Faculty Scholarship in 2025 Sought to Enhance Health, Quality of Life, and Human Flourishing
Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is home to top-of-their-field researchers who are consistently making academic contributions that seek to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing for all individuals and communities.
In 2025, researchers published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications. Below are examples from across the College, as well as a selection of grant-funded projects. These all support and strengthen the Robbins College Signature Research Initiatives. *Indicates Baylor student co-author
BEHAVIORAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES
ARTICLE: Relationship Stress and Sleep: Examining the Mediation of Social Media Use for Objective and Subjective Sleep Quality
in Journal of Social Media Research
by Mickey Langlais (HSD), Jennifer Bigalke (HHPR), and Jeremy Bigalke (HHPR)
ARTICLE: Interpretation Interrupted: Effects of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts on Visitor Perceptions of Interpersonal Programs
in Journal of Interpretation Research
by Christopher J. Wynveen (HHPR), Kelli McMahan (HHPR), Brooklynn J. Wynveen, W. Dale Connally (HHPR), and Katherine M. Lee*
FUNDED PROJECT: Pubertal Development, Stress System Functioning, and Addiction Vulnerability
Awarded by: National Institutes of Health
Award Amount: $952,264
Scholar: Elizabeth Kwon (Public Health)
CHRONIC DISEASES AND CONDITIONS
ARTICLE: A Multifactorial Lens on Risk Factors Promoting the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
in Brain Research
by Jenna Parker*, Jose M. Moris*, Lily C. Goodman, Vineet K. Paidisetty*, Vicente Vanegas*, Haley A. Turner, Daniel Melgar*, and Yunsuk Koh (HHPR)
ARTICLE: Frequency Importance Functions in Simulated Electric Acoustic Stimulation
in Ear and Hearing
by Yang-Soo Yoon (CSD), Naomi White, and Maddie Arsenault
FUNDED PROJECT: Walking and Talking and Flourishing: Optimizing Well-Being in Persons with Parkinson’s
Awarded by: The Parkinson’s Foundation
Award Amount: $11,000
Scholar: Barbara M. Doucet (Occupational Therapy)
HEALTH ACCESS AND QUALITY
ARTICLE: Evaluation and Development of a Novel Fire Barrier for Upholstered Furniture Enhancing Passive Fire Protection and the Mitigation of Chemical Exposure
in Fire and Materials
by Debra Harris (HSD), Patrick S. Chepaitis, and Marilyn Black
ARTICLE: Socioeconomic Disparities and Other Factors in Dyslipidemia: Insights from NHANES 2017–2020 Data
in International Journal of Translational Medicine
by Tanvir Ahmed*, Akhi Nath, Nusrat Jahan, Aakanksha Khadka*, Jaimala Kishore*, Ashley Farokhrouz*, and Rodney G. Bowden (HHPR)
FUNDED PROJECT: The Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on the Voice of Female Professional Voice Users
Awarded by: National Institutes of Health Award
Amount: $450,000
Scholar: Brittany Perrine (CSD)
(RE)HABILITATIVE SCIENCES
ARTICLE: Lower Extremity Prosthesis Usage Among U.S. Veterans: 10-Year Cohort Study
in Disability and Rehabilitation
by Roland J. Paquette (PA), Giselle Carnaby, Timothy Reistetter, Samuel Phillips, Owen Hill, Gustavo Almeida, and M. Jason Highsmith
ARTICLE: Intentional Grouping: Impacts on Cognitive and Social Presence in a Hybrid Classroom
in Journal of Occupational Therapy Education
by Bridget Scheidler (Occupational Therapy), Kelly Layne (Occupational Therapy), Marian Gillard (Occupational Therapy), and Barbara M. Doucet (Occupational Therapy)
FUNDED PROJECT: Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients with Neck Pain Likely to Benefit from Cervical Spinal Manipulation: A Randomized Trial
Awarded by: Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Award
Amount: $200,000
Scholars: Jessica Feda (Physical Therapy)
Awards and Honors
In 2025, many Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences faculty and graduate students were recognized for professional excellence and significant contributions in their respective fields. A few highlights include:
Faculty
Toby Brooks (HHPR): Recognized as the Best Performance Scientist and Coach in Texas by Best of Best Review
Jessica Feda (Physical Therapy): Appointed Chief Delegate of Minnesota’s American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates
Yunsuk Koh (HHPR): Elected Vice President for International Research Development and Collaboration of the International Organization for Health, Sports, and Kinesiology
Jay Yoo (HSD): Served as Chief Editor for the International Journal of Costume and Fashion
Students
Damilola Adekunle (Public Health doctoral student): Received the Student Award from the American Public Health Association s Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section
Lydia Valtadoros (Exercise Physiology master’s student): Received the FMS/Penaz Wesseling Travel Fellowship Award from the American Autonomic Society
ABOUT ROBBINS COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Established in 2014, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences seeks to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing for all individuals and communities through education, research, and innovation. It includes seven academic departments—Communication Sciences and Disorders; Health, Human Performance, and Recreation; Human Sciences and Design; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Physician Assistant Studies; and Public Health. Robbins College offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, 10 master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees, as well as nine graduate programs in partnership with the U.S. Army. Graduate programs in Robbins College are offered in a variety of modalities, including on campus, online, and hybrid.