Sport Management  News

Female sport analytics students look to transform their love of math, sports into STEM careers

“Seeing there is a community of really amazing women in the industry, no matter how small, is proof I can succeed there as well. This has been a real inspiration for me, and I imagine it will be for other women,” says Brown, who is a member of the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and the newly formed Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club, where she serves as vice president.

For women in Syracuse University’s sport analytics program that admitted its fifth class this Fall, networking with female role models in sports is essential as they enter a traditionally male-dominated field. With ongoing national efforts to encourage more young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM fields, female students in Falk’s sport analytics program are inspiring a new generation to follow in their footsteps.

“Our female sport analytics majors are truly trailblazers, jumping in headfirst to apply their skills and knowledge to this important aspect of sports business,” says Rodney Paul, professor of sport management and founding director of the sport analytics program. “They recognize they are role models and genuinely value, respect, and honor that role. They are leading the way for young women who love both sports and STEM programs in middle school and high school to careers in sports.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that through 2024, mathematical science occupations, such as data analysts and statisticians, are expected to grow at rates higher than average. From analyzing player performance to evaluating the effectiveness of sponsorships and advertising, organizations rely more than ever on trained professionals to process and analyze data.

Brown grew up watching her brother play sports, spending her free time studying baseball. She credits her calculus and studio art teachers for the skills and confidence to pursue a career in sport analytics and feels that inspiration is important to pass on. In addition to serving as a peer advisor and teaching assistant for first-year students, Brown also mentored high school students during Falk College’s Summer 2020 Berlin Sport Analytics Academy to enhance their analytical problem-solving and presentational skills. The Academy is made possible through generous support from Syracuse University Trustee and alumnus, Andrew T. Berlin ’83.

Like Brown, having siblings on travel sports teams that took her family across the country fueled Alison Gilmore’s passion for sports. “I was pretty good at writing but loved math, and I wanted to combine my passion for math with sports,” says Gilmore, a first-year sport analytics major.

During her sophomore year of high school, her father mentioned Syracuse University’s new program in sport analytics he’d heard about at work. She researched the program that night.

“It was exactly what I wanted. There was nothing else like it. And if I went anywhere but here, it would not have been the same. I am just very grateful for this opportunity.”

Gilmore is also a member of the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and Sport Analytics Women Club. “Our program is very networking-oriented from the beginning. It is amazing and gratifying so early to have access to these professionals. It sets us up to succeed because we see what skills are needed to get to their levels,” says Gilmore.

Referencing professional broadcasters Holly Rowe and Maria Taylor, as well as San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken as role models for aspiring female sport professionals, Gilmore says, “given the roles these women are in, younger girls see these are attainable goals and gain confidence.”

Second-year sport analytics student Mackenzie Mangos has minors in economics and information management and technology, and plans to graduate in three years. As a high school student-athlete who captained her teams in soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball, Mangos always loved math, envisioning her major to follow that path. “The sport analytics major bridges two things I love: sports and math,” says Mangos, who plans to finish her degree in 2022.

Leadership qualities she fostered throughout high school continued when she arrived at Syracuse University, participating in the prestigious SABR Diamond Dollars Analytics Competition at New York University as a first-year student. It was a natural transition for her to start the Sport Analytics Women Club at Syracuse this fall.

“I felt that this club would be a place for women to feel welcome as soon as they get on campus or even before arriving,” says Mangos. The club’s membership, currently at 13 and growing, welcomes students from all across campus. The group hosted three guest speakers virtually this semester, including Olivia Stasiuk, a marketing analytics manager with the Dallas Cowboys; Dafna Aaronson, a performance and people analytics specialist for the Los Angeles Kings; and Bria Grant, senior manager of business intelligence with the Brooklyn Nets.

The group is focused on research projecting how women’s college basketball players will perform in the WNBA and plans to host tutorials on programs like R, Tableau and SQL.

Mangos believes seeing the success of other females in a predominantly male field will inspire more females to enter the industry. “Females are a minority in sport analytics, but there is so much opportunity for us,” says Mangos. “I hope our successes will encourage more women to pursue this career and want to enroll in this major here at Syracuse University.”

To learn more about Falk College’s programs in sport analytics, contact Professor Paul at rpaul01@syr.edu.

Read a related news story from AP News: First woman completing sport analytics degree at Syracuse U.

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A Fighting Spirit

When Falk College sport venue and event management master’s degree student and Syracuse University basketball player Tiana Mangakahia ’19, G’21 returned to the court this season, she scored a major personal victory.

For Mangakahia—a two-time All-ACC First Team member and a 2018-19 All-America honorable mention selection—it was a moment she’d worked hard to reach after overcoming the stage 2 breast cancer that she was diagnosed with in June 2019. Ever the competitor, she endured round after round of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy before being declared cancer-free in November 2019. Throughout the process, Mangakahia stayed close to her teammates, supporting them from the bench as she recovered.

“It’s been difficult to get back into how I used to play, but it’s been such a blessing to even be able to play,” says Mangakahia, a native of Brisbane, Australia. “I have to remind myself that just being out there was my goal. When I first got back, all my emotions were crazy. I was happy, nervous, anxious—I couldn’t believe that the day had come. I couldn’t believe what I had to go through to get there.”

Through it all, basketball served as a welcome refuge—a happy place, she says. When she was able, she played pickup and stayed connected to the game, saying it gave her something to look forward to. “I’ve always loved the sport, and the passion and competitiveness I have for it,” she says. “It helped me stay hopeful.”

A Talent-Laden Team

As the 2020-21 season unfolded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mangakahia found herself in good company on the court. Coach Quentin Hillsman’s nationally ranked Orange feature four returning starters from 2019-20 and a highly touted group of first-year recruits. National media have described the team as “dangerous,” and one reason for that is the dynamic backcourt duo of Mangakahia and Kiara “Kiki” Lewis ’20, G’21, who played point guard last season, leading the team in points, assists and steals while earning All-ACC First Team honors. “This is the best team that I’ve played on at Syracuse,” Mangakahia says. “We have so much talent. We just have to learn to play together—understand how talented we are as a team and how far we can really go.”

Mangakahia can tear a game wide open with explosive play, and is widely recognized on preseason watch lists for national awards. She was named to the Wooden and Naismith lists for most outstanding player; Mangakahia was nominated for the third time to the Nancy Lieberman Award list as a top point guard.

Lewis appreciates that her hard work throughout her career has paid off with recognition, and says that just being able to play during the pandemic has been rewarding. She has looked forward to the whole team coming together and winning games. And with Mangakahia as a backcourt mate, she has embraced shifting from point guard to playing off the ball and shooting. “It’s great playing with her,” Lewis says. “It makes my job easier.”

The Fighting Spirit Heritage

Mangakahia has played basketball competitively since she was young. Her mother was a club basketball president—and with five brothers, there was no shortage of competition. She also may have inherited the fierce fighting spirit of her great-great-grandmother, who is considered one of the most influential Maori women in New Zealand history. She was the first woman to address the country’s Parliament, stood up against alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and advocated for women’s right to vote and hold legislative seats. “She was such a strong woman,” Mangakahia says. “Her name’s Meri Te Tai Mangakahia. I’m named after her; my middle name is Meri.”

When asked about her court vision and passing, she remembers being captivated by her uncle’s passing when the family played pickup games. “It was so cool,” says Mangakahia, who was named to the Australian Senior National Team in July. “I’ve just always been a passer. If it helps get everybody involved in the game, it makes me feel good.”

Those assists piled up quickly at Syracuse as she led the nation in assists (304) and assists per game (9.8) in her sophomore season (2017-18) and became the program’s all-time assist leader in the 2018-19 season. That season, she also surpassed the 1,000-point mark faster than any player in the program’s history. While Mangakahia has always viewed herself as an assist point guard, she credits Coach Q with turning her into a scoring point guard.

Support From the Orange Community

When Mangakahia was diagnosed with cancer, she shared a public statement saying, “This is beatable, and I will fight and win.” She cited the tremendous support she received from the local community and the ’Cuse family. Her family was there for her as well, she says, noting that her brothers shaved their heads in solidarity as she went through treatment. She’s thankful for all the support—including the proceeds from the Tough4T warm-up shirts, which helped her family make the trip from Australia to be with her. Mangakahia was also touched by all of the cards and letters she received, especially from other cancer patients sharing their struggles and calling her an inspiration. “It helped me stay strong for those who were going through it also,” she says. “And the coaching staff and my teammates were amazing through it all.”

Gearing Up for a Long Season

This season’s goal is to win the national championship. But the Orange go game by game and must reach the goals that Hillsman sets for each one. If they fall short, they run and run and run. To execute Coach Q’s up-tempo offense and pressure defense, they have to be in prime physical condition.

Under Hillsman’s guidance, Mangakahia has polished her skills to reach the next level and play professionally. As a veteran player and graduate student, she also recognizes her role as a leader and wants to help the team reach its potential.

Mangakahia says being sidelined on the bench last season helped her become a more vocal leader. She knows her teammates respect her knowledge and says that’s given her the confidence to lead. She likes to talk to teammates individually and encourage them to stay focused, especially amid the challenges of playing during the pandemic. “We have so much depth in our team, and we can go so far. I always remind them that we need every single person,” she says. “With COVID-19 going on, we have to stay engaged and understand that this is a temporary situation for a lifetime goal—winning a national championship.”

~ Adapted from a Syracuse University Story by Jay Cox originally published on January 12, 2021.

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Highlights aplenty from unique Fall 2020 semester

Though this semester was unlike any other here at Syracuse University, we’re incredibly proud of our students, who continued to make huge strides in their academic programs. Also, our faculty continued to make an impact on the sport industry by giving numerous conference presentations and having their research published. It was a semester where guest speakers were hosted virtually and meetings conducted by Zoom.

Here are some of our Fall 2020 highlights:

• The Department of Sport Management formed a Diversity and Inclusion Committee that has met monthly since June 2020 to create new programing and initiatives for students, faculty and staff.
• More than 30 alumni guest lectured in our classes this semester, while another 15 participated as panelists for the 4th annual SPM Alumni in #SportsBiz event in October. We are thankful that so many alumni are willing to volunteer their time to speak with and mentor our students.
• The 16th annual Charity Sports Auction went virtual for the first time in program history. We’re proud to say we raised more than $43,000 for Meals on Wheels Syracuse! The SPM Club’s Charity Auctions have now donated more than $567,000 to charities in the Syracuse community.
• The Soccer Analytics Club and Sport Analytics seniors Kushal Shah and Colin Krantz presented their research at the Midwest Sport Analytics Conference and the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Conference. Sport Analytics freshman Bruce Liska also presented at Carnegie Mellon. Sport Analytics professors Dr. Shane Sanders and Dr. Justin Ehrlich, along with Sport Analytics graduate Dylan Blechner ’20, virtually presented at the Midwest Sport Analytics Conference.
• Twenty-two Sport Management seniors completed their Capstones in Fall 2020.
• Sport Management sophomores Melanie Kelly and Colby Murphy, with faculty mentor Dr. Mary Graham, presented their paper “A Scholarly Exploration of National Football League Teams’ Rationales for not having Cheerleaders” at the 7th Biennial Seneca Falls Dialogues in October.
• Students in this Fall’s SPM 324 Sponsorship and Promotion class partnered with the Football Bowl Association (now called Bowl Season), working with industry leading Sponsor United software to build a sales deck using real-life potential corporate sponsor prospects.
• Sport Management assistant professor Dr. Jeeyoon Kim presented her co-authored research on “Positive externalities from professional sports club in Germany” and “All sports are e-sports?” at the Fall 2020 European Sport Management Conference.
• The Sport Analytics Learning Community took part in a Tableau Workshop as well as hosted professionals from Major League Baseball’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program.
• Sport Analytics senior Dylan McGee presented his research on “Reclassifying Relief Pitchers” at the Fall 2020 UConn Sport Analytics Symposium. Using “K-Means Cluster Analysis on Standard, Batted Ball and PFX Data,” McGee can cluster relievers into new roles based off their strengths/weaknesses.
• More than 400 people joined our Nov. 17 webinar on “COVID-19’s Impact on the Sport Industry” moderated by SU alumnus Mike Tirico. Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming 2021 webinars.
• Sport Analytics senior Samuel Marteka and junior Mackenzie Mangos are working with Sport Analytics assistant professor Dr. Jeremy Losak (SPM ’16) on a research project titled “The Impact of College Conference TV Networks on College Football and Basketball Attendance.” This research is conducted as part of an ACC Initiatives grant (PDF) worth $2,700 from the ACC-CRIA Innovation Initiative Small Grant Program.
• Members of the Football Analytics Club took part in a Mock Case Competition in October. The students were tasked with projecting the contracts and future performance for certain NFL free agents.
• The Sport Management Learning Community hosted several guest speakers this semester, including Syracuse University Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications Sue Edson on the importance of marketing and public relations in the sport industry.
• Our Sport Venue and Event Management graduate program welcomed 15 students to campus in July. Along with classes, the students spent part of the Fall 2020 semester planning a virtual charity event set for Spring 2021.
• Sport Analytics senior Drew DiSanto took the Fall 2020 semester off from classes at Syracuse University when he was offered a full-time, on-site internship with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

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Sport Analytics senior jumps at chance to intern with Buffalo Bills

Although the full-time, paid internship meant taking a leave of absence from his SU classes for the semester, DiSanto knew it was an opportunity he could not pass up.

“I applied knowing that if I was offered the position, there was no way I could turn it down,” said DiSanto, who has been with the team since July 2020. “I knew I would need to take the semester off from classes, but the opportunity to work for an NFL team does not come around very often. This internship is a great resume builder, and it has taught me many valuable, hands-on aspects of working in sport.”

DiSanto worked in the Bills’ Analytics and App Development Department as a Data Analytics Intern. Using Microsoft SQL, he managed stored procedures and views, and analyzed the Bills’ opponents to find their strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities or threats they may pose on gameday.

“I learned a lot about communication, and how to convey the data we utilize to the coaches and scouts on a daily basis,” he said. “I know I’m in the right workplace when my 10- to 12-hour days feel like three hours.”

DiSanto, who is from Williamson, NY, will return to SU’s campus in January 2021 to complete his classwork in Spring 2021 and Fall 2021, with a goal of graduating in December 2021. Does he hope to continue to work in football?

“I am not sure yet about my future plans,” he said. “I am considering pursuing my Master in Applied Data Science at Syracuse. However, everyone at the Bills has been incredibly kind and I am very fond of this organization.”

Learn more about the Sport Analytics program.

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Nov. 17 webinar focuses on COVID-19’s impact on the sport industry

Falk College epidemiologists Dr. Brittany Kmush and Dr. David Larsen discussed what sport and entertainment industry practitioners can expect heading into 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were joined by three sport industry executives, who gave insight into how the pandemic has affected their respective sectors of the industry:

• Nick Carparelli, executive director, Bowl Season
• Sandy Montag, president/chief executive officer, The Montag Group
• Kevin Rochlitz, senior vice president/chief sales officer, Baltimore Ravens

Mike Tirico spent 25 years handling a variety of assignments for ESPN, ESPN Radio and ABC Sports before joining NBC Sports in 2016 as one of the most recognizable faces and voices in the industry.

“We are thrilled to present this webinar to a global audience on a topic that is affecting people around the world,” said Michael Veley, director and chair of Syracuse University’s Department of Sport Management. “Dr. Larsen and Dr. Kmush are respected epidemiologists who will shed light on our current situation regarding the pandemic and what those of us in the sport industry can expect as we wrap up 2020 and head into 2021. And with Mike Tirico as the moderator, this is an event you don’t want to miss.”

Dr. Larsen is an epidemiologist with expertise in global health and specializes in the surveillance, control, and elimination of infectious disease. Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, he has led efforts on a statewide wastewater surveillance platform for New York, and guided Syracuse University in bringing students back for the Fall 2020 semester.

Dr. Kmush’s areas of specialization include epidemiology, global health, infectious diseases, vaccines, nutrition, immunology and environmental exposures particularly within the context of risks for infectious diseases. Since the pandemic began, she has been instrumental in helping to guide Syracuse University in its efforts to stay ahead of the virus.

View a recording of the event.

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New Research: NFL Teams with Women Executives Have Fewer Player Arrests

Keeping players on the field and out of the courtroom is key for a team’s success. A new study provides a possible pathway to reduce off-the-job player misconduct and it starts at the top. The researchers, Profs. Mary Graham and Bhavneet Walia from Syracuse University along with Chris Robinson from Tulane University, have concluded that teams which employ more women in executive level positions experience significantly fewer player arrests.

“Serious off-the-job misconduct by high-profile employees is not uncommon in professional sport team organizations, media and entertainment firms, and public-facing institutions, said Graham, Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University’s Falk College and lead author on the study. “Our research suggests that firms searching for preventive and remedial solutions to misconduct should consider a basic structural solution to this problem: ensuring that there is a critical mass of women on the top management team.”

“Our findings also have implications for organizations beyond those employing professional sport players, particularly visible organizations with high-profile employees, such as media and entertainment companies; and public-facing entities such as courts, schools, and government entities,” said Walia, an Assistant Professor of Public Health. “One of our goals was to shed light on organizational factors which might prevent, redress, or ameliorate instances of off-the-job misconduct by high-profile employees, including in the NFL.”

Among the study’s key findings:

• Having a critical mass of women executives is associated with a reduction in player arrests of 21% for that team organization. Put differently, a critical mass of women executives (two or more) was associated with 0.33 fewer arrests.
• The likelihood that a team, in any given season, experiences a player arrest is 15.4% lower for team organizations with a critical mass of women executives.
• Also examined: the relationship between a critical mass of executives who are racial/ethnic minorities and player arrests. They found no relationship between having a critical mass of minority executives and player arrests.” However, the authors speculate that the low numbers of minority executives might make it difficult to discern any effects.

“No studies have examined the relationship between gender diverse management teams and employee misconduct,” said Robinson, a sports law attorney who is also a member of the research team. “We argue that the gender diversity of organizations’ executive ranks has the potential to shape organization-level culture and norms of behavior that could influence employee conduct. Greater gender diversity also has the potential to shift strategic priorities and improve decision making.”
The study is in-press in the Journal of Organizational Behavior. More information is available at the study website.

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Congratulations to SPM, SAL and SVEM Class of 2020 graduates

With the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic year, we recognize and commend all of our students who excelled in their courses and also made contributions outside of class in the areas of service, leadership, research and scholarship. For those graduating in the Class of 2020, we wish you well and know you have what it takes to bring about change in the places you work and live. Falk College looks forward to learning about your accomplishments and how you are making a difference.

The Department of Sport Management congratulates the following award winners honored for excellence in these areas:

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SPM Newsletter highlights how department persevered through 2020’s challenges

We welcomed a new decade with innovative ideas and graduated our largest class of students in May 2020, but even with the excitement surrounding major milestones, this new chapter did not unfold as we – or anyone – had planned. Find out how our students, faculty, staff and alumni embraced virtual learning and remote employment.

2019-2020 SPM Newsletter

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Closer to Home, Students Expect to Go Far

It was winter 2020 and six Corcoran High School seniors had some big decisions to make. Their final year in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) was winding down, the new coronavirus was changing life as they knew it and their college destinations needed to be finalized. Marwa Abedrabbah, Bobby Cecile, Sam Livingston, Connor Shanahan, Joey Sojewicz and Kyle Tran—all high-achieving students and outstanding athletes—had nearly unlimited college options. Acceptance letters had come from Fordham, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Rochester Institute of Technology and other reputable colleges, and the opportunity to venture far from home was both appealing and intimidating. They weighed their options, did some soul searching and went with the school that was closest to their homes and their hearts.

All six chose Syracuse University.

And three choose Falk College, Joey Sojewicz, Bobby Cecile and Connor Shanahan.

Shanahan, Corcoran High School’s 2020 valedictorian, says it was the opportunity to major in sport analytics at Falk College that tipped the scale toward Syracuse. “It’s a very unique program, and I want to have a career that I am really passionate about,” he says. “I also feel like it’s important to stay close to family and friends during this uncertain time.”

Sojewicz and Cecile also chose Falk College; Sojewicz will study sport management and Cecile is undecided about his major. “I want to have a career that involves working with a professional sports league, and I believe that Falk College will help me get there,” he says.

All of the Corcoran graduates had a powerful motivation for choosing Syracuse University: Each one will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship through the Say Yes to Education program. This partnership between the SCSD and Syracuse University began in 2008 to address issues like poverty, dropout rates and educational deficits in the urban school community. Since that time, more than $10 million in scholarships and grants has been awarded and $120 million in state, federal and institutional aid has been leveraged. SCSD students do not get special consideration for admission, but they do have a strong incentive to stay on track academically. “That’s almost impossible to turn down,” says Cecile.

Diversity Matters

The students all believe that attending urban schools with a wide range of racial and socioeconomic disparity in the student body has given them good preparation for life on a diverse college campus.

“I got a great education at the SCSD schools,” says Shanahan, a National Merit finalist. “The teachers and staff are really interested in helping the students, and it’s reflected in a strong community.” Shanahan is this year’s recipient of the 1870 Scholarship, the highest recognition offered by Syracuse University’s Office of Admissions. Named for the year of the University’s founding, it recognizes academic and personal accomplishments, community service and demonstrated caring for others.

“When it comes to the quality of the Syracuse City School District, I give it a 10 out of 10,” says Sojewicz. “It’s excellent!” He is a recipient of Syracuse University’s Chancellor’s Scholarship, which recognizes academic achievement based on credentials, performance on standardized tests, class rank, leadership and citizenship.

Corcoran High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB), a challenging academic curriculum recognized by some of the world’s leading universities. All three students took part in IB, which required them to take higher-level classes and fulfill core requirements like an extended essay and theory of knowledge course to broaden their educational experience. “It really made me college-ready and I believe it has put me in a position to be successful,” says Cecile.

It’s not just academics they’re excited about. “I want to take advantage of all the experiences that are available to me, like study abroad and internships,” says Sojewicz. “I want to make friendships and connections that will last a lifetime,” says Shanahan.

Sports and Hobbies

The students have followed Syracuse University athletics with great passion most of their lives, and all have distinguished themselves in that arena. Sojewicz and Shanahan were captains of Corcoran’s cross country team, and also took part in indoor and outdoor track. Cecile was a varsity lacrosse player, and earned the prestigious Coach’s Award.

“Bobby was a key player as an attackman junior year and was going to be a huge part of our offense senior year,” says Matt Dowd, Corcoran’s varsity lacrosse coach. “Unfortunately they missed out on these opportunities due to the COVID-19 virus.” Cecile also played basketball and soccer at Corcoran and hopes to play club lacrosse at Syracuse this year.

For Shanahan, a fascination with robotics will be well served at Syracuse. His Corcoran High School robotics team made it to the world championship of the Vex Robotic Competition this year, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus. ECS’s Orange Robotics team placed eighth out of 48 teams the first time it competed in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers student design competition in 2017. ECS offers an Introduction to Robotics class where students originate designs like sumo wrestling robots, and the University also has a new unmanned aerial systems club—a big draw for students who want to experiment with drones.

All of the students live within a 10-minute drive of the University. There are a lot of family connections to Syracuse University. Cecile’s parents, James ’88, L’91 and Julie Cecile L’91, are both graduates of the College of Law. His sister Hannah ’19 is an alumna and their grandfather, Robert Cecile, was associate dean of University College. Shanahan’s parents both earned graduate degrees at Syracuse; his mother, Amanda G’94, from Falk College and his father, Michael ’08, from the School of Education. Sojewicz’s grandfather, Timothy Gorman, L’72, is a graduate of the College of Law.

Even though their senior year in high school was cut short by the pandemic, the students have pushed aside their disappointment and feel optimistic about what awaits them in the next chapter of their lives. They are united in their belief that Syracuse University will give them a valuable connection to a network of people focused on the greater good.

“Being Orange means being part of a strong community that works together to improve society,” says Shanahan.

Adapted from a SU Story by Mary Beth Horsington published on August 28, 2020.

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Falk College welcomes new faculty and staff

Syracuse University’s Falk College is pleased to welcome four new staff members who have joined Falk College in the past academic year: Donna Fecteau, Administrative Assistant in the Department of Exercise Science; Julia Fuqua, Office Coordinator in the Department of Exercise Science; Heather Mauro, Internship Placement Coordinator in the School of Social Work, and; Melissa Tobin, Counselor, Academic Services in the Office of Student Services.

In addition, Falk College is pleased to announce the appointment of six new faculty members, Bernard Appiah, Maria Erdman, Kenneth Marfilius, Miriam Mutambudzi, Latha Ramalingam, and Maryam Yuhas, in addition to six faculty who join Falk College with the Department of Exercise Science, Tiago Barreira, Tom Brutsaert, Keith DeRuisseau, Kevin Heffernan, Joon Young Kim, and Kristen Konkol.

Bernard Appiah

Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health

Bernard Appiah joins the Department of Public Health in Falk College as Assistant Professor in Fall 2020.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Appiah was Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health in the Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health and Public Health Studies. He was the Founding Director of the Research Program on Public and International Engagement for Health. Previously, Appiah served as a Drug Information Pharmacist/Publications Manager at the National Drug Information Resource Centre (NDIRC) for the Ministry of Health in Ghana. He has taught courses such as environmental and occupational health communication, social context of population health, and comparative global health systems.

Appiah’s research interests lie in socio-behavioral approaches for exploring public health issues, global health and environmental health with emphasis on socio-behavioral change communication, public/community engagement interventions, and dissemination of information/knowledge through culturally appropriate communication channels. He is published in several journals, including Psychiatry Research, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) mHealth and uHealth, and authored book chapters, technical reports, and many articles for mass media. He has presented at the International Workshop for Practitioners of Engagement Between Health Researchers and Schools in Kilifi, Kenya, the West African Society of Pharmacologists (WASOP) Conference in Ghana, and the Academy for Future International Leaders (AFIL) Open Session Seminar on Global Health Issues.

Appiah’s research has received support from the Wellcome Trust, UK, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, USAID Ghana, and Texas A&M University. Among the most recent supporters of his research is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Appiah is the recipient of numerous teaching and research fellowships and other honors including being named as a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow in 2018 and 2016. He currently serves as Head of Capacity Building and Research Programmes for the Pan-African Network for Popularization of Science and Technology and Science Communication (African Gong); member of the Healthcare Safety and Quality Expert Committee of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and; reviewer for Public Understanding of Science.

Appiah earned his Dr.PH in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences in 2013 and his M.S. in Science and Technology Journalism from Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, respectively. He earned his master’s in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and his B.Pharm in Pharmacy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.

Tiago Barreira

Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Science

Tiago Barreira joins Falk College as Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. He teaches courses such as systemic physiology and exercise, research methods in exercise and sports science, measurement and evaluation in exercise science, physical activity and public health, and obesity and body composition.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where Barreira has served as Assistant Professor since 2014. Barreira is also the Director of the Kinesmetrics Laboratory at Syracuse University. Prior to joining Syracuse, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Barreira’s research focuses on the measurement of physical activity: establishing validity and reliability evidence of physical activity measurement tools; determining how to use physical activity measurement tools to obtain reliable and accurate information on physical activity patterns; the use of physical activity measurement tools as a motivation to promote increased physical activity levels, and; investigating the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors. His work is published in several journals, most recently in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, Disability and Rehabilitation, Artery Research, and the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness among others. He has given presentations for the International Biometric Conference, The American College of Sports Medicine, and the International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement, among others.

Past research has received support from the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Institute for Educational Sciences SHAPE America, Fight for Hearts, among others. Barreira is a journal editor for the Physical Activity section of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise and is a manuscript reviewer for several journals and publications. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Measurement and Evaluation Special Interest Group from SHAPE America and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine Mid-Atlantic Chapter Research Committee.

Barreira earned his Ph.D. in Human Performance with a concentration in Kinesmetrics in 2010 from Middle Tennessee State University, where he also earned his M.S. in Exercise Science. He also earned a B.A. Physical Education and B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Tom Brutsaert

Professor, Department of Exercise Science

Tom Brutsaert joins Falk College as Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. In the department, he teaches courses such as energy metabolism and exercise, physiology of exercise, environmental physiology, high altitude physiology and biology, and human biological variation.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where Brutsaert has served as Professor since 2016 and previously as Associate Professor since 2009. At Syracuse, Brutsaert is the Director of the Altitude Simulation Laboratory, holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Anthropology, and helps to coordinate the Human Performance Laboratory. Before joining Syracuse University, he held several positions at SUNY Albany. There, he was a Fellow in the Center for Social and Demographic Analysis, and was Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology from 2005 to 2009 after being promoted from Assistant Professor. He also served as Co-Director of the Human Biology Program from 2003 to 2004. He completed an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California at San Diego’s School of Medicine in the Division of Physiology.

Brutsaert has broad research interests in how gene and environment interact to produce variation in human athletic ability and health and disease. His work is published in several publications, most recently in Frontiers in Genetics, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, European Journal of Applied Physiology, the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, and International Journal of Molecular Sciences, among others. He has given presentations at the International Conference on Genomics, Leh High Altitude Symposium, World Congress on High Altitude Medicine and Physiology, for the Center for Physiological Genomics, and others.

Past research has received support from the National Science Foundation (NSF Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Geographic Foundation, and a Fulbright Specialist Award. Brutsaert serves on the Advisory Editorial Board for Sports Sciences for Health and the Editorial Board for High Altitude Medicine and Biology, and previously served in editorial and reviewer roles for other journals, books, and grants.

Brutsaert earned his Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology in 1977 from Cornell University, where he also earned his M.S. in Human Nutrition and M.A. in Biological Anthropology. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Northeastern University.

Keith DeRuisseau

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Exercise Science

Keith DeRuisseau joins Falk College as Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. He is currently the Chair of the department and teaches courses such as introduction to exercise science, physiology of exercise, and skeletal muscle physiology.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where DeRuisseau has served as Associate Professor since 2012 and previously as Assistant Professor since 2006. Before joining Syracuse University, he was a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida.

DeRuisseau’s research investigates potential mediators of skeletal muscle dysfunction under conditions that include disuse, aging, and trisomy (a model of Down syndrome). An emphasis is placed on how iron, oxidants, and antioxidants contribute to skeletal muscle mass and functional responses. He is published in several journals, most recently in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, the Journal of Applied Physiology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, European Journal of Sport Science, and Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology. He has presented his work at Experimental Biology annual meetings and for the American College of Sports Medicine.

Past research has received support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Diabetes Group of the Hill Collaboration on Environmental Medicine, the Syracuse University Gerontology Center, and others. DeRuisseau is a 2015-16 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant awardee for the Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences. He is a member of the American Physiological Society and invited manuscript reviewer for publications such as Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, and the Journal of Applied Physiology, among others.

DeRuisseau earned his Ph.D. in Movement Science from Florida State University in 2002. He earned his M.S. and B.S. in Exercise Science, both from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Maria Erdman

Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Maria Erdman joins the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in Falk College as an Associate Teaching Professor in Fall 2020. At Syracuse, Erdman will teach in the nutrition program.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Erdman was employed at Morrison Healthcare at Upstate University Hospital as a Clinical Outpatient Dietitian at the Upstate Cancer Center since 2014. Prior to that time, she was a Clinical Inpatient Dietitian. Previously, she was a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at Syracuse University, and also worked as a Laboratory Manager and Research Technician at UC Davis, Yale College, and Syracuse University.

Erdman’s research on nutrition on college campuses is published in Public Health Nutrition and Health Promotion. She has presented at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Exposition of the American Dietetic Association (2010) and NYSDA Annual Meeting (2009). She has given many nutrition lectures and educational sessions at Oasis/Healthlink Learning Center at Upstate Medical University, Upstate Cancer Center, Upstate Healthlink On Air Radio Program, and Upstate Medical University Physical Therapy, among others.

She is the recipient of several awards, including the Upstate Cancer Center Nutrition Services Fund, a grant from the Upstate Foundation to pay the nutrition counseling bills of cancer patients at Upstate Cancer Center, as well as the 2016 President’s Employee Recognition Award, Clinical Team of the Year. She also received the 2010 Outstanding Dietetics Student Dietetic Internship Award from the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA) and the Outstanding Graduate Student in Nutrition Science from Syracuse University. She has served in several volunteer positions for the CNYDA, including president, and has served in volunteer roles at the Crouse Hospital Clinical Dietetics Department, Syracuse City School District, and Community Supported Agriculture of Central New York, among others.

Erdman earned a M.S. in Nutrition Science at Syracuse University in 2009, where she also completed her Dietetic Internship, and a B.S. in Genetics at the University of California, Davis.

She earned certifications as a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO) 2015-20 and a Board Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) 2012-17.

Kevin Heffernan

Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Science

Kevin Heffernan joins Falk College as Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. In the department, he teaches courses such as exercise and aging, cardiac rehabilitation, and advanced cardiovascular exercise physiology.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where Heffernan has served as Dean’s (Distinguished) Associate Professor since 2011. He currently serves as the Director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Syracuse University. Previously, he completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Tufts Medical Center, Molecular Cardiology Research Institute and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging from 2008 to 2011.

Heffernan’s research examines the interaction of diet, nutritional supplementation and exercise, with an emphasis on resistance exercise, on vascular function in health, disease and disability throughout the human lifespan. His work is published in several journals, most recently the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, JAMA Cardiology, and the Journal of Applied Physiology. He has presented recent work on exercise and cardiovascular health at the American College of Sports Medicine and the North American Artery Society scientific conferences as well as work related to health disparities in cardiovascular disease risk to members of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is Past-President of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Past research has been funded by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Current work is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health. Heffernan serves on the Syracuse University Institutional Review Board, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Faculty, is an Aging Studies Institute Research Member and a Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion Faculty Fellow.

Heffernan earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008. He holds a M.S. in Applied Physiology and Nutrition from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Scranton.

Joon Young Kim

Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Science

Joon Young Kim joins Falk College as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. In the department, he teaches courses such as pediatric obesity and systemic physiology and exercise.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where Kim has served as Assistant Professor since 2019. He currently leads the Clinical Research Laboratory at Syracuse University. Previously, he was a National Institutes of Health-supported T32 Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Postdoctoral Associate at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh from 2015 to 2019.

Kim is a Ph.D.-scientist and a clinical researcher in exercise physiology with specific focus on childhood obesity, metabolism, and type 2 diabetes. His research focuses on pathophysiology of youth-onset prediabetes/type 2 diabetes, identification of novel phenotypic biomarkers and genetic targets of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and effects of lifestyle intervention on type 2 diabetes risk in obese youth. His work is published in several high-impact journals including Diabetes Care, Diabetes, and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. He has given presentations at the American Diabetes Association, American College of Sport Medicine, Endocrine Society, and others.

Past research has been funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Arizona State University Research Support Program. He has received scholarships and awards from Yonsei University and Arizona State University, as well as the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes and the Endocrine Society. He currently serves as an Advising Member for the American Diabetes Association’s Exercise Physiology Interest Group Leadership Team, an Organizing/Scientific Committee Member for the World Obesity and Weight Management Congress, and an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Kim earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology from Arizona State University in 2015. He holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Yonsei University in South Korea.

Kristen Konkol

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Exercise Science

Kristin Konkol joins Falk College as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in Fall 2020. She has a dual appointment in the School of Education. In the department, she teaches courses such as structural kinesiology for performance enhancement and injury prevention, structural kinesiology, scientific principles of conditioning, and concepts of fitness. She also runs the internship and experience credits for the department.

Prior to joining Falk College in 2020, the Department of Exercise Science was positioned within Syracuse University’s School of Education, where Konkol has served as Assistant Professor since 2018, and formerly as part-time faculty. Previously, Konkol was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Performance, Exercise Science/Physiology at the Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she taught courses such as individualized exercise, aerobic conditioning, and concepts of fitness, among others. She also held an adjunct faculty position there, as well as coaching positions at the Gustavus Adolphus College. At the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, Konkol held several titles, including lecturer, lab instructor, manager in the Human Performance Laboratory, and performance specialist for professional athletes.

Konkol’s research interests include sport specific training; speed, agility, and quickness training; athletic performance testing; strength and conditioning; exercise immunology; and global perspectives in human performance. Konkol’s work is published in the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, Sport Sciences for Health, Children, Sports and Exercise Medicine Open Journal, and International Journal of Exercise Science.

Konkol currently serves at Syracuse University as the I-Move Program Coordinator and Dance Minor Coordinator. From 2004 to 2006, she served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana and South America. Konlol is a Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Konkol earned her Ph.D. in Sports Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2013. She earned an M.A. in Kinesiology with an Exercise Physiology emphasis and a graduate minor in Complementary and Alternative Therapy and Healing Practices from the University of Minnesota in 2001. She earned her B.S. in Exercise Science with a Cardiac Rehabilitation emphasis from the University of Toledo, where she was a Division I collegiate basketball athlete.

Kenneth Marfilius

Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Social Work

Ken Marfilius joins the School of Social Work in Falk College as an Assistant Teaching Professor in Fall 2020.

Prior to his new appointment at Syracuse University, Marfilius served as a Visiting Teaching Professor in Falk College’s School of Social Work since 2018, and as an Adjunct Faculty Member from 2016 to 2018. Marfilius will serve as the School of Social Work’s Undergraduate Director. He has taught courses on topics such as social work intervention, military culture and social work practice, psychopathology, and others. While active duty, Marfilius served in the U.S. Air Force Biomedical Science Corps in multiple roles: active duty clinical social worker, mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. He was commissioned in 2013 and was discharged in 2016 having obtained the rank of captain. At the Barksdale Air Force Base, Marfilius served in a variety of mental health roles related to sexual assault prevention and response, suicide prevention, and traumatic stress. Marfilius has also worked for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs at the Syracuse VA Medical Center in the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program, and as a Disruptive Behavior Committee Member.

Marfilius has given several presentations and trainings, topics ranging from veteran cultural competence to trauma-informed care, at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference, the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, and the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, among others.

Marfilius is honored with a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. He is a recipient of the U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and has twice been awarded the Barksdale Air Force Base Medical Operations Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Quarter. Marfilius currently serves on several committees at Syracuse University, including his service as Chair of the Council on the Social Work Education Self-Study Steering Committee.

Marfilius earned a Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (D.S.W.) and Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. He earned a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Public Health from Syracuse University. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of North Carolina and is certified in Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

Miriam Mutambudzi

Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health

Miriam Mutambudzi joins the Department of Public Health in Falk College as Assistant Professor in Fall 2020.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Mutambudzi served as a Research Associate in the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and a Guest Epidemiology Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and a Senior Research Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine.

Mutambudzi’s research focus is on chronic disease and occupational epidemiology. Much of her research has largely been directed towards the use of longitudinal data to assess disparities in morbidity, disability, and mortality, with particular interest in onset and progression of chronic diseases, work-related health outcomes, and social determinants of health in vulnerable populations and older adults in Europe and the U.S. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including the European Journal of Ageing, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Science, and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, among many others. She has presented at the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), Epidemiology in Occupation Health Conference (EPICOH), and the Population Association of America (PAA).

Mutambudzi is the 2020 recipient of the Kammer Emmett Award from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) for the most outstanding article published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2019. Past research support includes funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). She is an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Aging and Health and has served as an editorial peer reviewer for many other journals. She is a member of the European Association for Population Studies.

Mutambudzi earned her Ph.D. in Public Health from University of Connecticut in 2012. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a B.A. in International Studies from the West Virginia University.

Latha Ramalingam

Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Latha Ramalingam joins the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in Falk College as Assistant Professor in Fall 2020. She works broadly in areas of metabolic disease, which include obesity and diabetes.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Ramalingam was a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University since 2014. Previously, she served at Indiana University’s School of Medicine as a Postdoctoral Fellow and a Research Assistant.

Ramalingam’s research interests include strategies, both in vitro and in vivo, to investigate the effects of Bioactives (omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D) in maternal obesity using animal models. She also has projects investigating the mechanism behind the role of Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) in beta cells. She has published in several journals, including Scientific Reports, Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, Nutrients, and Diabetes. She has presented her work at the American Society of Nutrition, American Heart Association and Obesity Society.

Ramalingam’s research has been supported by the American Heart Association, the USDA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Obesity Society, and Texas Tech University. She is the recipient of several awards, including Early Career Travel Award for International Congress of Nutrition, Argentina 2017, and 2016 IJO Young Investigator Award, 13^th International Congress of Obesity, Vancouver, Canada and the Early Career Grant Challenge from Obesity Society among other awards. Currently, she serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, International Journal of Diabetes, and Obesity and Nutritional Disorders.

Ramalingam earned her Ph.D. at the Indiana University’s School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in 2014. She also holds a M.Tech from Vellore Institute of Technology’s School of Biotechnology in Vellore, India and a B.Pharm from Sri Ramachandra Medical College’s School of Pharmacy in Chennai.

Maryam Yuhas

Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Maryam Yuhas joins the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies as Assistant Professor in fall 2020. At Syracuse University, Yuhas will teach in the nutrition program.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Yuhas served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, since 2019. Previously, she has practiced as Registered Dietitian in two different clinical settings and has held roles as Graduate Research Assistant for the University of Virginia’s Department of Public Health Sciences, Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, and for Oklahoma State University’s Department of Nutritional Sciences. She has also held other intern, extern, and teaching assistant roles. Yuhas’s research is rooted in the socioecological perspective and focuses on working with minority, low-income, and rural communities to implement and evaluate nutrition- and physical activity-based interventions. She is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) mHealth and uHealth, Journal of Appalachian Health, Contemporary Clinical Trials, Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, and Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. She has given scientific presentations at The Obesity Society, Experimental Biology, and the Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, among others.

Current research projects for which Yuhas serves as Postdoctoral Research Associate are supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Yuhas is the recipient of several awards, including the 2013 Weber Gerontology Scholarship Award at Oklahoma State University and the 2016 Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program Award at Virginia Tech, among others. She currently serves as a reviewer for several journals including the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Journal of Adolescent Health. She is a member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and several community-based advisory boards and coalitions.

Yuhas earned her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech in 2019, specializing in Behavioral and Community Sciences. She earned her M.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Oklahoma State University and her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from Benedictine University. She completed her Dietetic Internship at Oklahoma State University and earned her Registered Dietitian (RDN) credential from Commission on Dietetics Registration in 2014.

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