Health & Physical Education: Faculty & Staff

Shelby W. Yeager, M.Ed., ATC

Education
BS in Kinesiology with emphasis in Athletic Training from Temple University
MEd in Health and Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University

Specific Interests
Heat Related Ilness
Throwing mechanics of baseball pitchers

Elizabeth McGill

Education
B.A. in History: Marywood University
M.A. in American History: St. John's University

Research Area
Higher Education

Specific Interests
Social/Economic constructs in Higher Education
Differences in state funding for public institutions
Public vs. Private institutions in regards to student population
Athletes and retention in Higher Education

Nelson Neal, Ph.D.

Education
B.S.E. – Physical Education, SUNY College at Cortland, NY
M.S. – Dance: Applied and Technical, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Ed.D. – Physical Education: Motor Learning & Control, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Research Areas
Improving academic test scores and reducing obesity in young adults through a program of physical activity
Hemsley Winfield: First Black Modern Dancer
African-American Dancers and Dance Companies
Domain Discrimination in Dance Attitude Research

Specific Interests
Quality physical education as a core course in schools 5 days per week
Changing the word exercise to physical activity
Involving physical education majors in their professional associations

Jamie Valis, M.S.

Education
B.S. in Health and Physical Education, Marywood University
M.S. in Special Education, University of Scranton

Research Area
Adapted Physical Education

Cynthia Wright, Ph.D., ATC

Education
BA in Athletic Training, Whitworth University
MEd in Physical Education, Emphasis in Exercise Science, Texas State University-San Marcos
PhD in Rehabilitation and Movement Science, Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Area
Athletic Training clinical practice and education, emphasis on lower extremity musculoskeletal injury

Specific Interests
Mechanisms and treatment of chronic ankle instability
Biomechanics of forefoot and hindfoot during physical activity
The use of patient oriented outcomes measures to assess disease status and treatment efficacy

Gerald S. Zavorsky, Ph.D.

Education
B.Ed.– Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
M.A.– Exercise Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ph.D– Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

Other Certifications
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP). Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

Research Areas

• Exercise physiology
• Lung function
• Obesity

Specific Interests

• Carbon monoxide decay
• Pulmonary diffusing capacity
• Pulmonary diffusion limitation
• Fitness to speed recovery from surgery
• Pregnancy and exercise
• Biostatistics