People
The RISE team
Craig Johnston, Ph.D.
HHP Department Chair
Professor
Dr. Craig Johnston is an 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 Professor
Dr. David Walsh is a Clinical 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
Jessica (Jess) Kirschmann
Doctoral Student
Jess is a PhD Candidate researching lifestyle behaviors in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her ultimate career goal is to own a gym that promotes and educates individuals of all abilities on healthy living and incorporating movement and activity into their daily lives.
Undergraduate Students
Brooks Harrison
Undergraduate Student
Brooks is a senior majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Political Science. He will be attending South Texas College of Law in Fall of 2026, with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Asymmetrical Weight Lifting - Undergraduate Lead, Offset Loading- Undergraduate Assist, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 3: The Dark Side... (of Youth Sports & Parenting)
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Walsh, D. W., Harrison, B., & Johnston, C. A. (2025). Cultivating Peak Performance: Incorporating Creativity and Adaptability in Health Care Providers. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 15598276251409600. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251409600
Alena Vongphakdy
Undergraduate Student
Alena is a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Health, and one of her goals is to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She hopes to continue doing research beyond her undergraduate career and to one day bring new innovations to the realm of rehabilitation science.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Asymmetrical Weight Lifting, Asymmetrical Weight Lifting Fall 2026 Spin-Off, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 5&6: The Dark Side... (of Cost of Controlled Deviance in Hockey/Sport Part 1&2)
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Vongphakdy, A., Day, P., Torres, L., Irhabi, A., Johnston, C. A., Walsh, D. W., Diaz, D. M., & Layne, C. S. (2026, March). The relationship between exercise-induced fatigue and bilateral force asymmetry. Undergraduate Research Day 2026, Houston, TX, United States. (Poster)
Luis Torres
Undergraduate Student
Luis is a senior double majoring in Biology and Kinesiology with aspirations of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He intends to pursue clinical research beyond his undergraduate career, focusing on helping athletes recover faster and reduce injury risks.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Asymmetrical Weight Lifting, Asymmetrical Weight Lifting Fall 2026 Spin-Off.
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Vongphakdy, A., Day, P., Torres, L., Irhabi, A., Johnston, C. A., Walsh, D. W., Diaz, D. M., & Layne, C. S. (2026, March). The relationship between exercise-induced fatigue and bilateral force asymmetry. Undergraduate Research Day 2026, Houston, TX, United States. (Poster)
Ali Irhabi
Undergraduate Student
Ali Irhabi is a freshman double-majoring in Finance and Management with a minor in Biology as a Terry Foundation Scholar. He plans to attend medical school and become a physician who combines clinical care with an understanding of the business side of medicine. He is also a certified clinical medical assistant with experience working in an internal medicine clinic.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Asymmetrical Weight Lifting, Asymmetrical Weight Lifting Fall 2026 Offset-Loading
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Vongphakdy, A., Day, P., Torres, L., Irhabi, A., Johnston, C. A., Walsh, D. W., Diaz, D. M., & Layne, C. S. (2026, March). The relationship between exercise-induced fatigue and bilateral force asymmetry. Undergraduate Research Day 2026, Houston, TX, United States. (Poster)
Patrick Day
Undergraduate Student
Patrick is a junior majoring in Exercise Science with a double minor in Biology and Biochemistry. After college, he intends to attend Medical School to pursue a career in Orthopedic Surgery. Beyond schooling, he is a licensed EMT-B and an active member of the UH Powerlifting Team.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Asymmetrical Weight Lifting, Asymmetrical Weight Lifting Fall 2026 Offset-Loading
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Irshad A., Achanta S., Day P., Kirschmann J.M., Walsh D, Johnston C.A., Parikh P.J. The Effects of Offset Loading Training Stimulus on Neural Functionality and Body Composition. Undergraduate Research Day 2025, Houston, TX, United States. April 2025. (Poster)
Vongphakdy, A., Day, P., Torres, L., Irhabi, A., Johnston, C. A., Walsh, D. W., Diaz, D. M., & Layne, C. S. (2026, March). The relationship between exercise-induced fatigue and bilateral force asymmetry. Undergraduate Research Day 2026, Houston, TX, United States. (Poster)
Snehi Shah
Undergraduate Student
Snehi is in her 3rd year at UH, obtaining a major in Exercise Science and a minor in Public Health and Biology. She plans to attend medical school to become a physician in the sports medicine field, where she can help athletes and active individuals prevent injuries and help them regain mobility.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Offset Loading, Asymetrical Weight Lifting (AWL), National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Keeping Involvement, Commitment, and Kids On the Field Forever (KICKOFF) and Sport Retention
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Memon R.F., Shah S.B., Kirschmann J.M., Walsh D, Johnston C.A., Parikh P.J., (Accepted). Enhanced Functional Brain Connectivity following 6 weeks of Offset Loading Training in Neurotypical Adults.Social Behavioral Medicine. Chicago, IL. April 2026.(Abstract and Poster)
Ahmed K., Kirschmann J.M, Herder E.S., Memon R.F., Shah S.B., Kukkar K.K., Walsh D, Johnston C.A., Parikh P.J.,(In Review). Enhanced Brain Connectivity Following Six Weeks of Upper Extremity Offset Loading Training in Neurotypical Adults. Submitted to the European Journal of Applied Physiology
Keerthana Oman
Undergraduate Student
Keerthana Oman is a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Kinesiology. She plans to attend medical school and pursue pediatric oncology, where she hopes to care for children facing life-altering diagnoses and contribute to research that improves long-term outcomes and supports inclusive, personalized care for children with disabilities.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics
Zuhayr Hussain
Undergraduate Student
Zuhayr Hussain is a sophomore majoring in Health Promotions with a minor in Biology. He plans to attend medical school to pursue family medicine with a sports medicine fellowship to help athletes and individuals return to their active lifestyles pain-free.
Reedah Memon
Undergraduate Student
Reedah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Public Health and Kinesiology and will begin medical school in Fall 2026. She hopes to become a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, drawn to the field's focus on restoring function, improving mobility, and helping patients regain independence, while also working to make quality care more accessible to underserved communities.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Offset Loading, Asymmetrical Weightlifting (AWL), National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Sport Retention, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 2: The Dark Side... (of Success) and Keeping Involvement, Commitment, and Kids On the Field Forever (KICKOFF)
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Memon R.F., Shah S.B., Kirschmann J.M., Walsh D, Johnston C.A., Parikh P.J., (Accepted). Enhanced Functional Brain Connectivity following 6 weeks of Offset Loading Training in Neurotypical Adults.Social Behavioral Medicine. Chicago, IL. April 2026.(Abstract and Poster)
Ahmed K., Kirschmann J.M, Herder E.S., Memon R.F., Shah S.B., Kukkar K.K., Walsh D, Johnston C.A., Parikh P.J.,(In Review). Enhanced Brain Connectivity Following Six Weeks of Upper Extremity Offset Loading Training in Neurotypical Adults. Submitted to the European Journal of Applied Physiology
Nour Shehata
Undergraduate Student
Nour is a junior majoring in Nutritional Science with minors in Biology and Medicine & Society and plans to attend medical school. Inspired by her work in the RISE lab, she aspires to become a pediatrician with a focus on promoting equitable access to sport and nutrition and improving health outcomes in underserved populations.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics, Feasibility of Accelerometry, Sports Curriculum
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Cepni, A. B., Shehata, N., Ullah, F., & Johnston, C. A. (2024). Habit formation in older adults. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 19(3), 368–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241301743
Kirschmann, J., Cepni, A., Chea, J., Santillan, C., Achanta, S., Shehata, N., & Johnston, C. (2024, June 23–25). SOAR (Special Olympics Athletes Race) Into Health: Accelerometry Feasibility [Poster presentation]. AAIDD 149th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, United States.
Shehata, N., & Saleem, A. (2025, April 10). Transforming Health Outcomes for Special Olympic Athletes: A Family-Centered Approach [Poster presentation]. Undergraduate Research Day, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
Miah Barras
Undergraduate Student
Miah is a senior majoring in Fitness and Sports with a minor in Human Nutrition and Food Sciences. She plans to earn her CSCS certification and pursue a master’s degree to further develop her expertise in performance training and applied sport science. Her long-term goal is to work with collegiate athletes before expanding her focus into holistic health, wellness, and medicine, with the mission of improving the overall health and quality of life for individuals across all populations.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics, Asymmetrical Weightlifting, Student Athlete Resource Inventory
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
"Validation of Bertec Force Plate Treadmill for Asymmetry Measures" - Barras, Miah A.; Broaddus, Olivia D.; Martinez-Diaz, Dacia; Layne, Charles; and Johnston, Craig (2026) "Validation of Bertec Force Plate Treadmill for Asymmetry Measures," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 224. Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/224
"Concentric vs. Eccentric Asymmetry in Force Production During Pushups" - Abstract (https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/225/) (3)"Validation of Bertec Force Plate Treadmill for Asymmetry Measures" - Poster
Eman Loya
Undergraduate Student
Eman Loya is a third-year student at the University of Houston, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology. 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.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Offset Loading, Special Olympics, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast Manager, Directed Episode 1: The Dark Side... (of The R.I.C.E Method), Directed Episode 7: The Dark Side... (of Coaching/Leadership featuring Coach Fritz).
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Society Behavior Medicine Poster -Chicago (April 2026), AAIDD Presentation- Chicago (June 2026) AAIDD, Texas Convention 2026 (in progress same as Nabiha)
Nabiha Khan
Undergraduate Student
Nabiha Khan is a junior majoring in Psychology with minors in Business Administration and Biology, pursuing a career in pediatric dentistry. She is passionate about early prevention and expanding access to care for underserved children, intending to help them develop lifelong healthy habits and positive relationships with oral health while improving their overall well-being.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics, Offset Loading, College Student Research Inventory, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 2: The Dark Side... (of Success).
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
AAIDD Texas Convention 2026
Joseph Dunn
Undergraduate Student
Joseph is a junior majoring in Public Health and minoring in Nutrition with a focus in Kinesiology. His interest lies in preventative health and wellness, and he aspires to be a corporate Wellness Director. He has a passion for bodybuilding and physical fitness, with a long-term career goal of owning his own gym.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics (Fall 2025-present)
Maryam Morsi
Undergraduate Student
Maryam Morsi is a senior at the University of Houston, majoring in Human Resources with a strong interest in health promotion and community wellness. Through her involvement with Special Olympics programming, she supports athletes and their families by encouraging physical activity, healthy lifestyle habits, and accessible health education.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics (Spring 2024-Present), The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 4: The Dark Side... (of Health Disparities in Sport)
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Morsi, M., Agha, H., Kirschmann, J., Walsh, D. W., & Johnston, C. A. (2026). Pain and performance: Associations with health and psychosocial functioning in young adult women [Research poster]. University of Houston Undergraduate Research Day.
Abdelghani, Y., Morsi, M., & Hinds, J. (2026). Associations between nicotine vaping and mental health, sleep quality, and BMI among college students (ages 18–30) [Research poster]. University of Houston Undergraduate Research Day.
Hana Agha
Undergraduate Student
Hana Agha graduated from the University of Houston in Fall 2025 with a degree in Health and minors in Biology and Business Administration. Hana plans to pursue a career in healthcare focused on accessible, inclusive care and reducing health disparities across all communities.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics (Spring 2024-Present), The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast - Directed Episode 4: The Dark Side... (of Health Disparities in Sport), Fidelity Data Collector (Spring 2025–Present), Fidelity Instructor (Fall 2025), Special Olympics Facilitator Training Video Coordinator (Spring 2026)
List of Publications (Posters, Papers, or Published Abstracts):
Morsi, M., Agha, H., Kirschmann, J., Walsh, D. W., & Johnston, C. A. (2026). Pain and performance: Associations with health and psychosocial functioning in young adult women [Research poster]. University of Houston Undergraduate Research Day.
Racquel Swofford
Undergraduate Student
Racquel Swofford is a senior majoring in Exercise Science and plans to attend a doctoral program in physical therapy after graduation. She wants to work with professional athletes and some of the general public.
List of current and past RISE Lab Projects:
Special Olympics, Offset Loading, AWL, The Dark Side of... (Sport & Health) Podcast Manager, Directed Episode 1: The Dark Side... (of The R.I.C.E Method)
Past Doctoral Students
Morgan Washington
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.
Past Students
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.