Faculty
Our award-winning faculty share a belief in the value of physical activity, sport and recreation in improving the health and well-being of society. We encourage interdisciplinary and international teaching and research opportunities. Our faculty are involved in the community and are having a direct impact working with students, seniors and vulnerable populations.
Continue reading to explore the research interests of our faculty or check out our Faculty Moments video series.
Dean
Interim Dean – Dr. Anne Marie Sullivan, B.Rec. Dalhousie, MA Waterloo, PhD Guelph
Research:
Leisure education
Therapeutic recreation
Developmental aspects of leisure
Leisure and well-being/quality of life
Risk-taking behaviours among youth
Qualitative research methods
Participatory action research
Associate Dean
Interim Associate Dean- Dr. Duane Button, B.Kin. Memorial, MPE Memorial, PhD University of Manitoba, Certified Exercise Physiologist
Cross appointed to the Faculty of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Services
Research:
Nervous system adaptations to chronically increased and decreased activity
Dr. Button's website
Visit the Human Neurophysiology Lab's website or Facebook page.
Professors
Dr. David Behm, BPE, B.Ed. Ottawa, MS McMaster, PhD McGill
- Honour Award for the Strength and Conditioning Society 2020
- Memorial University of Newfoundland's President's Award for Outstanding Research, 2006
- MUN University Research Professor Award
- MUN School of Graduate Studies Service Award
- National Strength and Conditioning Association Outstanding Sport Scientist Award
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Honour Award
- Fellow of the European College of Sport Sciences
Research:
Neuromuscular responses to acute and chronic activity
Read more on Dr. Behm's website, check out his Research Gate profile, or view his Google Scholar account.
Dr. TA Loeffler, BA Prescott College, MS Mankato State, PhD Minnesota
- Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2013
- 3M National Teaching Fellowship, 2008
- Minnesota State University Mankato Distinguished Alumni Award, 2008
- Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Volunteer of the Year Award, 2008
- Association of Experiential Education Karl Rhonke Creativity Award, 2007
- Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teacher Award, 2006
- Memorial University of Newfoundland President's Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2005
Research:
- The role of nature in health and physical activity
- The phenomenology of the outdoor experience
- Women's participation in outdoor leadership and physical activity
Dr. Kevin Power, B. Kin. Memorial, MPE Memorial, PhD Manitoba, CSEP-CEP
Research:
My NSERC funded research program is aimed and understanding how the brain and spinal cord produce complex movements and whether or not exercise influences that process.
Connect with Dr. Power on Twitter, or check out his blog and publications.
You can also visit the Human Neurophysiology Lab's website or Facebook page.
Associate Professors
Dr. Fabien Basset, BPE, M.Sc., PhD Laval
Research:
- Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise
- Muscle fatigue and human performance
- Metabolic responses to environmental factors
Dr. Jeannette Byrne, B.Sc. (PT) Dalhousie, M.Sc. Waterloo, PhD Waterloo
Research:
- Factors influencing joint and muscle function in both healthy and injured populations.
- Biomechanical modelling.
- Knee function following total knee arthroplasty.
- Physiotherapy interventions aimed at optimizing joint and muscle function.
Dr. Daniel Fuller, BSc (Kin) & MSc (Kin) University of Saskatchewan, PhD (Public Health) Université de Montréal
Cross appointed to the Faculty of Medicine, Community Health and Humanities
Research:
Dr. Fuller is a Canada Research Chair in Population Physical Activity and Principal Investigator on the INTERACT team. His research is focused on using wearable technologies to study physical activity, transportation interventions, and equity in urban spaces. He focuses his methodological work on methods for natural experiments, and machine learning. Dr. Fuller is the Neighbourhood Factors Team co-lead of the Canadian Urban Environmental Health (CANUE) Research Consortium.
Connect with Dr. Fuller on Twitter, Facebook, or check out the Walkabilly Lab website.
Dr. David Hancock, B.A. (Hons), M.A. Laurentian, PhD Ottawa
Research:
- Sport officiating (group processes, decision making, mental health, recruitment/retention, and female officials)
- Youth sport (relative age and birthplace effects)
Dr. Angela Loucks-Atkinson, BA, MA Waterloo, PhD Georgia
Research:
- Health and well-being
- Chronic illnesses and disabilities
- Health and social psychology
- Active lifestyle
- Valued life activities
- Constraints
- Chronic pain and fatigue
- Lifespan
- Methodological, measurement and statistical issues
Dr. Erin McGowan, B.Sc.(Hons) Ottawa, M.Sc. Memorial, PhD Western
Research:
- Exploring the effects of physical activity on managing treatment side effects and improving overall quality of lifeHealth behaviour change in cancer survivors.
Assistant Professors
Dr. Jeff Crane, B.Kin., B.Ed. Acadia University, M.Sc. (Kin.) Texas Woman's University, PhD. University of Victoria
Research:
- Promotion of physical activity engagement across the lifespan for all individuals.
- Prevention against sedentary behaviours across the lifespan for all
individuals. - Internal and external influences that contribute to either an active or sedentary lifestyle.
- The role of an educator (preservice and service) as a contributor to
motor development. - Exploring schools and community as a key player to engagement in
physical pursuits. - Creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities or special
needs and at risk populations. - Physical and health literacy.
Dr. Kim Cullen, BSc (Kinesiology) Waterloo, MSc (Rehabilitation Science) McMaster, PhD (Biophysics) Guelph
Cross appointed to the Faculty of Medicine, Community Health and Humanities
Research:
- Examining workplace hazards and risk factors for musculoskeletal and mental health conditions.
- Identifying meaningful thresholds of change for outcome measures in work and health research.
- Using evidence synthesis approaches to evaluate effective workplace policies and program innovation in work disability prevention.
Dr. Kyle Pushkarenko, BSc (Kinesiology); BA (Psychology) University of Saskatchewan, MA McGill University, PhD University of Alberta
Research:
- Inclusive physical literacy theory and practice.
- Developmental disabilities and adapted physical activity theory and practice.
- Community stakeholder perspectives of adapted physical activity programming.
- Barriers and facilitators to participation and engagement in adapted physical activity.
- Ableism in adapted physical activity practice.
- Experiential accounts of adapted physical activity practice and programming.
- Adapted physical activity program development and curriculum design.
Professor emeritus
Dr. C. Higgs, B.Sc. Oregon, M.Sc. Oregon, M.Ed. Oregon, PhD Oregon