Department of Health and Human Performance
What We Do:
We educate students in the study of three undergraduate majors: Health Promotion, Kinesiology, and Communication Sciences and Disorders. The department promotes and integrates scientific research and active learning in each of these areas. We are dedicated to the delivery of programs and coursework that promote health, facilitate rehabilitation, encourage disease prevention, and enhance overall human performance.
How We Stand Out:
- Labs are integrated into classwork
- Community based learning projects focusing on community outreach
- Excellent lab facilities with cadaver lab
- $47.5 million, state-of-the-art facility, Leahy Hall
- Jesuit Education inspires reflection and a deeper level of thinking
Programs:
- - Dedicated to the scientific inquiry of physical activity and exercise as they affect human performance across a spectrum of settings and populations.
- - Students study public health to learn how to use behavior change theories, communication strategies and advocacy efforts to improve the health status of individuals, communities, states and the nation.
- - Prepares students for careers as speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The program explores the many types of communication impairments in speech, language and hearing, and how to treat them.
- Speech-Language Pathology MS - This online program will prepare students to provide services for individuals from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds with various types and severities of communication and/or related disorders, differences and disabilities, across the lifespan.
- - Based on the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) the coaching concentration helps meet the needs of those who wish to coach and work more effectively with young athletes from youth through interscholastic sports.
- - Designed to increase the knowledge base of the depth and implications of nutritional problems and their effects on chronic illnesses.
- - Designed so students from different fields of study, and professional practice, can extend profession-specific perspectives to create transdisciplinary, integrative strategies to innovatively address health issues and health inequities.
Meet Our Faculty:
- Our faculty members represent a diverse range of backgrounds and specialties, including:
- Anatomy
- Athletic Training
- Biomechanics
- Community Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Strength & Conditioning
Professors are experts and enthusiastic educators in their areas of interest. Adjunct professors working in related fields bring additional support to the full-time faculty.
Dr. Debra L. Fetherman Ph.D, MCHES, ACSM EP-C, ACSM EP-C
Chair
Department Chair, Community Health Education / Health Promotion Program Director
B.S., Ohio University
M.S., University of Central Arkansas
Ph.D., Marywood University
Phone: 570-941-7111
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Paul T. Cutrufello Ph.D
Professor and Kinesiology Program Director
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Bloomsburg University
Ph.D., Marywood University
Phone: 570-941-5841
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Joan A. Cebrick Grossman Ph.D, RDN
Associate Professor
B.S., King鈥檚 College
M.S., Colorado State University
Ph.D., Marywood University
Phone: 570-941-4721
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Michael Landram Ph.D
Associate Professor
B.S., Truman State University
M.S., Appalachian State University
Ph.D. University of Rome "Foro Italico"
Phone: 570-941-4425
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Andrew C. Venezia Ph.D
Associate Professor
B.S., Bloomsburg University
M.S., Bloomsburg University
Ph.D., Neuroscience & Cognitive Science, University of Maryland
Phone: 570-941-6745
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Joseph K. Pellegrino, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
B.S., Rutgers University
M.S., University of Montana, Missoula
Ph.D., Rutgers University
Phone: 570-941-4559
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Emily E. Gerstle, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
B.S., Denison University, Granville, Ohio
M.S., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Ph.D., Univesity of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Phone: 570-941-7765
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Hope E. Baylow, D.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Associate Professor-Founding Program Director, Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
B.A., Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
M.A., Long Island University, CW Post, Brookville, New York
D.A., Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologist
Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders
Phone: 570-941-4052
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Laura Chapman, Ph.D, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor-Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
B.A., Michigan State University, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Music
M.A., Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Speech-Language Pathology
Ph.D, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologists (CCC-SLP)
Phone: 570-941-4658
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Aaron Ziegler
Assistant Professor
B.A., Spanish/B.F.A., Theater University of Michigan
M.A., Speech Language Pathology, Northwestern University
Ph.D., Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh
Certificate in Vocology from the National Center for Voice and Speech
Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University
Phone: 570-941-5527
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Tara Carito M.S., CCC-SLP
Clinical Education Coordinator
B.S., Marywood University
M.S., Marywood University
Assistive Technology Specialist, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologist
Level II Teaching Certificate, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Phone: 570-941-4349
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Christiane McDonald, M.S., CCC-SLP
Faculty Specialist
B.S., East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
M.S., Misericordia University, Pennsylvania
Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologists (CCC-SLP)
Certificate from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association
Phone: 570-941-4658
Send an email
Inside the Classroom:
- Challenging and rigorous academics
- Service learning projects embedded in class requirements
- Hands-on, laboratory experience
New Facility
Leahy Hall, the $47.5 million, eight story home for the undergraduate and graduate departments of exercise science, occupational therapy and physical therapy, has 25 state-of-the-art laboratories, nine traditional and active-learning classrooms, nine group study rooms, more than 50 faculty offices and multiple simulation environments.
The new building is designed to facilitate research, expand service-learning projects, and put the best simulation environments, applied-science laboratories, equipment and technology directly in the hands of students and faculty. Learn more.
Student Research:
The department is committed to the advancement of knowledge in Kinesiology. Faculty research in contemporary topics gives students the opportunity to work alongside experts.
Kinesiology majors are often represented during the University's annual Celebration of Student Scholars, recognizing scholarly work through poster and verbal presentations. Students also present this research at local and national conferences such as the American College of Sports Medicines (ACSM) annual conference.
Career Outcomes:
草榴社区 graduates with kinesiology degrees work in diverse positions in a variety of programs including:
- Corporate wellness
- Community/hospital wellness programs
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
- Research Centers
- Athletic teams (strength and conditioning specialists)
Graduate Study:
Approximately 85% of kinesiology graduates continue their studies. The largest percentage continues into the DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) program at the 草榴社区. Others pursue study in areas include:
- Physician's assistant
- Clinical exercise physiology
- Medicine
- Nutrition
- Biology
- Physiology
- Exercise science
- Biomechanics
Accreditation:
Faculty Resources
Student Resources
- Kinesiology Student Handbook 2024-25
- Kinesiology Clearances 2024
- PCPS Advising Center
- Career Services
- CTLE
- CHEW
- Financial Aid
- Library
- Registrar's Office
- Student Health Services
- Technology Support Center
- Kinesiology Internship Manual (380)
- Kinesiology Program Outcomes by Academic Year
Hear from Our Alumni
Our alumni work in a variety of fields, from physical therapy to emergency medicine to epidemiology. Many earn graduate degrees, such as Julia Burrill '19, G'22.
Read Stories About Our Graduates
