School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Impact Report FY23-24
College of Health and Human Services
School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
Fiscal Year 2023-2024
Dear Donor,
On behalf of the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, I extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Your generosity profoundly impacts our mission to promote health, well-being, and rehabilitation of individuals and the community.
Through your contributions, we have enhanced student scholarships and student organization opportunities. Your support enables deserving students to pursue their education and empowers the next generation of exercise and nutritional sciences professionals. Your support for our student organizations provides opportunities for students to become actively engaged with their community
Your belief in our students inspires their commitment to excellence. In summary, your contributions are more than fnancial; they are investments in the future of a more active, ft, and healthier society. Together, we create positive change and improve health outcomes. We are truly grateful for your partnership.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Matthew T. Mahar, Ed.D., FACSM, FNAK Professor and Director School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
Changing Lives through Program Support
California Prunes - ISNAO Symposium Fund
The ISNAO Symposium Fund supports the International Symposium on Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis (ISNAO), a gathering dedicated to advancing research and knowledge on the nutritional factors infuencing bone health, with a particular focus on preventing and managing osteoporosis through diet-related interventions.
This fund enables the symposium to bring together experts, researchers, and practitioners to share the latest fndings and strategies for improving bone health on a global scale. This year, ENS Faculty organizers included Professors Connie M. Weaver, Mark Kern and Shirin Hooshmand.
SPARK Equity Fund
This gift will provide awards to low-income and/or underrepresented schools and nonproft youth activity providers (e.g., community recreation centers, preschools, etc.) to assist them with implementing SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids) at their facilities.
Awards include the ability to purchase a SPARK program or activity, PE equipment, or SPARK-related staf professional development training.
Living the Aztec Experience
Brandon Arnold, Class of 2024
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: College of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
Major: Kinesiology Pre-Physical Therapy
Brandon graduated in May with a B.S. degree in kinesiology pre-physical therapy and started the SDSU Doctor of Physical Therapy program within the same month.
He is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, where he left to enlist as an infantry machine gunner in the Marine Corps. After two deployments and an honorable discharge, Brandon decided to continue a career of service, but this time through the lens of health and wellness.
He became a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certifed personal trainer, where he trained clients one-on-one at 24-Hour Fitness while simultaneously embarking on his academic journey in kinesiology with his sights set on becoming a clinician.
Brandon worked as a medical assistant under many diferent physician specialists. He also volunteered at several physical therapy clinics, where he learned the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to optimal patient care. He now remotely helps clients with their ftness goals under his coaching brand, e.basedstrength.
In his free time, Brandon enjoys training and competing as a powerlifter. When he is not training, he loves to go of-roading, camping, hiking, to the beach, and eating at good restaurants with friends.
Best of luck, Brandon, as you complete the SDSU Doctor of Physical Therapy program!
Daisy Lopez, Class of 2024 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Major: Foods and Nutrition
Daisy graduated in May with a B.S. degree in food and nutrition.
Daisy is the recipient of the Sustainable Food Systems Scholarship funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a Tau Sigma National Honor Society member and Tau Sigma Scholarship recipient.
She has contributed to two research projects: one involving the analysis of edible ant favor profles and another focusing on the development of shelf-stable microalgae-enriched guacamole for astronauts, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Daisy has presented research at the Southern California Section of the Institute of Food Technologists Student Research Showcase, the Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research, and the SDSU Student Symposium. She also worked to develop Chipulines, a blue corn and cricket tortilla chip. She participated in the Student Product Development Competition at the Southern California Food Industries Conference, where she secured third place for the Chipulines product.
After graduation, Daisy aspires to be a food technologist who specializes in the product development of nutritious and sustainable food items. “
Congratulations, Daisy, on placing third in the Student Product Development Competition at the Southern California Food Industries Conference!
Simon Pierce, Class of 2024
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Kinesiology
Simon is honored to be the recipient of the American Kinesiology Association Undergraduate Scholar Award.
In the Fall semester of his junior year, Simon started as one of the frst students in Dr. Nogueira’s Muscle Contractile Function and Repair Laboratory. He contributed to researching diferent variables that afect the rate at which diaphragm force is impaired during mechanical ventilation. Simon performed all procedures, contractile experiments, and statistical analysis of data independently.
He presented his research at local academic meetings, such as the SDSU Student Symposium 2023 and 2024, and in refereed proceedings, such as the Southwest American College of Sports Medicine and the American Physiological Society.
Simon accumulated almost 500 hours of volunteer time in various physical therapy settings, such as skilled nursing, pediatrics, orthopedics, and acute rehabilitation.
He graduated this past May, Summa Cum Laude, with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and will be attending The University of California San Francisco in June for his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Congratulations, Simon, on receiving the American Kinesiology Association Undergraduate Scholar Award!
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
SDSU DPT ranked #53 among all Doctor of Physical Therapy programs nationwide
Statistics of Interest
Undergraduate Degrees Awarded - fall 2023 & spring 2024
Graduate Degrees Awarded - fall 2023 & spring 2024
Doctor of Physical Therapy - 37 degrees awarded
MS Athletic Training - 8 degrees awarded
MS Exercise Physiology - 10 degrees awarded
MS Nutritional Sciences - 14 degrees awarded
MS Nutritional Sciences & MS Exercise Physiology - 7 degrees awarded
Total Graduate Degrees awarded - 76 degrees awarded
Recent Highlights
The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) has voted to grant 10 years of Continuing Accreditation to the Professional Athletic Training Program at San Diego State University. For 55 years, the SDSU athletic training program has been a leader in athletic training education, setting the standard for excellence and shaping the future of the athletic profession. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been approved to be established as an independent School of Physical Therapy in the College of Health and Human Services. This change is meant to meet both professional and accreditation standards. The change also brings SDSU into alignment with other California State University institutions with existing independent schools, including Fresno, Long Beach, San Francisco, and other campuses.
SDSU DPT ranked #53 among all Doctor of Physical Therapy programs nationwide.
Helping to Build a Brighter Future
Ashleigh Johnson, DrPH
Title: Assistant Professor of Physical Activity Behavior, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
College: College of Health and Human Services
Achievement: Dr. Johnson was recently awarded a K01 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
This 5-year Career Development Award is entitled, "Development and feasibility testing of a sports intervention to promote physical activity in rural girls: Girls PLAY". This study is based in Imperial County, California, and aims to examine the impact of a tailored out-of-school sports program on rural girls’ physical activity levels. She understands the incredible impact that physical activity and sports can have on children, especially girls. She draws on her own experience as a collegiate athlete – the numerous social and health benefts and the participation challenges that youth can face.
Dr. Johnson’s career has focused on physical activity promotion, particularly among youth. Her work involves invaluable collaborations with schools and community-based organizations to develop programs that get kids moving. More broadly, Dr. Johnson aims to address disparities in physical activity levels by gender, household income, urbanicity, and race/ethnicity. She has authored 22 peer-reviewed publications to date, predominantly focused on youth physical activity.
SDSU students also play an important role in Dr. Johnson’s research. Her “PLAY Lab” (Promoting Lifelong Activity among Youth) includes student research assistants from across the College of Health and Human Services.
In these roles, students are involved with multiple stages of research, including literature reviews, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and presentation of the fndings. Students bring excitement and an enthusiasm for learning about the research process. One of the most rewarding components of Dr. Johnson’s role is providing students with hands-on research opportunities that they can carry with them in the next stage of their careers.
