Laurie Black
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness - Exercise for diabetes Management
ASU Mentor
Dr. Brent Alvar
Earned Degrees
MS, 2007 – Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University
BS, 2005 – Exercise Science & Nutrition, Ashland University
Current Doctoral Research
2nd Year Project
Title: The use of whole body vibration therapy for pain reduction associated with peripheral neuropathy in patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus.
Purpose: To examine the acute physiological responses incurred by whole body resistance training that may result in reduction of pain associated with advanced stages of peripheral neuropathy.
Other Current Research Projects: (1) A comparison of warm-up protocols on 5-k running performance in collegiate male cross-country runners; (2) The effects of whole-body vibration of a series of power measures
Teresa L. Abraham
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness - Objective Assessment of Physical Activity
ASU Mentor
Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke
Earned Degrees
MS, 2002 - Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University
BBA, 1998 – Economics with Minor in Spanish, University of Iowa
Current Doctoral Research
Dissertation
Title: Comparison of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior as Assessed by Accelerometers and Self-Report
Purpose: To understand how different motion sensors and self-report log data categorize physical activity and sedentary behaviors
Melanie Mitros
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness - Aging
ASU Mentor
Dr. Pamela Swan
Earned Degrees
MS, 2006 - Health & Exercise Science - Emphasis in Biomechanics, Wake Forest University
BS, 2004 - Athletic Training, Middle Tennessee State University
Current Doctoral Research
2nd Year Research Project
Title: Evaluation of a Community-Based Falls Prevention Program: Pilot Study
Purpose: The purpose of this evaluation is to modify a pre-existing falls prevention program to align with the CDC guidelines as well as to determine the feasibility of delivering a community-based falls prevention program by graduate and pre-professional students.
Megan Grimstveldt
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Arthritis and Aging
ASU Mentor
Dr. Cheryl DerAnanian
Co-mentor Dr. Kathleen Woolf
Earned Degrees
MS, 2007 – Health Promotion and Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio
BS, 2005 – Health Fitness Studies/Nutrition Minor, Baylor University
Current Doctoral Research
2nd Year Project
Title: A Comparison of Diet Quality Using Healthy Eating Index in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis versus Matched Healthy Controls
Purpose: To examine and compare diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (2005) for 7 day weighed food records of older women with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.
Brandy-Joe Milliron
Degree Focus
Nutrition – Energy Balance
ASU Mentor
Dr. Kathleen Woolf
Earned Degrees
MS, 2005 - Human Nutrition, Arizona State University
BS, 2001 - Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado - Boulder
Current Doctoral Research
1st Year Project
Title: Dietary Trends During Physical Inactivity and Markers of Obesity
Purpose: To examine the associations of dietary intake and snacking behaviors during physical inactivity in normal weight, overweight, and obese women between the ages of 25 and 40 years.
Christy Appel
Degree Focus
Nutrition
ASU Mentor
Dr. Carol Johnston
Earned Degrees
B.S., 2004 - Human Nutrition, Arizona State University
M.S, 2005 - Human Nutrition, Arizona State University
R.D., 2007 - Registered Dietitian credential
Current Doctoral Research
2nd Year Project
Title: Effect of a novel pickle juice product on post-prandial glycemia in women with gestational diabetes
Purpose: To examine how pickle juice consumption affects blood glucose concentrations after a meal in women with gestational diabetes.
Tracy Washington
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness - Transportation, Built Environment, and Physical Activity
ASU Mentor
Dr. Barbara Ainsworth
Earned Degrees
MA, 1991 – Kinesiology (Special Populations), California State University, Chico
BBA, 1987 – Marketing with Minor in Finance, Sonoma State University
Current Doctoral Research
Dissertation
Title: Evaluation of City Park Environment and Use Patterns
Purpose: To examine Phoenix public city park facilities and use characteristics among parks with varying social demographic characteristics
Overall Research Goals: To better understand how the areas of health, transportation policy, and community design may impact active travel; a behavior promoted by current health recommendations.
Stephen Kelly
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Human Performance
ASU Mentor
Dr. Brent Alvar
Earned Degrees
MS, 2006 – Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton
BA, 2003 – Exercise/Sport Science, Concordia University, Irvine
Current Doctoral Research
Dissertation
Title: A prediction equation for estimating 1-repetition maximum in the eccentric bench press
Purpose: To develop an equation which may be used to predict 1-RM based on submaximal trials enabling safer and more efficacious implementation of eccentrically-focused training protocols, as well as to compare eccentric repetition values to currently existing concentric values.
Other Current Research Projects: (1) A comparison of warm-up protocols on 5-k running performance in collegiate male cross-country runners; (2) The effects of whole-body vibration of a series of power measures
Shannon Smith
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness –exercise adherence and motivation, nutrition
ASU Mentor
Dr. Cheryl DerAnanian
Earned Degrees
MS, 2007 – Exercise and Sports Nutrition, Texas Woman's University
R.D., 2006 – Registered Dietitian credential
BS, 2003 – Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University
Current Doctoral Research
1st Year Research Project
Title: Evaluation of the Abundant Life Wellness' Falls Prevention Program
Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of the program in a small sample of older adults at risk for falls and the feasibility of using the evaluation measures in a community-based setting.
Steven Herrmann
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Physical Activity Measurement
ASU Mentor
Dr. Barbara Ainsworth
Earned Degrees
MS, 2008 – Athletic Training, University of Northern Iowa
BS, 2006 – Athletic Training, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Current Doctoral Research
Research Interests: Evaluating physical activity behavior through assessing Physical Activity Space and Person-Environment Interaction
1st Year Project: Examination of physical activity patterns of metabolically healthy overweight and obese adults: NHANES 2005 - 2006
Brad Warr
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Strength Training and Injury Prevention
ASU Mentor
Dr. Brent Alvar
Earned Degrees
MPAS, 2004 – Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (University of Nebraska Medical Center)
BS, 2003 – Physician Assistant Studies (University of Nebraska Medical Center)
BS, 1997 – Forestry Resources (University of Idaho)
Current Doctoral Research
1st Year Research Activity: Falls Prevention in the Elderly
Research Interests: Conditioning in Fire Fighting Academy Students
Jenelle Walker
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Obesity & Bariatrics
ASU Mentor
Dr. Pamela Swan
Earned Degrees
MS, 2006 – Physical Education, Health & Recreation: Exercise Science, Eastern Washington University
BS, 2003 – Biology, Minor: Psychology, Eastern Washington University
Current Doctoral Research
Year 1 Pilot Study: Bariatric Surgeries & Resistance Training
Overall Research Goals: To understand what Optimal Health is (Spirit, Mind & Body); specifically looking into the relationship among the three areas in obese and other unhealthy populations.
Kristin Heumann
Degree Focus
Exercise and Wellness – Bone measures in children
ASU Mentor
Dr. Pamela Swan
Earned Degrees
MS, 2008 – Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University
BA, 2006 – Physical Education w/ concentration in Fitness Management, Northwestern College
Current Doctoral Research
Research Interests: Exercise and Bone Density
