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Baylor BU Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences Research Expert Directory
  • Signature Research Initiatives
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Expert Directory

Media inquiries should be directed to Maxcey Blaylock, Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Initiatives, at Maxcey_Blaylock@baylor.edu.

The Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is home to numerous top-of-their-field researchers, clinicians, and teachers with expertise in a vast range of subjects.

Browse the Expert Directory to learn more about the Robbins College faculty and their areas of expertise.


AGING & GERIATRIC HEALTH

Susan Blair, OTD, OTR, BCPR, BCG, CDCS

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Occupational therapy’s role in decreasing the risk of frailty developing in community-dwelling older adults through education
  • Multigenerational awareness in academic, community, workplace, and healthcare environments
  • Role of travel (with factors such as types of travel, accessibility, finances, occupation) in enhancing wellbeing in older adults
Kayla Collins, EdD, MOT, OTR

Research, Clinical

  • Healthy aging and wellness in older adults
Cory Dungan, PhD

Research

  • Examining the mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle atrophy and anabolic resistance with advanced age
Regine Rossi, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Using exercise to improve performance for daily activities and recreation among older adults

APPAREL DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Sheri L. Dragoo, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Functional apparel design, adaptive apparel, wearable technology
  • Apparel production advances, including 3D design, printing and laser cutting, and production efficiency
  • Waste savings in patternmaking and apparel production, including upcycling and post consumer use of apparel product
Jaynie Fader, MS

Research, Teaching

  • Apparel-related technology and software, specifically Gerber PDS, grading, and marking, Adobe Suite, DPI Innovations, PLM software applications, Optitex 2D and 3D, and Size Stream Body Scanning
  • Apparel-related printing and cutting, specifically digital textile printing, Guardian dye sublimation calendar, 3D printing, and laser cutting
  • Outerwear and sportswear design and product development

AUTISM

Beth A. Lanning, PhD, MCHES

Research

  • Evaluating the benefits of equine-assisted interventions for children and adults with autism
Kristle Soto, EdD, CCC-SLP

Clinical, Teaching

  • Identification, assessment, and treatment, specifically of preschool and school age children

BODY IMAGE

Jay Yoo, PhD

Research

  • Role of body weight and weight preoccupation on quality of living
  • Risky appearance behaviors, including risk-perception of beauty product use, extreme weight loss, plastic surgery

CANCER

Gabriel A. Benavidez, PhD

Research

  • Examining population trends in cancer screening, cancer incidence, and cancer mortality
Cory Dungan, PhD

Research

  • Identifying novel mechanisms by which chemotherapeutic agents induce a loss of muscle mass and function
Leigh Greathouse, PhD, MPH, MS, RD

Research

  • Relationship between colon cancer and the microbiome
  • Oncology nutrition and dietary patterns
Michelle Law, PhD, RD

Research

  • Mechanisms of cardiac function deficits in pre-clinical cancer cachexia
Andrew R. Meyer, PhD

Research

  • Survivorship and meaning-making through physical philanthropy
Joon Y. Park, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Treatment of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy with cardio-oncology
Michael Wiggs, PhD

Research

  • Effects of cancer and its treatments on muscle mass and function
Jay Yoo, PhD

Research

  • Cancer-related physical change and body image distress

CHRONIC DISEASES

Kyle Adams, PT, DPT, DSc

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Treatment of individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Anne Boddy, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Neurologic diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease
  • Examining factors and behaviors associated with neurologic diagnoses and how to develop a plan of care for individuals with neurologic diagnoses
Rodney G. Bowden, PhD

Research

  • Understanding the interlay of cholesterol, inflammation, and nutrition in heart disease and chronic kidney disease
  • Understanding metabolic syndrome and the clustering of risk factors that predict chronic diseases such as heart disease and chronic kidney disease
Ruthie Davis, MA, CCLS

Clinical, Teaching

  • Helping children and families cope with medical experiences
  • Meeting psychosocial and developmental needs of children in the hospital setting
Barbara M. Doucet, PhD, OTR

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Parkinson's disease, investigating therapeutic interventions to improve motor control and performance of functional tasks
  • Exploring interventions and motor recovery process of the upper extremity in chronic stroke
Cory Dungan, PhD

Research

  • Identifying novel mechanisms by which chemotherapeutic agents induce a loss of muscle mass and function
Megan Flores, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Physical therapy assessment and interventions for adults with neuromuscular conditions (such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and brain injury)
Daniel Kim, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Investigates the effects of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Multiple Sclerosis) on speech production
  • Examines the articulatory mechanisms underlying deviant speech patterns in dysarthria using combined kinematic and perpetual methods
Yunsuk Koh, PhD

Research

  • Role of obesity, nutrition, and exercise in inflammation and cardiovascular disease
Shane Koppenhaver, PT, PhD

Research

  • Effectiveness of dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions
  • Physiologic effect of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal conditions
Michelle Law, PhD, RD

Research

  • Mechanisms of calcium mishandling in various causes of genetic and acquired heart failure
Brian C. Leutholtz, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Exercise prescription for chronic diseases, particularly special, unique, and challenging diagnoses
Joon Y. Park, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, peripheral and coronary artery disease, and venous thromboembolism
Michael Wiggs, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in causing muscle wasting diseases

DISABILITIES

Elizabeth Ardolino, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Assessment and interventions for children with cerebral palsy
Susan Blair, OTD, OTR, BCPR, BCG, CDCS

Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Clinical practice for all physical dysfunction populations throughout the lifespan but with emphasis on adults—all practice areas from NICU to pallative care 
Megan Flores, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Physical therapy assessment and interventions for children with neuromotor conditions and developmental disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida)

DOWN SYNDROME

Megan Flores, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Physical therapy assessment and interventions for children with neuromotor conditions and developmental disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida)

EXERCISE & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Cory Dungan, PhD

Research

  • Examining the mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle atrophy and anabolic resistance with advanced age
  • Focusing on how senescent cells contribute to muscle loss and negatively impact muscle metabolism
Germaine Ferreira, PT, DPT, MSPT, BHMS

Research, Teaching

  • Cardiovascular health based on lifestyle choices and exercise
  • Effects of exercise, sleep, diet, and stress on autoimmune diseases
  • Society and academia, including the role of faculty, on student wellness
LesLee K. Funderburk, PhD, RD, CSSD, CSCS

Research

  • Use of nutritional supplements to improve body composition and enhance effects of physical training programs in adults of all ages
Yunsuk Koh, PhD

Research

  • Role of obesity, nutrition, and exercise in inflammation and cardiovascular disease
Brian C. Leutholtz, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Exercise prescription for chronic diseases, particularly special, unique, and challenging diagnoses
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Research

  • Increasing physical activity across the lifespan and providing access to safe places to be active so that all people can experience the physical and mental health benefits of physical activity
  • Implementation and impact of evidence-based programs, environmental approaches, and policies on physical activity support at community and organizational levels and individuals’ physical activity behavior, specifically within rural and under-resourced communities
Matthea S. Williams, EdD, LAT, ATC

Teaching

  • Creation and implementation of therapeutic exercise for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions
Michael Wiggs, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Adaptations to skeletal muscle following running or weightlifting
Jay Yoo, PhD

Research

  • Interrelationships between physical fitness, exercise, and irrational shopping

FAMILY LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS

Susan Blair, OTD, OTR, BCPR, BCG, CDCS

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Application of generational learning strategies and content knowledge of how different generations communicate and work together successfully.
Brian Cambra, EdD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Theoretical approaches to parenting across the lifespan (Teaching)
  • Crisis intervention with children, adolescents, and families impacted by forced migration (Practical, Research)
  • Helping families cope with stress, transitions, and trauma (Teaching)
Ruthie Davis, MA, CCLS

Clinical, Teaching

  • Helping children and families cope with medical experiences
  • Integrating interpersonal and intra-family relationships across the family life course
  • Play theory, guidance, interaction, and integrated learning experiences for young children
Nick Frye, PhD

Research

  • Stress in families, specifically military families and stepfamilies
Cole Galloway, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Adult and pediatric rehabilitation and community-based mobility, meaning in the home, school, work, play, and social settings
  • Creation and study of technology focused on providing enriched community mobility
Mickey Langlais, PhD, CFLE

Research, Teaching

  • The impact of smartphones and tablets on child and adolescent development
  • Atypical romantic relationship experiences, including ghosting and situationships
  • The impact of technology use on family relationships
Nicole McAninch, PhD, CFLE

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Family life education related to family and relationship development, resource management, and parenting
  • Family resource management, specifically time and financial management and career and professional development
Karen K. Melton, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Design and evaluation of out-of-school time settings such as afterschool, camp, ministry, sports, etc. for children and adolescents; and how youth organizations can effectively partner with families
  • Understanding how families manage their resources to create a specific family culture; specific focus on the use of family time to enhance a sense of belonging, connection, faith formation, and other developmental outcomes
  • Designing and optimizing activities, programs, and events for enhanced satisfaction, well-being, and developmental outcomes; specific focus on  the behavioral and environmental mechanisms of shared experiences

FOOD INSECURITY/ACCESS

Kathryn Janda-Thomte, PhD

Research

  • Examining factors and behaviors associated with food insecurity and limited healthy food access and how to develop programs and policies to address these issues
  • Evaluating food insecurity, healthy food access, and community health promotion and policies

GLOBAL HEALTH

Beth A. Lanning, PhD, MCHES

Research

  • Exploring the benefits of child sponsorship programs for child wellbeing

HEALTH DISPARITIES

Gabriel A. Benavidez, PhD

Research

  • Examining the availability of healthcare services and facilities and its impact on population health outcomes
Kathryn Janda-Thomte, PhD

Research

  • Examining racial/ethnic, urbanicity-, and income-related disparities
  • Working with underserved and primarily Spanish-speaking communities
Regine Rossi, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Effects of personal, cultural, and social beliefs about exercise, especially among marginalized populations
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Research

  • Implementation and impact of evidence-based programs, environmental approaches, and policies on physical activity support at community and organizational levels and individuals’ physical activity behavior, focused on the reduction of health disparities and the advancement of health equity
Brian Young, PT, DSc

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Examining the educational delivery and clinical practice of physical therapist medical screening to enhance provision of services and access to health care

HEALTH POLICIES & SYSTEMS

Kayla Collins, EdD, MOT, OTR

Research, Teaching

  • Interdisciplinary care and interprofessional education
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Research

  • Implementation and impact of evidence-based programs, environmental approaches, and policies on physical activity support at community and organizational levels and individuals’ physical activity behavior, focused on the reduction of health disparities and the advancement of health equity

HEARING LOSS

Carrie Drew, AuD, CCC-A

Clinical, Teaching

  • Hearing evaluation, hearing aids, aural rehabilitation
  • Counseling, language deprivation, auditory access related to pediatric hearing loss
Yang-Soo Yoon, PhD

Research

  • Speech enhancement, hearing aid, and cochlear implants
  • Development of tinnitus treatment
  • Aural rehabilitation and the development of auditory training software

INTERIOR & BUILT ENVIRONMENTS

LesLee K. Funderburk, PhD, RD, CSSD, CSCS

Research

  • Identification of best practices to promote good nutrition and physical activity habits in the built environment
Debra Harris, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Built environment on building occupants and organizational impacts, health, wellness, sustainability, and transmission of pathogenic and chemical contaminants in the built environment
  • Design and planning of healthcare and commercial design, focused on sustainability, health and wellness, indoor environmental quality, and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA)
Elise King, MID, MA

Research

  • American and European architectural and design history (19th and 20th century)
  • Digital humanities and spatial analytics
  • Residential architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright 
Karen K. Melton, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Designing and optimizing activities, programs, and events for enhanced satisfaction, well-being, and developmental outcomes; specific focus on  the behavioral and environmental mechanisms of shared experiences
Sahar Mihandoust, PhD

Research

  • Evidence-based design to enhance patient safety, care quality, and staff performance in healthcare environments
  • Evaluating clinical simulations in full-scale mock-up settings to examine room layout and design features before construction
Ann Theriot, MA, ASID, NCIDQ

Teaching

  • European architectural and decorative arts history (17th and 18th century)
  • Hospitality Design (Practical)
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Research

  • Implementation and impact of evidence-based programs, environmental approaches, and policies on physical activity support at community and organizational levels and individuals’ physical activity behavior, focused on the reduction of health disparities and the advancement of health equity

LANGUAGE & LITERACY

Kelcie Dao, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Assessment and treatment of language and literacy disorders in school-aged children
Kristen Davis, CCC-SLP

Clinical

  • Written language and speech sound disorders
  • Multicultural considerations in treatment of language and literacy disorders
Jana Parker, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Structured word inquiry and morphologically focused orthographic intervention
  • Developmental language disorder with a focus on written language and spelling
  • Etymology of English words and high-frequency words 
Deborah Rainer, CCC-SLP

Clinical, Teaching

  • Apraxia as it pertains to children
  • Speech sound disorders in children and adults
Janet Sanker, CCC-SLP

Clinical

  • Assessment and treatment of developmental language disorders that impact an individual's social interactions and peer relationships 

MENTAL HEALTH

Paul Blanchet, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research

  • Prevalence of suicide and suicidal ideation among individuals with communication disorders
Ruthie Davis, MA, CCLS

Clinical, Teaching

  • Helping children and families cope with medical experiences
  • Helping children cope with grief, change, and loss
  • Meeting psychosocial and developmental needs of children in the hospital setting
Nick Frye, PhD

Research

  • Emotional competence, emotion, regulation
  • Stress in families, specifically military families and stepfamilies
Elizabeth Kwon, PhD

Research

  • Psychological mechanism, specifically impulsivity, emotion regulation, self-control, resilience
Mickey Langlais, PhD, CFLE

Research, Teaching

  • Examining how technology and interpersonal relationships influence psychological and social well-being
Beth A. Lanning, PhD, MCHES

Research

  • Exploring the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted interventions, especially horses, to improve mental and physical health
Sahar Mihandoust, PhD

Research

  • Exploring how physical environments influence mental health outcomes for patients, families, and staff
Jay Yoo, PhD

Research

  • (Body Image) Role of body weight and weight preoccupation on quality of living; Risky appearance behaviors, including risk-perception of beauty product use, extreme weight loss, plastic surgery
  • (Retail Therapy) Effect of comfort shopping on perceived weight and life satisfaction 

MERCHANDISING, BUYING & DIGITAL RETAILING

Rochelle R. Brunson, PhD

Teaching, Clinical

  • Merchandising and buying

NUTRITION

Amber Arnold, MS, RDN, LD

Clinical, Teaching

  • Using evidenced-based approaches in the treatment of nutrition-related disease
  • Impact of cultural beliefs and practices on nutrition and health
LesLee K. Funderburk, PhD, RD, CSSD, CSCS

Research

  • Use of nutritional supplements to improve body composition and enhance effects of physical training programs in adults of all ages
Leigh Greathouse, PhD, MPH, MS, RD

Research

  • Relationship between colon cancer and the microbiome
  • Oncology nutrition and dietary patterns
Yunsuk Koh, PhD

Research

  • Role of obesity, nutrition, and exercise in inflammation and cardiovascular disease
Michelle Law, PhD, RD

Teaching

  • Macronutrient and micronutrient metabolic pathways and their regulation in various physiological states.
Brian C. Leutholtz, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Sport nutrition, specifically ergogenic aids
Stanley Wilfong, MS, RD, LD, FAND

Teaching

  • General nutrition, including nutrient requirements, healthy eating, food safety, nutrition recommendations
  • Clinical nutrition, including pathophysiology and nutrition therapy to resolve and/or mitigate related signs/symptoms

PEDAGOGY

Justin Adeyemi, EdD, LAT, ATC

Practical, Teaching

  • Curriculum development of the flipped classroom
Elizabeth Ardolino, PT, PhD

Research

  • Non-cognitive factors associated with academic success
  • Development and psychometric testing of new outcome measures 
Paul Blanchet, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Evaluation and use of experimental single-subject designs in behavioral and clinical research 
Rochelle R. Brunson, PhD

Clinical, Teaching

  • Professional development, networking through internship coordination
Kayla Collins, EdD, MOT, OTR

Research, Teaching

  • Hybrid/online teaching and learning technologies
Jessica Feda, PT, DPT, DSc

Research, Teaching

  • Research on the predictive ability and validation of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) in physical therapy and graduate education
Megan Flores, PT, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Improving healthcare education
Venessa Grandjean, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • What admissions criteria produces positive student outcomes
  • Are video interviews effective as part of admissions criteria, specifically focusing on the CASper interview program
Regine Rossi, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Teaching and learning by and for healthcare providers
Kimberly M. Smith, EdD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Evaluating the effects of prehealth study abroad experiences on resilience, empathy, and mental toughness (Research)
  • Preparing future healthcare leaders through androgogy with career path, clinical experiences, and professional school requirement guidance and mentorship (Clinical, Teaching)
  • Planning, preparation, and execution of undergraduate and graduate clinical experiences (Clinical, Teaching)
Brian Young, PT, DSc

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Examining the educational delivery and clinical practice of physical therapist medical screening to enhance provision of services and access to health care

PEDIATRIC & ADOLESCENT HEALTH

Elizabeth Ardolino, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Assessment and treatment of children with developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and spina bifida
  • Development of outcome measures to assess functional changes in children with neuromotor disorders
  • Assessment and treatment of children with traumatic spinal cord injury
Brian Cambra, EdD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Theoretical approaches to parenting across the lifespan (Teaching)
  • Crisis intervention with children, adolescents, and families impacted by forced migration (Practical, Research)
Kelcie Dao, SLP, CCC-SLP

Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Assessment and treatment of speech sound disorders (such as phonological disorders, articulation disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech) in children
  • Assessment and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech
Ruthie Davis, MA, CCLS

Clinical, Teaching

  • Helping children and families cope with medical experiences
  • Meeting psychosocial and developmental needs of children in the hospital setting
Carrie Drew, AuD, CCC-A

Clinical, Teaching

  • Counseling, language deprivation, auditory access related to pediatric hearing loss
Teresa Fair-Field, OTD, OTR

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Early intervention and identification of infant motor delay
  • Executive functioning, daily living skills, adaptive skills, and motor development of children and youth
Megan Flores, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Physical therapy assessment and interventions for children with neuromotor conditions and developmental disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and spina bifida)
Elizabeth Kwon, PhD

Research

  • Adolescent and young adult substance use, specifically youth risky behaviors and mental health challenges
  • Developmental intersection of adverse childhood experiences and young adult/adult reactions to stress
Beth A. Lanning, PhD, MCHES

Research

  • Evaluating the benefits of equine-assisted interventions for children with autism
Karen K. Melton, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Design and evaluation of out-of-school time settings such as afterschool, camp, ministry, sports, etc. for children and adolescents; and how youth organizations can effectively partner with families
Deborah Rainer, CCC-SLP

Clinical, Teaching

  • Apraxia as it pertains to children
  • Speech sound disorders in children 
Kristle Soto, EdD, CC-SLP

Clinical, Teaching

  • Identification, assessment, and treatment, specifically of preschool and school age children

RECREATION

W. Dale Connally, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Application of recreation and sport programming in faith based settings
  • Planning, implementing, and evaluating recreation and leisure programs
David Copeland

Practical

  • Developing outdoor education programs with the focus of developing emotional intelligence in college age students
Kelli McMahan, PhD, CTRS

Research, Teaching, Clinical, Practical

  • Outdoor leadership skills that transfer to any profession
  • Social, emotional responses and risk decision making related to risk response in outdoor programming
  • Serious leisure and leisure theory
Karen K. Melton, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Design and evaluation of out-of-school time settings such as afterschool, camp, ministry, sports, etc. for children and adolescents; and how youth organizations can effectively partner with families
  • Understanding how families manage their resources to create a specific family culture; specific focus on the use of family time to enhance a sense of belonging, connection, faith formation, and other developmental outcomes
  • Designing and optimizing activities, programs, and events for enhanced satisfaction, well-being, and developmental outcomes; specific focus on  the behavioral and environmental mechanisms of shared experiences
Christopher J. Wynveen, PhD

Practical, Teaching

  • Nonprofit and recreation agency advice, such as business management as it relates to the provision of leisure and recreation services

REHABILITATION

Kyle Adams, PT, DPT, DSc

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Examination and treatment of individuals (focus on manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and education) with musculoskeletal conditions
Elizabeth Ardolino, PT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Assessment and treatment of children with developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and spina bifida
  • Development of outcome measures to assess functional changes in children and adults with neuromotor disorders
  • Assessment and treatment of children and adults with traumatic spinal cord injury
Tiffany Barrett, PT, DPT, DSc

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Management of spine pain and rehabilitation
  • Clinical use of dry needling within physical therapy practice
  • Clinical management of running related injuries
Anne Boddy, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Using clinical outcome measures to assess and develop interventions to address gait and balance impairments
Barbara M. Doucet, PhD, OTR

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Rehabilitation related to stroke and Parkinson's Disease
  • Investigating therapeutic interventions to improve motor control and performance of functional tasks
  • Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, motor control, motor behavior in chronic neurological conditions
Brent Dragoo, PhD

Clinical

  • Strength and conditioning related exercise rehabilitation
Carrie Drew, AuD, CCC-A

Clinical, Teaching

  • Hearing evaluation, hearing aids, aural rehabilitation
Jessica Feda, PT, DPT, DSc

Research, Clinical

  • Examination, treatment, and rehabilitation principles for musculoskeletal conditions
  • Examination of manual therapy treatments and their effectiveness for neck and back pain 
Daniel Kim, PhD

Research

  • Advances understanding of the articulatory basis for improved speech intelligibility resulting from behavioral modification 
Shane Koppenhaver, PT, PhD

Research

  • Quantification of muscle function using imaging technologies
  • Effectiveness of dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions
  • Physiologic effect of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal conditions
Diane Longnecker, PhD, BCS-S, CCC-SLP

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Assessment & treatment of swallowing and swallowing disorders
Laurel E. Proulx, PT, DPT, PhD

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Perinatal pelvic health, including pelvic floor symptoms and the role of exercise and physical activity during the perinatal period
  • Chronic pelvic pain, including endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and other pelvic musculoskeletal impairments
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction in female athletes, including military members and tactical athletes
Casey Unverzagt, DPT, DSc

Research, Clinical

  • Combining intrinsic, extrinsic, and temporal risk factors to make a return-to-sport determination after ACL injury
  • Assessing various return-to-sport tests to determine their utility in making decisions for overhead athletes
Hyunsoo Yoo, PhD

Research

  • AI-driven narrative stimuli and precision discourse therapy (Story Retelling Therapy)
  • Cognitive-linguistic mechanisms in aphasia with neuromodulation and integrative interventions 
  • AI applications in discourse and clinical aphasiology toward AI-augmented clinical tools
Yang-Soo Yoon, PhD

Research

  • Aural rehabilitation and the development of auditory training software
Brian Young, PT, DSc

Research, Clinical

  • Evaluation, management, and prevention of neck pain in high-performance military aircrew

RELIGION & FAITH

W. Dale Connally, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Planning, implementing, and evaluating recreation and leisure programs
Karen K. Melton, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Understanding how families manage their resources to create a specific family culture; specific focus on the use of family time to enhance a sense of belonging, connection, faith formation, and other developmental outcomes
Andrew R. Meyer, PhD

Research

  • Contribution of muscular Christianity in contemporary global sport
  • Importance of Lance Armstrong as a hero-athlete

RURAL HEALTH

Gabriel A. Benavidez, PhD

Research

  • Examining the health status and issues impacting Americans living in rural communities
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Research

  • Advancing health equity and promoting active living, specifically in partnership with rural and under-resourced communities, acknowledging and addressing unique challenges and strengths that rural Americans experience
  • Implementation and impact of evidence-based programs, environmental approaches, and policies on physical activity support at community and organizational levels and individuals’ physical activity behavior, specifically within rural and under-resourced communities

STROKES

Barbara M. Doucet, PhD, OTR

Research, Clinical, Practical, Teaching

  • Exploring interventions and motor recovery process of the upper extremity in chronic stroke

STUTTERING

Paul Blanchet, PhD, CCC-SLP

Research, Clinical, Teaching

  • Listeners' perceptions of people who stutter and individuals with other communication disorders

SUBSTANCE USE

Elizabeth Kwon, PhD

Research

  • Adolescent and young adult substance use, specifically youth risky behaviors and mental health challenges

SUSTAINABILITY

Sheri L. Dragoo, PhD

Research

  • Waste savings in patternmaking and apparel production, including upcycling and post consumer use of apparel product
Debra Harris, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Design and planning of healthcare and commercial design, focused on sustainability, health and wellness, indoor environmental quality, and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA)
Christopher J. Wynveen, PhD

Research, Practical, Teaching

  • Conservation psychology, specifically the human dimensions of natural resource management that focus on sustainable management
  • Focusing on recreational behavior as it relates to the management of parks and other protected areas, such as the enforcement of regulations and laws in parks, management of game species through hunter behavior, and community and stakeholder involvement in management

TRAUMA & TRAUMA CARE

Brian Cambra, EdD

Teaching

  • Helping families cope with stress, transitions, and trauma
Ruthie Davis, MA, CCLS

Clinical, Teaching

  • Helping children and families cope with medical experiences
  • Helping children cope with grief, change, and loss
  • Meeting psychosocial and developmental needs of children in the hospital setting
Elizabeth Kwon, PhD

Research

  • Developmental intersection of adverse childhood experiences and young adult/adult reactions to stress
Beth A. Lanning, PhD, MCHES

Research

  • Child sexual abuse prevention and training for professionals working with sex-trafficked victims
Joon Y. Park, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Using EV biomarkers for sports-related cerebrovascular injuries

VOCAL HEALTH

Brittany Perrine, PhD

Research, Teaching

  • Evaluating how factors (voice care, stress, omega-3 fatty acids) contribute to healthy voice production in people who use their voice to do their jobs

Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences

Hankamer Academic Center, Suite 120
1428 S. 5th Street
Waco, TX 76706

One Bear Place #97303
Waco, TX 76798-7303

(254) 710-4630
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