Lacy Alexander’s research utilizes the human cutaneous circulation to examine the underlying signaling mechanisms mediating microvascular dysfunction in diseases, as well as the influence of drug-interventions.
Associate Teaching Professor
HHD Faculty Council Chair 2024-25
Summary Statement
Jonna Belanger is a National Paralympic Athletics Classifier, and her research interests have been focused on increasing sport opportunities for youth with disabilities within interscholastic sports.
Visiting Teaching Professor, History and Philosophy of Sport
Summary Statement
Zachary Bigalke’s research focuses on the intersection of sport and identity formation, with a focus on the use of international tournaments to integrate immigrant athletes into national communities and the use of sport to reinforce local and regional identities.
Danielle specializes in physical activity and health promotion across the lifespan with focuses in Physical Education and Health Education Pedagogy and Curriculum Design.
Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology and Physiology
Summary Statement
Mary Jane De Souza specializes in the etiology of and treatment of the Female Athlete Triad, skeletal health in exercising women and athletes, reproductive endocrinology of menstrual disorders in exercising women, and RCTs of increased food intake in exercising wome
Teaching Professor
Director, Master of Human Performance Sciences Program
Summary Statement
Brad lives at the intersection of elite sport performance and science, emphasizing comprehensive training theory for world class competitors. He has coached 21 Olympic and World Championship medals alongside 6 World Champions over his career.
Professor of Kinesiology
Graduate Program Director
Summary Statement
Jonathan Dingwell focuses on the biomechanics, dynamics and neuromuscular control processes that govern complex adaptive human movements with a primary emphasis on improving human health.
Professor of Kinesiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology
Summary Statement
Danielle Downs researches the motivational determinants of exercise among women and children, application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to exercise, and lifestyle interventions for women (preconceptional, pregnant, gestational diabetes).
Professor of Kinesiology, Affiliate Professor of History
Director of Research and Educational Programs for the Penn State Center for the Study of Sports in Society
Summary Statement
Mark Dyreson specializes in history of sport, social and cultural dynamics of human movement, race, ethnicity, and gender in sport.
Professor of Developmental Genetics and Evolutionary Morphology
Summary Statement
Robert Eckhardt's research is focused on the interaction of genetic and environmental influences on growth and development in human populations; musculo-skeletal structures are of primary interest.
Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Neurorehabilitation
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Kinesiology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Huck Institutes of Life Sciences
Center for Neural Engineering
Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Kinesiology
Summary Statement
Taewon (Tay) Kim employs behavioral and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying human motor skill learning, memory consolidation, and rehabilitation following unilateral impairments.
Professor of Physiology and Kinesiology
Director of Graduate Training Initiatives, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences
Summary Statement
Donna Korzick's research focuses on aging and cardiovascular disease risk using animal models; effects of estrogen deficiency on mitochondrial regulation of cell survival during myocardial infarction; PKC-dependent mechanism and oxidant stres
Scott Kretchmar's research interests include the metaphysics and ethics of games, play, and sport anthropological philosophy, in particular, the role of games and play in human evolution and theory of mind and the intellectual requirements of sporting activity.
Mark L. Latash's field of research interest is motor control defined as an area of natural science exploring how the nervous system interacts with other body parts and the environment to produce purposeful, coordinated actions.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology, Philosophy, and Bioethics
Summary Statement
Francisco Javier López Frías researches sports ethics and human enhancement, but is also interested in political philosophy, normative ethics, and applied ethics.
Jena Lucas-Ward is a Kinesiology Academic Adviser who works with students concerning their academic plans and progress, academic schedule, post-graduate plans and a broad range of academic matters.
Sarah, as the lead adviser for kinesiology, assists students in understanding college procedures and policies and helps connect students to campus resources. Her goal is to help undergraduate students achieve their academic, personal and career goals.
Gustavo Nader researches skeletal muscle growth control and adaptations to exercise. Ribosome biogenesis, transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of RNA Polymerase I.
Jennifer has been conducting exercise testing for ten years and has four years of experience as the lead Exercise Physiologist for a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation facility. She is currently pursuing her Ph. D. in Health and Human Performance.
James A. Pawelczyk's research is focused on neural control of circulation, particularly skeletal muscle blood flow, as it is affected by exercise or spaceflight.
Brooke works in communications and marketing for the College of Health and Human Development, specifically the Nutritional Sciences and Kinesiology departments. This includes contributing to the college’s social media, website, writing, and press coverage.
David N. Proctor studies the physiology of aging and exercise; cardiovascular responses to exercise; regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow; skeletal muscle adaptation; vascular adaptation.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Director, Center for Fitness and Wellness
Summary Statement
Melissa Rodgers is an ACSM-registered clinical exercise physiologist with experience guiding exercise and education initiatives for a variety of clinical populations who shares this knowledge with students through hands-on practical experiences in the classroom.
Jonas Rubenson's research aim is to identify the fundamental principles underlying muscle function during locomotion- in particular in vivo function during movement and the relationship between muscle mechanics and locomotor energetics.
Assistant Research Professor of Kinesiology
Physical Therapist for School of Theater
Summary Statement
Dr. Rudavsky holds a clinical, teaching and research position. She runs a physical therapy clinic for the students in the School of Theatre and teaches in the athletic training program.
Dorothy F. and J. Lloyd Huck Distinguished Chair in Kinesiology and Neurology
Director of the Center for Movement Science and Technology
Professor of Kinesiology and of Neurology
Summary Statement
Sainburg’s research is fundamentally translational, focusing on understanding movement control, coordination, and learning, and translating this information to clinical rehabilitation.
Tarkesh Singh uses a systems neuroscience approach to study the neural basis of sensorimotor integration, eye-hand coordination, and limb postural control in healthy individuals and patients with neurological disorders.
Sam Slobounov's research is focused on the neural basis of human movements with special emphasis on rehabilitation medicine, psychology and neurophysiology, including traumatic brain injuries.
Associate Teaching Professor
Athletic Training Simulation Learning Laboratory Coordinator
Summary Statement
Dr. Smith's focus in teaching, clinical and research activities is on the intersection of emergency medicine, sports medicine and public health with emphasis on patient safety, patient centered care, and health care policy and leadership.
Teaching Professor
Clinical Associate Professor of Kinesiology, and Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
Director, Professional Athletic Training Program
Director, Sports Medicine Clinical Research
Summary Statement
John L Vairo's research agenda incorporates an interdisciplinary approach to sports medicine focusing on health-related quality of life and human performance in physically active persons.
Assistant Teaching Professor
HHD Advisory Committee, Leadership Initiative
Summary Statement
John specializes in health and wellness promotion across the lifespan and he has experience working with a diverse group of clientele, from collegiate athletes seeking to enhance sport performance and prevent injury, to senior citizens working to improve functionality.
Teaching Professor
Program Director, Applied Exercise and Health
Summary Statement
Alison specializes in physical activity and wellness across the lifespan with focuses in Health and Physical Education Pedagogy and P-12 Integrated Fitness Program Design.
Nancy I. Williams' research is centered on physiological and behavioral underpinnings of interactions between energy balance, reproductive function, bone health and exercise performance.
Nathan Zechman specializes in strength and conditioning as a certified member of the NSCA with focuses in physical education and applied exercise and health.
