2024 Keynote & Tutorial Speakers
Keynote Speakers:
Getting Involved and Staying Involved in Academic Research: Exploring the Impact of Exercise on Cognition in Older Adults
Dr. Amanda Szabo-Reed is a Research Associate Professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She received her B.S. in Movement Science and B.A. in Sports Management from the University of Michigan in 2007, her MS in Kinesiology in 2011, her PhD in Kinesiology in 2012 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her MS in Clinical Research in 2020 from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Szabo-Reed's primary research focus is investigating how lifestyle behavioral adherence, particularly to diet and exercise, influences mental/cognitive health with the aim of 1) examining moderators of cognitive change (i.e., self-efficacy, self-regulation, and physiological changes) and 2) improving cognitive and brain health to improve quality of life long term.
Adapting Physical Activity Measurement and Promotion Strategies for Individuals with Down Syndrome
Dr. Amy Bodde, a Research Assistant Professor with the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is a physical activity researcher focused on engaging community members and organizations to design and deliver healthy lifestyle interventions to people living with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Mr. Joseph Sherman, an ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and Mrs. Jessica Danon, an Occupational Therapist, work as Clinical Research Coordinators in the Division focusing on lifestyle interventions for this population. Mr. Scott Quaife is a NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) Certified Personal Trainer and Health and Wellness Coordinator for Down Syndrome Innovations, a local community partner serving people living with Down syndrome across the lifespan. Dr. Brian Helsel is an Assistant Professor with the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Dr. Helsel’s research focuses on the measurement of physical activity and the impact of exercise as a strategy against Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome.
Female Athlete Monitoring
Jennifer Bunn is a professor and associate dean at Sam Houston State University. She has studied the performance of female athletes for eight years, with studies related to on-field/court performance, athlete wellness, the impact of the menstrual cycle on performance, and sex-based differences in sport. She has worked closely with Campbell University lacrosse for several years, serving as their sport scientist.
Dawn Easley is the head coach of women's lacrosse at Campbell University. She has pioneered the use of microtechnology in the sport and works to make data-informed decisions with her staff and athletes. She closely monitors the objective and subjective data from her athletes to help them reach their maximum potential.
Urogenital injuries and pelvic/perineal health in elite female cyclists
Dr. Olewinksi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville. She completed residency training in Family Medicine at the University of Colorado and Sports Medicine Fellowship training at the University of Wisconsin. Her clinical focus includes comprehensive primary care, including women’s health procedures, mental health, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Dr. Olewinski also provides comprehensive sports medicine clinical care, including concussion care, overtraining, overuse injuries, mental health in sport, and joint injections (corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid). Her personal athletic background is in ballet and rugby, and she is currently a competitive cyclist in road, track, and cyclocross.
Dr. Maples is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville. She completed her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and earned a PhD in Bioenergetics at East Carolina University in North Carolina. Currently, she co-directs the Physical Activity and Metabolism Lab in the University of Tennessee Medical Center and serves as the Director of Women’s Health Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Prevention Through Intervention: The Growing Science of Maternal Exercise and How It Improves the Health of Mother and Baby
Dr. Cody Strom is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Sport at the University of Southern Indiana. His specialty is in method design, metabolic testing, targeted metabolomics with mass spectrometry/liquid chromatography, and body composition with a specific focus in maternal and infant lipids, fatty acids, and body composition.
Dr. Alex Claiborne is a Postdoctoral Scholar at East Carolina University working under Dr. Linda May on many projects pertaining to Maternal Exercise. His specialty is evaluating the relationship of maternal exercise FITT-V (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, and Volume) with maternal and infant outcomes, while his laboratory work also creates a translational image of how whole body measures are reflected by changes at the cellular level.
Dr. Bree Wisseman is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island. Her specialty is assessing the effect of maternal exercise modes on maternal, infant, and pregnancy tissue health with specific focuses on markers of inflammation and global proteomics.
Dr. Linda May is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at East Carolina University. Her specialty is Maternal Exercise with child development, specifically as it relates to heart, body composition, and oral health measures. Her research lab has served as a stable foundation that has branched into many unique projects.
Tutorial Speakers:
The Personal Touch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Compelling Personal Statement for Graduate School
Kyra Noerr is an educator specializing in exercise science. She is an associate professor and founding program director at Franklin College. As a pre-health advisor, she assists students with their graduate school applications, guiding them through the challenging process. Her certifications include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer. She co-directs a dance camp for individuals with Down syndrome called Live Laugh Dance.
Steps to Success: Building a Professional Resume
Dr. Colleen Geary is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at The University of Alabama. She serves as the KIN-ES undergraduate internship coordinator, the Pre-PT & Pre-OT Society’s faculty advisor, and a mentor in the College of Education’s new faculty mentorship program. She has received the Excellence in Advising Award-Faculty from the National Academic Advising Association Southeast Region 4 and the Outstanding Academic Advisor (Faculty) Award from the University of Alabama.
Navigating the Mentor/Mentee Relationship: Seeking, Growing, and Maintaining a Mentorship and Your Responsibilities as a Mentee
Dr. Brian Kiessling is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Sport at the University of Southern Indiana. His research interests include student-led research, activity trackers and sitting time, and working with tactical populations as a member of the Indiana National Guard.
Gender-Inclusive Approaches in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Sport and Exercise Science Research, and Practical Applications
Dr. Jafrā D. Thomas is an Assistant Professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His work focuses on inclusion and gender identity issues in sport and exercise science research and practice. To learn more about his work, visit recent publications he has supervised or co-authored.
Dr. James W. Navalta is an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research includes inclusivity in sport and exercise, validation of wearable technology, and exercise in outdoor environments. He is a founder of the International Journal of Exercise Science.
Dr. Juliet Moore is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Ellison Institute of Technology, collaborating with the USC Division of Biokinesiology on the effects of diet and exercise on inflammation and metabolic response to high-intensity interval training. She promotes an inclusive lab space for LGBTQ+ individuals to learn wellness practices in a supportive environment.