifestyle medicine, health behavior change, mixed methods
TEACHING INTERESTS: Health and wellness coaching, behavior change theory, fitness instruction, exercise assessment and programming, aging and exercise, exercise psychology, mixed methods research
Andy Rich, DiMM, FAWM, W-AEMT, AMGA Certified Guide
(Office) 801-581-3785
HPER W, Room 102
TEACHING INTERESTS: Avalanche Rescue Techniques and Theory, Swiftwater Rescue Techniques and Theory, High-Angle Rescue Techniques and Theory, Advanced High-Angle Rescue
Janet Shaw, PhD, FACSM
(Office) 801-585-5107
HPER N, Room 206
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Physical activity and women's health.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Aging and Exercise, Honors Thesis
Andrea Stark, MS
(Office) 801-585-5971
HPER N, Room 262
TEACHING INTERESTS: Exercise Psychology, Promoting Physical Activity in the Community, Motor Behavior, PE for Individuals with Disabilities
Chris Stratford, MS, BSN, RN, NRP
chris.stratford@health.utah.edu
(Office) 801-581-2305
HPER W, Room 123
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Prehospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest, basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, prehospital emergency care and emergency nursing care.
TEACHING INTERESTS: Advanced EMT, Meds, Drugs, and EMS, Pathophysiology for EMS
Kota Takahashi, PhD
(Office) 801-581-7558
HPER N, Room 237C
RESEARCH INTERESTS: Foot and Ankle Biomechanics, Locomotion Energetics (e.g., Mechanics, Metabolic, Thermal), In-vivo Muscle-Tendon Mechanics, Rehabilitation & Clinical Gait Analysis (e.g., Limb Amputation, Aging, Diabetes) Prosthetics, Orthotics, Exoskeletons, Footwear
Traci Thompson, MS, ACSM, HFD, CSCS
(Office) 801-585-7325
HPER E 217
TEACHING INTERESTS: Community Health, EMS, OSH, and Kinesiology Internships, PEAK Health and Fitness
