People
The RISE team
Craig Johnston, Ph.D.
HHP Department Chair
Associate Professor
Dr. Craig Johnston is an Associate Professor of community health promotion at the University of Houston and is the Department Chair for Health and Human Performance. Dr. Johnston has more than 15 years of experience developing, disseminating, and studying school-based health promotion programs with more than 1,500 children. This programming focused on children who experience health disparities. Specifically, Dr. Johnston has over 50 peer-reviewed publication on the impact of school-based programming on the improvement of health in low-income, minority children.
David Walsh, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. David Walsh is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Houston’s Health and Human Performance Department. Dr. Walsh has completed his sport management degrees at all levels of education, starting with the University of Kentucky for his Bachelor’s, Georgia State University for his Master’s, and the University of Texas-Austin for his Doctorate. His primary research aim is development through sport, specifically examining how sport affects life transitions and human development, particularly its effects on quality of life. Dr. Walsh has spent his whole life in sport, spending nearly 14 years as a practitioner in both the profit and non-profit sectors before earning his Ph.D. He worked for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks, University Kentucky Athletic Department, AHL’s Kentucky Thoroughblades, USA Football, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
Dr. Walsh is an active contributor in teaching, service, and research. He is an award-winning educator at the University of Houston, earning top educator awards at both the university and college levels. He has served as the Chair of the Athletic Advisory Committee, the interim Faculty Athletic Representative, and multiple years on UH’s Wellness Council. In addition, he served for three years as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners for sport management’s accreditation body, Commission of Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), and was elected into COSMAs Hall of Fame in 2022. Lastly, Dr. Walsh has published both quantitative and qualitative empirical research in leading sport management, leisure, health, and recreation refereed journals. These publications show how resources play a vital role in the sport environment due their potential impact on participants’ transitions and human development.wks, University Kentucky Athletic Department, AHL’s Kentucky Thoroughblades, USA Football, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
Doctoral Students
Morgan Washington
Doctoral Student
Morgan’s primary research aim intends to be about collegiate athletes transitioning out of sport into adult life. She has spent her whole life in sport, 20 years as an elite soccer player, collegiately at two division I institutions and professionally in the United States and abroad. During sport retirement, she had a very difficult time transitioning out of athletics into the working world. She was also a collegiate soccer coach for four seasons, two at Eastern Kentucky University, one year at UMass-Amherst and one at the University of Houston. From these experiences, she realized that she was not alone in her struggles post-retirement from sport. She decided to transition into academia to better the student-athlete experience through research. She has published research on injury in sport but is transitioning into sport administration in her doctoral process. She previously received one grant for a previous project: Ready for Life After Sport Transition? Which used the same recruitment processes as her current proposed project and recruited 500 participants in just eight days. Morgan’s doctoral training experiences along with being an elite collegiate athlete has equipped her to successfully develop this scale and assist athletes in their four-year collegiate career.
Jessica Kirschmann
Doctoral Student
Jessica Kirschmann is a second-year PhD student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Outside of her research, she enjoys tennis, powerlifting, painting, game nights, and hiking. Fun fact: her dog’s names are Fish and S’mores and just think more people need to know that. Looking ahead, she plans to open her own educational weight lifting gym that is dog friendly or work as a researcher for the MLB! She is primarily focused on spearheading the Special Olympics project and playing a major role in the development of the College Student Resource Survey. Additionally, she is taking on responsibilities for the RISE Lab’s Offset Loading project and ROTC intervention and aspires to create an intervention program for soon-to-retire student athletes.
Undergraduate Students
Rahul Jose
Undergraduate Student
Rahul Jose is a third-year undergraduate student studying college students’ well-being. His research is geared toward analyzing the complex factors that influence college students’ mental and physical health. He is keen on understanding the availability and effectiveness of campus-wide and environmental resources on students’ emotional and physical development and their consequences after college. His research extends to how campus resources and environmental factors mold student-athletes to prepare for life outside of college sports. His passions outside of research include running, going to the gym, and spending time with family.
Ayaan Saleem
Undergraduate Student
Ayaan Saleem is a third-year student at University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in medicine & Society. Outside of his research, he enjoys working out, watching basketball, going out to eat, and spending time with family and friends. He aspires to mitigate health disparities and advance health equity by contributing to a mentorship-centered health programs tailored for individuals from underprivileged backgrounds affected by social determinants of health. Through this initiative, he plans to leverage medicine to empower participants to improve their health outcomes, navigate healthcare systems, and access resources effectively. His main objective is to substantiate the effectiveness of this approach through comprehensive research and evaluation, ultimately contributing to the reduction of health disparities. He is currently involved in a specialized intervention program with Special Olympics, collaborating on an 8-week family-centric lifestyle intervention across multiple Special Olympics locations. Our initiative focuses on addressing nutrition and physical activity behaviors specifically tailored for children with intellectual disabilities. He maintains weekly communication with research participants to provide support and monitor their engagement in this program.
Fatima Ullah
Undergraduate Student
Fatima Ullah is a third-year student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Outside of her research, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending quality time with family and friends. Looking ahead, she plans to broaden her research scope to further investigate the comprehensive impacts of physical activity across various demographics. Her primary research focus is on the development and implementation of adaptive physical activities that enhance the mental and physical well-being of individuals with disabilities. This includes exploring how tailored exercise programs can significantly improve health outcomes, and overall quality of life, considering factors like individual mobility, accessibility, and social support.
Racquel Swofford
Undergraduate Student
Racquel Swofford is currently a second-year student at the University of Houston, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Her academic interests are complemented by a passion for traveling, cooking, skiing, cycling, and hiking. In 2024, she participated as a rider in the Texas MS150 for ChampionX, a significant achievement in her cycling endeavors. She plans to continue her training and be involved in this event for the upcoming years. Her future aspirations include attending Physical Therapy School and expanding her research in physical dynamics, health wellness, and injury prevention. Her primary research focus is on Offset Loading and Special Olympics, reflecting her commitment to enhancing the field of kinesiology and contributing to the well-being of diverse populations. Outside of her academic and research pursuits, she remains actively engaged in various physical activities and sports, volunteering at Hospitals expanding her social network in healthcare, embodying a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Eman Loya
Undergraduate Student
Eman Loya is a second-year student at the University of Houston, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Outside of her research, she is passionate about exploring new cultures and has traveled to many countries, which reflects her curiosity and eagerness to learn from diverse experiences. Looking ahead, she is committed to advancing her academic journey with the goal of attending medical school, aspiring to become a doctor dedicated to serving her community. Her primary research interests center on projects within the Special Olympics and Offset Loading, where she focuses on improving accessibility and promoting inclusive practices that foster both mental and physical well-being. She also focuses on social media and podcasts!
Nour Shehata
Undergraduate Student
Nour Shehata is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on improving healthcare outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Special Olympics Family Health Education Program. She is passionate about understanding how promoting healthier lifestyle habits for Special Olympics athletes and their caregivers can enhance their overall well-being, foster long-term positive changes in physical and mental health, and reduce health disparities in underserved communities. In the future, she hopes to further explore health disparities in underserved populations and attend medical school to combine her research and clinical practice to better serve vulnerable communities. Outside of research, Nour enjoys playing the violin, playing volleyball, and spending time with family and friends.
Nabiha Khan
Undergraduate Student
Nabiha Khan is a second-year student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Outside of her research, she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, baking, traveling and reading is something she does occasionally and something she really values. A fun fact about her is that she is from Chicago and loves being in the city! Looking ahead, her goals are to eventually go the dentistry route, further advance my knowledge and understanding of stem, and be an active and important member of this lab.
Julisa Fonseca
Undergraduate Student
Julisa Fonseca is a third-year student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Outside of her research, she enjoys powerlifting and baking. Looking ahead, she plans to go to medical school.
Olivia Broaddus
Undergraduate Student
Olivia Broaddus is a third-year student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology- Exercise Science. Outside of her research, she enjoys going to the gym, being outdoors doing activities, and traveling. Looking ahead, she wants to get a Master’s in Athletic Training. She is involved with Special Olympics Team Organizing and assisting on the ROTC weight loss intervention.
Aaron Chavez
Undergraduate Student
Aaron Chavez is a third-year student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology- Exercise Science. Outside of his research he enjoys roller skating, training Muay Thai, and being outdoors. Looking ahead, he wants to get a Doctorate of Physical Therapy with a specialization in athletes. He is involved with the offset loading team and assisting the Special Olympics team.
Ammar Irshad
Undergraduate Student
My name is Ammar Irshad, I’m a freshman at UH studying Kinesiology as a Tier One Scholar. I’m hoping to study medicine in the future. I joined the RISE lab because I was fascinated by the ongoing Offset Loading project. I spend my free time playing games and sports with friends. I’m excited to learn a lot from this lab!
Zehra Sorangwala
Undergraduate Student
Zehra S. Double Majoring in Psychology & Public Health. Pursuing a Masters in Social Work. Currently a researcher for AthLife, & Offset Loading.
Patrick Day
Undergraduate Student
Hello all! My name is Patrick. I am a sophomore exercise science major on the pre-med track. I love to workout as a hobby and, fun fact, I am part of the UH powerlifting team. In the future, I hope to get accepted into medical school so that I can pursue my dream of becoming a sports medicine doctor. I am currently assisting with the Off-Set loading project and hope to contribute more to the growth of this lab in the near future.
Jordan Chea
Undergraduate Student
Hi! My name is Jordan Chea! I am a Junior Biology Major at UH. I am minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. I love shopping and baking! A fun fact about me is that I love bunnies but I’m allergic to them :( I am working to become a pediatrician and create a positive impact on young children! I am involved in the Special Olympics and Offset projects in the RISE lab. I also help with party planning!
Hayle Ma
Undergraduate Student
Hayle Ma is a freshman at the University of Houston, pursuing degrees in Biology and Kinesiology. She joined the Rise Lab in September 2024, motivated by her interest in medicine and health policy. Her long-term goal is to expand her knowledge in exercise science and find innovative ways to promote health and wellness within the youth. Outside of the lab, Hayle enjoys reading books, playing tennis, and trying new restaurants.
Christopher Santillan
Undergraduate Student
My name is Christopher Santillan, I am a 4th year at the University of Houston majoring in Biology with a minor in Kinesiology. My hobbies include watching/playing sports, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. In the future, my goal is to attend medical school to become a Sports Medicine Physician. I am currently contributing to Special Olympics, Offset Loading, party planning, and the podcast.
Sri Achanta
Undergraduate Student
Hi, my name is Sri Achanta! I’m a junior majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Principles of Data and Society. This year I’m looking forward to getting back into ice skating after taking a break. I am currently working with Jess on the Special Olympics survey and literature review.
Kendall Jauma
Undergraduate Student
I am a Junior at UH majoring in Human Nutrition and Foods (Nutritional Sciences Track). My hobbies/interests include exercise, creative projects, health/wellness, and traveling. A fun fact about me is I work as a Medical Scribe for Emergency Medicine Physicians! I aspire to further my education at medical school to become a physician. My current duties in the RISE lab are developing project proposals using our research data, Special Olympics Curriculum for Facilitators, and more to come!
Past Students
Phuong Le
Undergraduate Student
Phuong Le is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Houston. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in biology and nutrition. Phuong's passion lies in underrepresented communities, particularly focusing on individuals ranging from the intellectually disabled to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on advocacy. When not engaged in research and school, Phuong finds joy in hiking, assembling model kits, and watching the adaptations of Jane Eyre novels. A fun fact about Phuong is that she one day wishes to learn how to sail. Following her bachelor's degree, Phuong aspires to enroll into medical school and contribute her skills to supporting underserved communities. As part of RISE, Phuong contributed to the Special Olympics project by assisting with tasks such as reaching out to participants, attending weekly Special Olympics meetings with the athletes, and contributing to various presentations conducted throughout the project, spanning from sessions with athletes to the presentation at the TPHA conference.
Daisy Calderon
Undergraduate Student
Daisy Calderon is a second-year undergraduate student studying students’ eating behaviors at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on analyzing the multiple factors that influence college students’ behaviors, and physical, and mental health. She is eager to understand the relationship between adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors and how it is connected to early and current life experiences and how it affects their health later on. Her passions outside of research include reading poetry, drawing, listening to music, tasting new foods, and exploring the city with friends and family.
Ogechi Obiobasi
Undergraduate Student
Ogechi Obiobasi is a third-year student double majoring in Kinesiology and Psychology. Her primary research goal is to understand the relationship between the body and brain that influences overeating behaviors, eating disorders, obesity, and the underlying internal and external factors that come into play in this interaction, such as family units, social-economic status, race, and personality traits and personal beliefs. In the future, she intends to expand her knowledge and venture into other aspects her major has to offer. Out of school, Ogechi loves playing video games, going on walks, spending time with family and friends, and trying new things.
Laura Thompson
Undergraduate Student
Laura Thompson is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Houston studying Sport Administration and Spanish. Her research is geared toward analyzing the complex factors that influence college students’ overall well-being. Her interest in this research began as a student at the School of Science and Engineering at Townview Magnet Center. Thompson is very involved on campus as a member of Chi Omega Fraternity, the Hispanic Business Student Association, and American Marketing Association. She is the Aquatic Programs Coordinator at UH Campus Recreation - Aquatics, a Marketing Intern for UH Athletics, and a 50/50 Raffle Lead Seller at Dynamo Dash Charities.