Danielle Symons Downs, Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Kinesiology and OBGYN. Understanding how to motivate people to engage in physical activity and healthy behaviors has been the focus of my research career. My training spans several disciplines and provides the foundation for my interdisciplinary program of research, teaching, and service in the Departments of Kinesiology and Obstetric and Gynecology at The Pennsylvania State University. My scholarly interests are rooted in my early sport psychology, doctoral training in exercise and sport psychology that elucidated theoretical mechanisms underlying physical activity motivation and behavior, and subsequent research training and fellowship experience at Penn State in intervention methodology and clinical and translational research applications. My scientific biography of training and research has logically progressed from a broad interest in identifying key theoretical determinants and outcomes of exercise motivation and behavior along a continuum from sedentary behavior to exercise dependence to a specialized focus on physical activity intervention methodology. My research agenda has two major themes. The primary theme is to increase physical activity and healthy behaviors among women and their offspring during the preconceptional, prenatal, and postpartum periods. My secondary line of research involves understanding the theoretical and clinical implications of exercise pathology.
Franny Wales BS Kinesiology (Penn State University 2000) Project Coordinator for SMART Strong Healthy Women Research Project (2/2013-Present) – providing organizational and logistical support to the collaborators the project including focus group moderation, recruitment efforts, data collection and analysis. Co-owner Soccer Shots Central/NorthCentral PA – Passionate about teaching the youth of our area the importance of being on a team and the love of being active!
Courtenay Devlin: Graduate student in kinesiology studying exercise psychology. Academic interests include the relation between physical activity and well-being, how to motivate people to exercise, exercise adherence, and related topics. Currently managing the PESS study and working on related manuscripts. Hobbies include running, hiking, photography and reading.
Jennifer Volo: Senior in Kinesiology (Movement Science). Will be attending Duke University’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program upon graduation in May 2015. Interests include being involved with THON here at Penn State, and traveling with friends and family. Currently working on the Healthy Mom Zone Study development and implementation.
Delphine Nantermet: Sophomore with plans of majoring in Biological Science with a health profession option or Kinesiology with a movement science option to then, hopefully, attend physician assistant school or med school. Interests include learning how the human body works and how infants/children develop. Currently working on a literature search and the Health Mom Zone codebook.
Hope Clauhs: Senior in Kinesiology, emphasis in movement science, with plans of getting a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Interests include rehabilitating young athletes and contracted PT work in developing countries. Upon graduation in December 2014, currently working as an intern with the Healthy Mom Zone development and PESS studies.
Kaitlin Freeswick: Senior pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology and Biology minor in hopes of attending Medical School School. Interests include Pediatrics, Orthopedics, and Ophthalmology. Currently assisting with the R01: Healthy Mom Zone Study and the Active Moms Study in the Exercise Psychology Lab.
Abigail Pauley: Healthy Mom Zone Project Coordinator