I am a Professor of Exercise Science at California Lutheran University, where I teach undergraduate courses in Motor Development (EXSC 302), Nutrition (EXSC 303), Exercise Psychology (EXSC 461), Capstone Research (EXSC 494), and Directed Research (EXSC 496). I also supervise student internships, mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers, and lead research focused on pediatric health, physical activity, obesity prevention, and exercise as medicine.
Since joining California Lutheran University in 2008, I have been committed to integrating excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community engagement to improve health outcomes across the lifespan.
I earned my Ph.D. in Pediatric Exercise Science from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 2005 before completing a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California.
My research has focused on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of pediatric obesity, type 2 diabetes, and obesity-related diseases, with a particular emphasis on reducing health disparities among underserved populations. My research program investigates how physical activity, exercise, nutrition, and movement behaviors influence metabolic health and healthy development in children and adolescents. I have extensive expertise in nutritional assessment, accelerometry, indirect calorimetry, body composition assessment, and doubly labeled water, along with the design and implementation of clinical and community-based exercise interventions.
Throughout my career, I have collaborated on multidisciplinary research projects spanning pediatric obesity, exercise interventions, concussion, nutrition, mental health, and lifestyle medicine. I served as the California Lutheran University site Principal Investigator for a multicenter longitudinal concussion study funded by the NCAA and the U.S. Department of Defense, contributing to one of the largest concussion research initiatives in collegiate athletics.
Beyond my research, I served a three-year term as Director of the Center for Academic Service Learning, where I expanded community-engaged learning opportunities and strengthened partnerships between the university and local organizations.
Mentoring future researchers and healthcare professionals is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. I have supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate research projects, directed independent research studies, and overseen internships that provide students with meaningful, hands-on experiences. Many of my students have presented their work at regional and national conferences, co-authored peer-reviewed publications, and gone on to careers in medicine, allied health, public health, research, and academia.
In recognition of my scholarly contributions, I received California Lutheran University's Provost Distinguished Scholar Award in 2019.
My current research continues to explore innovative, evidence-based approaches to preventing chronic disease, promoting lifelong physical activity, improving metabolic health, and reducing health disparities through exercise science, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine.
