Gamal Abdel-Shehid

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours: cultural studies, sport and leisure, and popular culture in the Black Diaspora.

Areas Taught

Sport and Social Inequality

Ali Abdul Sater

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Physical activity and exercise can shape the function and physiology of the immune system. This has important implications on the susceptibility of athletes to infection, particularly upper respiratory infections (URTI). Therefore, understanding how exercise induce these changes allows us to select and optimize training programs that are most beneficial to reduce the incidence and severity of chronic inflammation and help lower infection risks. Our research is focused on: 1) Investigating the molecular mechanisms through which different exercise regimens regulate the immune response. 2) Identifying novel regulators of inflammation and how they are modulated by physical activity. 3) Examining the role of exercise on the immune response during chronic infection models.

Olasunkanmi Adegoke

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle protein metabolism and growth, and how these are modulated in different nutritional and diseased states. I study insulin and nutrient signaling leading to translation initiation, and the ubiquitin proteolytic system. Studies are carried out in rodents, as well as in humans with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Areas Taught

Nutrition, Insulin Signaling, Intracellular Proteolysis.

Chris Ardern

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Surveillance of physical inactivity, obesity, and chronic disease risk factor clustering in Canada. Assessment of the impact of lifestyle modification on population and public health and the role of lifestyle factors in prediction of cardiometabolic risk.

Areas Taught

Physical Activity Epidemiology; Population Health.

Bob Bain

Areas Taught

Coaching Certificate Program - Coaching: Psychological and Sociological Aspects. National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).

Coaching

Head Coach of the men's varsity basketball team, 1973-2011 (38 years).

Other

Captured 6 Ontario university basketball championships during his tenure.

Natasa Bajin

Areas Taught

Gymnastics and fitness practicum courses.

Coaching

Head coach of the women's varsity gymnastics team, 1974 - 1993.

Other

From 1974 to 1993 Natasa Bajin's teams won 12 OWIAA gold medals and four CIAU national championships. In her pre-York days, as an athlete, she had been the Yugolsav national champion for 11 consecutive years.

Joe Baker

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Development and maintenance of expert sport performance, talent identification, stereotypes and performance.

Areas Taught

Expert Sports Performance, Aging and Skill Maintenance.

Rebecca Bassett-Gunter

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. My research is focused on understanding health promotion and the development of optimally effective health promotion messages targeting psychosocial predictors of behaviour. I am particularly interested in health promotion among special populations (e.g., people with SCI, MS), as well as children and youth. My research has focused on understanding the role of parents and the school environment in youth health promotion. Further, my research has focused on understanding the relationship between body image and physical activity.

Areas Taught

Psychology of Physical Activity and Exercise Across the Lifespan.

Angelo Belcastro

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. My primary focus is on the breakdown (assembly and disassembly) of striated muscle organelles and the role of calcium activated proteases, in particular calpain (CAPN1-2), during the control of these processes in health and disease. In addition to the activation and regulation of CAPN1-2, studies aimed identifying the factors contributing to the targeting of selected muscle proteins marked for breakdown are underway. Finally, the Paediatric Exercise Physiology Laboratory is focused on the study of improvement of children's muscle health and fitness through physical activity. Health & Fitness Behaviours.

Areas Taught

Muscle Injury and Damage in Health and Disease.

Other

Served as Chair of the School of Kinesiology and Health Science from 2010 to present. Also serves as the Executive Director for York University's new Markham Campus.

Olivier Birot

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Molecular mechanisms leading either to the regression or the growth (angiogenesis) of blood vessels in skeletal and cardiac muscle in response to physiological (physical exercise,inactivity, altitude) or pathological (heart failure, diabetes) conditions.

Areas Taught

Physiological & Pathological Conditions, Angiogenesis.

Eric Bojesen

Areas Taught

Tennis, Badminton, Court Games and Cross-Country Ski practicum courses.

Coaching

Head coach of the York University men's and women's varsity tennis teams from 1987 to 2003.

Other

Coached the Lions to seven Ontario titles (four men's championships, and three women's titles).

Tamara Bompa

Areas Taught

Rhythmic Gymnastics and Dance practicum courses.

Coaching

Coached women's varsity gymnastics (rhythmics specialist), 1971-1994.

Tudor Bompa

Area of Research

Sports periodization theory.

Areas Taught

Theory and Methodology of Training.

Coaching

Coached varsity rowing and track & field early in his career at York.

Other

Tudor Bompa is often regarded as the father of sports periodization theory, a training system developed by the Soviets that emphasised variable loads for optimal performance throughout the year rather than maintaining a constant training focus. Bompa's training theory was a summary of periodization basics laid out by L.P. Matveev and others in his early and only English published Theory and Methodology of Training. Bompa's understanding of periodization has been passed from the Eastern Bloc to the Americas in an incomplete and sometimes inaccurate interpretation. As a coach, Bompa trained 11 medalists in various Olympics (2 gold medals) and World championships in two sport disciplines: track and field and rowing. He was himself an Olympic rower, and he later revolutionized the training concepts in cross country skiing.

Michael Boni

Areas Taught

Athletic Therapy, Clinical Skills Lab/Practicum.

Enzo Cafarelli

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Understanding of how the human neuromuscular system regulates muscular contraction in the face of various challenges.

Areas Taught

Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology

Other

A member of York’s Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC) in the Faculty of Health, Prof. Cafarelli received the 2011 Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Honour Award. Prof. Cafarelli had also been the associate editor and a member of the editorial board of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, one of the top journals in the field of exercise science.

Rolando Ceddia

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. The physiological and molecular mechanisms that regulate glucose and fatty acid uptake and metabolism in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The major focus is on dysfunctional metabolic alterations associated with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Areas Taught

Adipokines; Energy Metabolism; Insulin Resistance.

Dave Chambers

Area of Research

Coaching Methodologies, Coaching Hockey.

Areas Taught

Coaching Certificate Program: Science and Methodology of Coaching; Advanced Coaching Seminar; The Art and Science of Coaching.

Coaching

Head coach of the varsity men's hockey team from 1972-1976 and again from 1984-1987.

Other

Coordinator of Men's Athletics, 1984-1989. At York University, his hockey teams won three division championships, three Ontario Championships, and one Canadian championship. His university coaching record over 14 years was 334 wins, 110 losses for a winning percentage of .750 and it included three coach of the year awards. He also coached in the National Hockey League and in Europe. Chambers was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at York University in 2006 and the University of British Columbia in 2012. He has also authored six books and numerous articles on ice hockey, training methods, and coaching. Two of these books, The Hockey Drill Book published by Human Kinetics Pub. and Coaching: the Art and Science published by Firefly Books, have been translated and published by the Russian Sport Federation.

Al Chin

Areas Taught

Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology.

Michael Connor

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. The role of the cell cycle in breast cancer and muscle development; 1) the molecular link between obesity and cancer; 2) investigating how dividing muscle cells becomes fully differentiated skeletal muscle.

Areas Taught

Muscle Development; Cancer.

Other

Served as Undergraduate Program Director since 2014.

Frank Cosentino

Area of Research

History of Sport in Canada.

Areas Taught

History of Physical Education and Sport.

Coaching

Head coach of the varsity men's football team from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1986 to 1989.

Other

Served as Chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics from 1976 to 1981. Has authored seventeen books, three of which are on Canadian football, mostly on the history of sport in Canada. He lives in Eganville, Ontario, with his wife Sheila. They have four children and twelve grandchildren.

Dorota Crawford

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying brain function in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Areas Taught

Molecular Neuroscience; Genetics; Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Caroline Davis

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Health psychology with an emphasis on addictive behaviours, eating disorders, and psychobiological risk factors for overeating and obesity.

Areas Taught

Health Psychology; Eating Disorders.

Mike Dinning

Areas Taught

History of Physical Education and Sport; Rugby practicum courses.

Coaching

Head coach of the varsity men's rugby team from 1975 to 1989. Served as Director of Sport and Recreation from 1989 to 1995.

Janessa Drake

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Understanding the acute and time varying responses and neuromuscular control of the spine and the possible associated injury mechanisms; biomechanical evaluation of exercise and industrial exposures; effects of modifying factors including sex, age, fatigue, and fitness level.

Areas Taught

Biomechanics; Spine Loading.

Tom Duck

Areas Taught

Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement; Activity Program Coordinator; Aquatics practicum courses.

Wally Dyba

Areas Taught

The Art & Science of Coaching; Volleyball practicum courses; Biomechanics laboratory classes.

Coaching

Head coach of the varsity men's volleyball team since 1976.

Other

Has led York's volleyball team to 7 provincial championships and has authored the book, Incredible Volleyball.

Heather Edgell

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Investigating the effects of sex and female sex hormones on healthy cardiovascular responses to physiological stressors such as standing, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and exercise. This will develop into investigations of clinical populations such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Heart Failure. This research will involve techniques such as ultrasound and microneurography.

Areas Taught

Effects of Sex and Female Sex Hormones on Healthy Cardiovascular Responses to Physiological Stressors.

Joey Eisenmann

Area of Research

Auxology (the study of human growth and maturation), human biology, exercise physiology, and epidemiology.

Other

Currently at Michigan State University: Spartan Performance Clinic.

Mazyar Fallah

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Visual perception, attention, object processing, sensorimotor integration, oculomotor system, psychophysics.

Areas Taught

Visual Perception; Psychophysics

Other

Serves as Associate Dean (Research) for York's Faculty of Health, 2015 to present.

Frances Flint

Area of Research

Athletic injury recovery; sport psychology in sports medicine.

Areas Taught

Athletic Therapy Certificate Program Coordinator, clinical and field studies/placements; athletic therapy; emergency care practicum courses

Coaching

Head coach of the varsity women's basketball team from 1977 to 1986.

Barry Fowler

Area of Research

Various aspects of human skill performance, particularly related to hand-eye coordination. For instance, Perceptual-Motor Deficits in Space (PMDIS) monitored the hand-eye coordination of astronauts in microgravity.

Areas Taught

Skill Performance and Motor Learning; Statistics and Data Analysis.

Other

The Human Performance Laboratory has over 7000 square feet of well-equipped research space with well-staffed mechanical and electronics workshops and good computer and computer-graphic systems. There are specialized devices for recording eye movements and stimulating the human visual-vestibular system. The programme works closely with the Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicince, which supports ongoing research and development activities in human engineering and aerospace medicine.

Jessica Fraser-Thomas

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Children and youths’ sport involvement, with a particular interest in positive youth development, psychosocial influences (i.e. coaches, family, peers), and sport trajectories (e.g., initiation, withdrawal).

Areas Taught

Positive Youth Development Through Sport.

Caroline Fusco

Will Gage

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. The neuromuscular control and biomechanics of postural control and of joint stability, currently with a focus on the knee joint. Understanding mechanisms related to sensory-motor dysfunction and normal aging which might interrupt these levels of control, and the potential impact of changes in neuromuscular control (local factors) on the development and progression of osteoarthritis.

Areas Taught

Neuromuscular Control / Biomechanics.

Coaching

Served as Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Health from 2013-2015 and as Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning from 2015 to present.

Lucy Gagliese

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Pain in the elderly; cancer pain, pain mechanisms, measurement and assessment; psychological factors in pain; predictors of pain chronicity; gender and pain.

Areas Taught

Health Psychology; Pain; Aging

Norman Gledhill

Area of Research

Applied cardiovascular and respiratory physiology; fitness and health; blood boosting and doping in sport; cardiac function; fitness screening for physically demanding public safety occupations

Areas Taught

Fitness Assessment & Exercise Counselling and Certificate Program Coordination, Tests & Measurements.

Coaching

Coached both men's varsity soccer and volleyball.

Other

Served as Chair and Director of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics, 1986 to 1989. Developed and coordinated the Certificate Program in Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counselling, 1982 to 2008. Authored over 200 articles, more than half published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Extensive professional service on national and international Committees relating to physical activity, health, fitness, disease, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational requirements, and other areas of medical science. Developed fitness screening protocols across physically demanding public safety occupations, both provincially and nationally. Recipient of numerous awards for contributions to the health and fitness of Canadians, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Sherry Grace

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. Substantial health risks continue following coronary events and procedures, and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves subsequent prognosis. CR is an outpatient chronic disease management program for cardiovascular risk reduction promoting health behaviour changes such as exercise, diet, and smoking cessation. Participation results in improved quality of life, less re-hospitalization, and 25% less death.
However, research demonstrates low use of, and inequality in access, to CR. This is particularly true in low and middle-income countries, where there is an epidemic of heart disease. There are a combination of factors relating to patients, physicians, and the health care system itself that lead to low CR use. The objective of Dr. Grace's programmatic research is to: (1) address patient, provider and system barriers to CR participation, and (2) to develop and evaluate a model of CR for low-resource settings.

Areas Taught

Cardiac Rehabilitation, Health Services, Cardiac Psychology.

Tara Haas

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) in skeletal muscle; biochemical, cellular and molecular biological approaches are used to study the stimuli and signalling pathways that cause endothelial cells to initiate angiogenesis as a result of exercise or disease.

Areas Taught

Cardiovascular Physiology.

Mazen Hamadeh

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease): Effects of caloric restriction, antioxidant supplementation and exercise on functional, disease and molecular outcomes in ALS, with emphasis on sex differences.
Vitamin D supplementation and deficiency on functional outcomes and molecular outcomes in the muscle and CNS in ALS
Vitamin D and calcium intake and their relationship to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Functional foods and their effects on health and disease.

Areas Taught

Human Nutrition; Metabolism; Nutritional Aids in Sport and Exercise.

Thomas Hawke

Area of Research

The role and regulation of muscle satellite cells, the stem cell population of skeletal muscle, in health and disease states such as diabetes mellitus and limb girdle muscular dystrophy.

Lindsay Hayhurst

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. My research interests include sport for development and peace, gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health in/through SDP, cultural studies of girlhood, postcolonial feminist theory, global governance, international relations and corporate social responsibility. I am a co-editor (with Tess Kay and Megan Chawansky) of Beyond Sport for Development and Peace: Transnational perspectives on theory, policy and practice, and her publications have appeared in Women’s Studies International Forum; Gender, Place & Culture; Third World Quarterly and Sociology of Sport Journal. I previously worked for the United Nations Development Programme and Right to Play.

Karen Helmers

Area of Research

Health psychology; psychophysiology; cognitive interventions and behaviour.

Denise Henriques

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Sensorimotor control and learning; Eye, head, limb movements and coordination; Vision, haptics, kinesthesia; Sensorimotor integration; Computation simulations; Neuroimaging.

Areas Taught

Sensorimotor Control and Learning.

Sharleen Hoar

Area of Research

CLA

David Hood

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Our research, funded by both NSERC and CIHR, involves the study of mitochondrial turnover in skeletal muscle, as evoked by either exercise, or by chronic muscle disuse. Mitochondria are the organelles that produce energy for muscle contraction, so proper maintenance of these organelles is vital for muscle and whole body health. It is now known that mitochondrial turnover can change dramatically during aging, with disuse and with disease, and that exercise is a potent therapeutic intervention that can improve mitochondrial function, and muscle health. Our work continues to be fundamental in helping us to understand the molecular factors which regulate mitochondria under these conditions within muscle.

Areas Taught

Muscle; Heart Cellular Physiology.

Loriann Hynes

David Ianuzzo

Area of Research

Exercise Physiology

Areas Taught

Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology.

Other

Currently Professor of Physiology, Department of Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology at Liberty University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, Virginia

Ira Jacobs

Other

Chair, School of Kinesiology and Health Science

Veronica Jamnik

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity in individual training adaptations. Enhancing the screen for physical activity participation. Bona fide occupational fitness screening protocols for physically demanding occupations. Health & Fitness Behaviours.

Areas Taught

Training Adaptations; Occupational Fitness

Kevin Jones

Area of Research

History of Sport and Physical Education (Olympic history, water polo, squash, sport and Canadian culture).

Areas Taught

History of Physical Education and Sport; Sport in Canadian Life

Coaching

Coached men's varsity water polo (1970-1989)

Other

Coordinator of undergraduate studies in physical education in mid-1970s.

Joel Katz

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Health Psychology, acute and chronic pain mechanisms and management, pain measurement.

Areas Taught

Health Psychology; Pain.

Peter Katzmarzyk

Area of Research

Physical Activity and Obesity (pediatrics and ethnic health disparities).

Areas Taught

Health and Disease Epidemiology.

Other

Currently at Pennington Biomedical Research Centre: Physical Activity and Obesity Epidemiology laboratory.

Peter Keir

Area of Research

Mechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity.

Areas Taught

Clinical Biomechnics.

Other

Currently at McMaster University, Department of Kinesiology.

Roger Kelton

Area of Research

Exercise Physiology

Areas Taught

Human Anatomy, Human Nutrition, Outdoor Education

Other

Served as Associate Chair and Director of Athletics & Recreation, 1986-1989 and as Chair of the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, 1997-2007.

Jennifer Kuk

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Characterizing obesity and related health risks (cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) and examining the influence of physical activity using both exercise interventions and epidemiological approaches.

Areas Taught

Obesity, Exercise, Health Risks.

Joe Levy

Area of Research

Recreation; Activity, Health & Wellness.

Areas Taught

Leisure and Recreation.

Other

Coordinator of Recreation, 1984-1988.

Mary Lyons

Areas Taught

Volleyball practicum courses; Secondary School Education practicum.

Coaching

Coached women's varsity volleyball.

Other

Coordinator of Women's Interuniversity Athletics, 1967-1993.

Alison Macpherson

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Primary research interest relates to the epidemiology and prevention of childhood injuries, using an approach that examines factors related both to children and their social context. Secondary research interest is related to children’s emergency department and hospital use for injuries and other health problems, including the reasons why children seek care (e.g., the incidence of different types of injury), and researching the best way to provide care (e.g., reducing medication errors).

Areas Taught

Epidemiology; Injury Prevention; Health Services.

Greg Malszecki

Areas Taught

Foundations of Kinesiology and Health Science (socio-cultural, historical); History of Physical Education & Sport

Monica Maly

John McDermott

Area of Research

Animal Biology/Physiology, Cell-Signaling, Molecular Biology.

Other

Currently Professor and McLaughlin Research Chair, Department of Biology, York University.

Harold Minden

Area of Research

Activity, Social Behaviours and Learning; Disability and Learning.

Anne Moore

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Occupational Biomechanics; upper limb biomechanics; mechanisms of musculoskeletal injury in the workplace are studied using biomechanical modelling, epidemiological studies, and task simulation.

Areas Taught

Occupational Biomechanics.

Merv Mosher

Areas Taught

Research Methods in Kinesiology (formerly Introduction to Computer Use); Analysis of Data in Kinesiology (formerly Statistics; Skilled Performance and Motor Learning; Volleyball and Squash practicum courses.

Coaching

Head Coach of women's varsity volleyball team, 1979-1997.

Other

As York's head coach, won 13 Ontario championships in a 19-year coaching career.

Pat Murray

Areas Taught

Growth and Development, Olympic Movement & Its Influence on Canadian Sport, Badminton and Synchronized Swimming practicum courses, Human Physiology Lab Instruction.

Coaching

Head Coach, women's varsity synchronized swimming, 1972-1993 and women's varsity badminton,1972 - 1976.

Other

Served as Director Sport & Recreation, 1995-2008. Also served as Coordinator Recreation, Coordinator Men's Interuniversity Sport and Coordinator Women's Interuniversity Sport at various times during her career. Leadership roles in high performance sport included Vice-President Marketing, Canadian Interuniversity Sport, 2004-2009; Executive Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee 2000-2004; Vice-President Canadian Olympic Committee 2004-2008; President of Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletic Association 1997 (the year OUAA and OWIAA amalgamated); and President, Synchro Canada, 1984-1988. As York's synchro swimming coach, won 3 Ontario championships.

Yuka Nakamura

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. I study how unequal power relations, enacted through the social categories of race, gender and class, shape our lives, identities and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. In doing so, I hope to identify ways in which to resist social inequity.

Areas Taught

Sport and Physical Activity; Social Inequity.

Masaaki Naosaki

Areas Taught

Gymnastics practicum courses.

Ed Nowalkoski

Areas Taught

Athletic Injuries

Coaching

Head Athletic Therapist for varsity sport teams, 1971-1995.

Bill Pangos

Area of Research

CLA

Areas Taught

Strategies & Tactics of Sport; Basketball and Court Games practicum courses.

Coaching

Head Coach, women's varsity basketball, 1986-2014.

Chris Perry

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Regulation of cellular energy and redox homeostasis primarily in skeletal muscle. Examination of metabolic control (glucose/fatty acid uptake and catabolism) through redox biology in response to specific dietary and exercise interventions integrating mitochondrial, cytosolic and nuclear intercommunication. Health & Fitness Behaviours.

Areas Taught

Training Adaptations, Metabolism.

Nicolette Richardson

Michael Riddell

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. The effect of exercise, stress and diabetes on the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Substrate utilization and metabolism during exercise in individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Health & Fitness Behaviours.

Areas Taught

Clinical Exercise Physiology; Metabolism.

Other

Graduate Program Director since 2014.

Paul Ritvo

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. Health behaviour change in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, particularly cancer. Emphasis on intervention delivery via group therapy, telephone, print and interactive internet programming. Further emphasis on evaluating effects through innovative approaches to quality of life assessment.

Areas Taught

Health Psychology; Cancer Prevention/Treatment.

Stuart Robbins

Area of Research

Children's play and sport, sport and activity in physical development and health.

Areas Taught

Physical Activity & the Young Child; Growth & Development; Primary School Education practicum.

Coaching

Associate Head Coach, men's varsity soccer.

Other

Served as Chair and Director of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics from 1981 to 1986 and as Chair of the School of Physical Education from 1989 to 1997. Also served as the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education, the Chair of the University Senate and on the York University Board of Governors.

Michael Rotondi

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. My principal research objective is the development and application of statistical techniques to problems in kinesiology, the health sciences and epidemiology. Specific research areas include the design and analysis of cluster randomized trials, studies of interobserver agreement and statistical genetics.

Areas Taught

Cluster Randomized Trials; Interobserver Agreement; Statistical Genetics.

Emilie Roudier

Area of Research

CLA

Parissa Safai

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. My research interests, to date, have focused on the critical sociocultural study of sport and physical activity at the intersection of risk, health and healthcare including such key themes as: sport’s ‘culture of risk;’ the sociohistorical development of sport medicine in Canada and the social organization of sport medicine in Canada; and the social determinants of athletes’ health.

Areas Taught

Socio-cultural Study of Health and Sport.

Anthony Scime

Area of Research

Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology. Our focus is to understand the molecular, cellular and physiological aspects for how metabolism is involved in stem cell fate choices particularly in muscle and adipose tissue.

Areas Taught

Stem Cell Biology; Muscle Regeneration; Adipose Differentiation, Stem Cell Metabolism.

Lauren Sergio

Area of Research

Neuroscience & Biomechanics. Behavioural and electromyographic studies of eye-limb coordination; Brain mechanisms underlying visually-guided reaching; Motor control neurophysiology/neuroimaging; Control of voluntary movement in neurological patient populations.

Areas Taught

Neuromotor Control

Michael Smith

Area of Research

Sociology of sport; violence in sport; domestic violence.

Areas Taught

Sociology of Sport; Outdoor Education.

Other

Served as Director of the Lamarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution at York University.

Richard Staines

Area of Research

Neuroscience. Research focuses on understanding: 1) how the brain interprets, adapts to and integrates sensory inputs to guide motor behaviour, and 2) how these processes are affected by and can contribute to recovery from brain injury. The long-term objective is to use this knowledge to formulate strategies targeted at enhancing neural adaptations to improve motor behaviour and lessen disability following stroke.

Other

Currently Professor of Kinesiology and Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo.

Hala Tamim

Area of Research

Health & Fitness Behaviours. My research interests have focused on maternal and child health (research topics include postpartum depression, weight gain during pregnancy, breastfeeding, folic acid intake and others) and effects of exercise programs on musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well being of older adults.

Areas Taught

Maternal and Child Health.

Bryce Taylor

Area of Research

Gymnastics; aboriginal dance and customs; sport leadership and management.

Areas Taught

Socio-cultural aspects of Physical Education; Sport Administration; Coordinator of Sport Administration Certificate Program.

Coaching

Head Coach, men's varsity cross country, 1966-1979.

Other

Founding Chair and Director of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics, 1966-1976. Created the undergraduate academic program in physical education.

Paula Thomson

Areas Taught

Modern Dance and Swimming practicum courses.

Other

Currently, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, certified Sport Psychologist, and works in private practice in California. She is Co-Director of the Performance Psychophysiology Laboratory at CSUN and an adjunct faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Arvo Tiidus

Areas Taught

Foundations of Physical Education; Elementary & Recreational Games.

Other

Founding Coordinator of Inter-College Athletics and Recreation, 1966-1984.

Sue Vail

Area of Research

Sport participation, promotion and policy.

Areas Taught

Sport Administration Certificate Coordinator

Other

Coordinator of Sport Administration Certificate Program, 1987-2006; Director of Undergraduate Studies, 2006-2009; Associate Dean (Student & Curricular Affairs), Faculty of Health, 2009-2013; Associate Vice-President Teaching & Learning, 2013-2016.

Marina van der Merwe

Areas Taught

Personal and Community Health; Basic Movement and Field Hockey practicum courses.

Coaching

Head Coach, women's varsity field hockey and women's varsity indoor hockey, 1971-1999.

Other

As York's head coach, won 7 Ontario championships in field hockey and 7 Ontario championships in indoor hockey as well as 6 silver and 2 bronze medals at the national championships. Served as Canada's national team coach in women's field hockey from 1976 to 1995, qualifying for 3 Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992) and 6 World Cups (between 1978 and 1994), winning two World Cup medals – silver in 1983 and bronze in 1986 – and one Pan American Bronze in 1987. She was inducted into Canada's Sport Hall of Fame in 2015.

Eric Willis

Areas Taught

Strategies & Tactics of Sport; Soccer and Court Games practicum courses; Tests & Measurements/Fitness laboratory classes.

Coaching

Head Coach, men's varsity soccer, 1977-1983 and 1987-2000.

Other

Coached York's men's soccer team to gold medals at the OUAA and CIAU championships in 1977, representing York's first banner in a team sport at the national level. Also coached York to the CIAU bronze medal in 1996 and an OUAA silver medal and a fourth-place finish at the national tournament in 1997. Named CIAU coach of the year in 1997.

Vietta Wilson

Area of Research

Sport psychology, counseling and biofeedback.

Areas Taught

Psychology of Physical Activity and Sport; Counselling Skills.

Coaching

Coached women's varsity basketball.

Carol Wilson

Areas Taught

Swimming, Life Saving, Golf, Elementary & Recreational Games and Emergency Care practicum courses; Counselling Skills for Kinesiology and Health Science; Foundations of Kinesiology and Health Science; Personal and Community Health.

Coaching

Head Coach, women's varsity swimming, 1970-1988; Head Coach, men's varsity swimming, 1984-1988.

Other

Served as Associate Recreation Coordinator (1970-74), Sport Clubs Coordinator (1974-80), Acting Chair of the School of Physical Education (1995-1996) and two terms as the Undergraduate Program Director (1997-2001 and 2002-2005).

Nobby Wirkowski

Areas Taught

Football, basketball, golf and court games practicum courses.

Coaching

Head Coach men's varsity football, 1968-1975 and 1988-1989; Associate Head Coach, 1984 and 1987.

Other

Men's Interuniversity Athletics Coordinator, 1968-1984.

Gill Wu

Area of Research

Molecular genetics: Immunology and the genetics of the immune system and immune diversity. Specific interest in how diversity in antigen-specific B-cell and T-cell receptors are generated and their role in autoimmune diseases and cancers related to the immune system.

Coaching

Human Physiology; Immune System in Health and Disease.

Other

Served as Dean of the Faculty of Pure & Applied Science from 2001 to 2006. Has more than 100 articles in reviewed journals and publications to her credit and dozens of invited lectures across Canada and internationally. Has also contributed significantly in leadership roles with national associations in the fields of immunology, infection and immunity.

Tom Zivic

Areas Taught

Gymnastics, Soccer and European Handball practicum courses.

Coaching

Head Coach, men's varsity gymnastics, 1968-1992.

Other

Coached York gymnasts to 15 national and 19 provincial titles. Served as Canadian national gymnastics team coach, including at Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and Olympics (1984, 1988 and 1992).