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Science Board

The PCFSN Board includes scholars who are selected due to the significant contributions he or she has made to the research and science of physical activity, health, sports or nutrition.

David Bassett, Jr., Ph.D.David Bassett, Jr., Ph.D. - Dr. Bassett is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. His research focuses on measuring physical activity and energy expenditure using objective monitors (e.g., pedometers, accelerometers, heart rate monitors).

David Buchner, M.D., M.P.H.David Buchner, M.D., M.P.H. – Dr. Buchner is a Shahid and Ann Carlson Kahn Professor in Applied Health Sciences, in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Between 1999 and 2008, Dr. Buchner was Chief of the Physical Activity and Health Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, and a fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine. His research interests include physical activity and aging, and environmental and policies approaches to promotion of physical activity.

Joy DeSensi, Ph.D.Joy DeSensi, Ph.D. - Dr. DeSensi is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. Her focus is on the socio-cultural aspects of sport, which includes gender, race, ethnicity, and multiculturalism. She also teaches on ethics and morality in sport management.

Greg Heath, DHSc., MPHGreg Heath, DHSc., MPH, FACSM (Chair) - Dr. Heath is a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance and Assistant Provost for Research at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. His interest is in community based approaches to promoting physical activity, physical activity epidemiology, health disparities, and the role of providers in assessing and counseling on physical activity and diet.

Linda Houtkooper PhD, RD, FACSMLinda Houtkooper PhD, RD, FACSM – Dr. Houtkooper is an Associate Director of Arizona Cooperative Extension and a Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is a Registered Dietitian and member of the American Dietetics Association, American Society for Nutrition, and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. Her research and educational programs focus on the relationships of nutrition and physical activity to bone health, obesity prevention, fitness promotion and sports performance. She is a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism and the American College of Sports Medicine Health and Fitness Journal.

Allen Jackson, Ed.D.Allen Jackson, Ed.D. - Dr. Jackson is a Regents Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation at the University of North Texas. Dr. Jackson's research focuses on the development of valid measurement protocols for assessing fitness and physical activity with a special emphasis on minority populations. In addition, he is involved in efforts to increase minority interest in the health sciences as an area of focus for future studies and/or a career path.

Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RDRachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD – Dr. Johnson is a Professor of Nutrition and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. Dr. Johnson's research focuses on pediatric nutrition and obesity as well as national nutrition policy. Dr. Johnson was named a distinguished University of Vermont Scholar in 2003 and received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the Pennsylvania State University in 2004. Dr. Johnson was appointed by the U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to the Year 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Scientific Advisory Committee. She served on a panel for the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for the National Academy of Sciences /Institute of Medicine. She is currently vice-chair of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee.

I-Min Lee, SC.D., M.B., B.S.I-Min Lee, SC.D., M.B., B.S. - Dr. I-Min Lee is Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Lee's main research interest is in the role of physical activity in promoting health and preventing chronic disease. This extends to characteristics associated with a physically active way of life, such as the maintenance of ideal body weight. She also is concerned with issues relating to women's health.

Matthew Mahar, B.S.E., M.Ed., Ed.D.Matthew Mahar, B.S.E., M.Ed., Ed.D. - Dr. Mahar is a Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at East Carolina University and Director of the Activity Promotion Laboratory. His research focus is on promotion and measurement of physical activity and fitness in youth. He has extensive experience conducting school-based research and developed the Energizers classroom-based physical activities. He has served as chair of the Examinations Subcommittee of the American College of Sports Medicine and chair of the Measurement and Evaluation Council of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

Melinda M. Manore, PhD, RD, CSSDMelinda M. Manore, PhD, RD, CSSD – Dr. Manore is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at Oregon State University. Her primary research interests are the interaction of nutrition and exercise on health and performance. For the past 25 years she has examined the effect of exercise on energy and nutrient needs of active individuals. She has specifically examined the interactive effect of nutrition and physical activity in girls and women for the prevention of menstrual dysfunction, disordered eating, chronic disease prevention (e.g. metabolic syndrome risk reduction, bone loss), weight maintenance/weight loss, and obesity prevention. She is currently involved in a large community based project examining diet, physical activity and the environment for the prevention of obesity in children and families. Dr. Manore serves on a number of Editorial Boards, is the author of four nutrition textbooks and is currently Vice President for the American College of Sports Medicine.

Jeffrey Mechanick, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., F.A.C.N.Jeffrey Mechanick, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., F.A.C.N. – Dr. Mechanick is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Director of Metabolic Support in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He received his M.D. degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, completed Internal Medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine, and completed Endocrine Fellowship at Mount Sinai. Dr. Mechanick authored over 175 publications in Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition Support. He is an Officer of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and is Section Editor for Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care and Current Opinion in Endocrinology and Diabetes. Dr. Mechanick co-edited Nutritional Strategies for the Diabetic and Prediabetic Patient, Power of Prevention: The Complete Guide to Lifelong Nutrition and Thyroid Cancer: From Emergent Biotechnology to Clinical Practice Guidelines. Dr. Mechanick's research interests range from predictive modeling in critical illness, to thyroid cancer, metabolic bone disease, diabetes, and nutrition. Dr. Mechanick is responsible for training endocrine fellows at Mount Sinai in nutrition and metabolic support. Dr. Mechanick is in private practice in endocrinology and metabolic support in New York City.

James Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSMJames Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSM – Dr. Pivarnik is a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at Michigan State University, where he directs the Center for Physical Activity and Health and serves as a University Research Integrity Officer. Dr. Pivarnik is a nationally recognized expert on issues related to exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. As an exercise physiologist and epidemiologist, his focus is on the role of physical activity in reducing the risk factors for chronic disease development and the morbidity and mortality of those suffering from these conditions. As immediate past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, Dr. Pivarnik is a leader of the ACSM "Exercise is MedicineTM On Campus" initiative. His presidency was marked by an increased emphasis on graduate students as the future of the profession of sports medicine and exercise science.

Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RDLinda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD – Dr. Van Horn is a tenured Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago. Dr. Van Horn earned her doctorate from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Health Sciences Center, Chicago, and her Masters degree in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Purdue University graduate and is also a registered and licensed dietitian. Dr. Van Horn's expertise extends across many areas of nutrition research, medical nutrition education and public health policy relevant to the work of the 2010 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. She is a clinical nutrition epidemiologist who has conducted population level research and clinical trials in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, obesity and breast cancer. She specializes in research on women and children and is currently the principal investigator in the Women's Health Initiative Extension Study and the Dietary Intervention Study in Children follow-up study. She is also conducting pilot research on family based pediatric obesity intervention. Since 2003 Dr. Van Horn has been the Editor of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Hans van der Mars, Ph.D.Hans van der Mars, Ph.D. - Dr. van der Mars received his doctoral degree from The Ohio State University (1984). He is a Full Professor at Arizona State University, where he is actively involved in the undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in Physical Education Teacher Education-Sport Pedagogy. His research has focused on Sport Pedagogy/Physical Education Teacher Education. He co-authored the second edition of "Complete Guide to Sport Education" and has served as Co-Editor of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (JTPE). Dr. van der Mars is a Fellow in the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education & Recreation, and was inducted as an Active Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology & Physical Education in 2006. He has been recognized with the Presidential Citation in the Southwest District of AAHPERD and the Physical Education Teacher Education Honor Award from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Stella Lucia Volpe, PhD, RD, LDN, FACSMStella Lucia Volpe, PhD, RD, LDN, FACSM - Dr. Volpe is Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University. She is both an exercise physiologist and a nutritionist, and certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as an Exercise Specialist, and by the American Dietetic Association as a Registered Dietitian. Dr. Volpe's research interests include prevention of obesity and diabetes across the lifespan, using exercise and nutrition interventions that include ecological and clinical/applied approaches. She is a past president of the New England American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Volpe is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Diane M. Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D.Diane M. Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D. - Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal is an Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Psychology in the School of Kinesiology, Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, and Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her research and teaching expertise centers on two main areas of interest derived from her practical experiences as an athlete, physical education teacher and coach: the psychological, social and physical health and development of competitive youth sport participants, and the psychological responses of athletes to sport injury.