Faculty Research - UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences

The College of Health Professions and Sciences is home to federal, state and local government grants and contracts. Current funding agencies include the National Institutes of Health and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Faculty members seek opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the campus and around the world, and they frequently engage students in their research activities.

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Faculty Areas of Specialty

Latifa S. Abdelli, MS, Ph.D.

Lecturer

E-mail: latifa.abdelli@ucf.edu

Stem cells in tissue repair and regeneration
Role of Gut-Brain axis in health and disease

Kim Anderson, Ph.D., MSSW, LCSW

Professor

E-mail: kim.anderson@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-5201

Life Trajectories of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence across the Lifespan
Economic and Health Inequity in Communities of Concentrated Disadvantage
Methodologies: Community-Based Participatory Research, Mixed Methods, Qualitative (Grounded Theory, Narrative, Thematic Analysis)

Abigail Anderson, PT, DPT, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

E-mail: Abigail.Wilson@ucf.edu

Quantitative Sensory Testing
Mechanisms of Rehabilitation Interventions for Musculoskeletal Pain
Treatment Stratification by Underlying Mechanism
Pain Phenotypes

Bethany Backes, Ph.D., MSW, MPH

Associate Professor

E-mail: Bethany.Backes@ucf.edu

Violence Against Women
Multidisciplinary responses to victims
Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence
Stalking
Sexual Violence
Victim Help-Seeking
Program evaluation

Morris Beato, DPT, PT, GCS, NCS

Clinical Associate Professor

E-mail: Morris.Beato@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1864

Stroke rehabilitation
Neuromotor Interventions for Neurologic Conditions
Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation

Susanny Beltran, Ph.D., MSW

Assistant Professor, Center Co-Director

E-mail: Susanny.Beltran@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4662

End-of-life care
Health literacy and health promotion
Health care disparities among racial/ethnic minority older adults
Qualitative research
Gerontology education

Melissa Bermudez, MSW, LCSW, LICSW

Director of the Center for Professional and Community Education, Instructor

E-mail: Melissa.Bermudez@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4655

Intimate Partner and Power-Based Violence / Trauma
Military personnel and Veterans
Culturally inclusive care and services

Lauren Bislick, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, CBIS

Associate Professor, Director of Aphasia House

E-mail: Lauren.Bislick@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4768

Neurogenic Communication Disorders
Acquired Apraxia of Speech
Acquired Aphasia
Differential Diagnosis
Treatment Development
Motor Learning Theory & Principles of Motor Learning

Keith Brazendale, Ph.D., MS

Assistant Professor

E-mail: keith.brazendale@ucf.edu

Childhood Obesity
Physical Activity
Sedentary Behavior
sleep

Kevin Brown, Ph.D.

Lecturer

E-mail: kevin.brown@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-5621

child welfare
Family Preservation
Evidence-based Practice

Steven Burroughs, MS, RDN, LDN, CDN

Instructor

E-mail: Steven.Burroughs@ucf.edu

Critical Care Nutrition Support
Energy and Protein Metabolism and Regulation
Nutritional Management of Chronic Diseases

Cheryl Cavaliere, Ph.D., MS, RDN, LDN, DipACLM

Lecturer

E-mail: Cheryl.Cavaliere@ucf.edu

Nutrition for Prenatal and Lactating Women
Nutrition for Children and Infants
Plant-Based Nutrition for Chronic Disease Prevention
Stress and Emotional Eating
Strategies for Resolving Food Insecurity
Food and Exercise as Medicine

Reshawna Chapple, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW

Associate Professor

E-mail: rchapple@ucf.edu

Phone: (407) 823-2958

Critical Deaf Studies
Critical Race Feminism and Intersectionality
Culturally Responsive Mental Health Treatment and Access to Services
Intimate Partner Violence and Trauma Recovery
Qualitative Methods
Telemental Health
Informed Care

Meredith Chaput, Ph.D., PT, DPT, SCS

Assistant Professor

E-mail: meredith.chaput@ucf.edu

Neuroplasticity from musculoskeletal injury
Visual-cognition and attention
Sport performance

Caitlin Ann Cheruka, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP

Clinical Assistant Professor

E-mail: caitlin.cheruka@ucf.edu

Clinical Exercise Physiology
Nocturnal autonomic and cardiovascular function
Cardiovascular health
sleep

Therese Coleman

Associate Instructor

E-mail: therese.coleman@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4798

Speech Sound Disorders
Child Language Disorders
Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Janel Cosby, AuD, Ph.D., CCC-A

Associate Lecturer, Audiologist

E-mail: janel.cosby@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0481

Cochlear Implants
Aural Rehabilitation
Hearing Disorders Across the Lifespan

Bethany Coz, MA, MCHES

Instructor

E-mail: bethany.coz@ucf.edu

Public Health
Population Health
Chronic Disease Prevention

Kelly David, MA, CCC-SLP

Clinical Instructor

E-mail: kelly.david@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0133

Voice
Cognition
Executive Function
Pragmatics
Degenerative Cognitive/Language Disorders
Parkinson's Disease
Dysphagia

Jill Davis, LCSW, MSW

Instructor

E-mail: jill.davis@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1177

Childhood Sexual Abuse
Play Therapy
Licensure Exam Prep

Nicole Dawson, PT, Ph.D., GCS-Emeritus

Associate Professor

E-mail: nicole.dawson@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1863

Non-pharmacological interventions for older adults
Predictors of successful and optimal aging
Risk factors for falls in older adults with cognitive impairment
Understanding the illness experience for individuals with dementia

Andrew Dykstra, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

E-mail: andrew.dykstra@ucf.edu

Hearing
Perception
Neuroscience
Aging

Ann Eddins, Ph.D., MBA, CCC-A

Director, Professor

E-mail: ann.eddins@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1577

Auditory Neurophysiology
Electrophysiology
Hearing loss across the lifespan
Hearing and Cognition
Tinnitus
Amplification
Aging

David Eddins, Ph.D., CCC-A

Professor

E-mail: David.Eddins@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3172

Hearing Science
Hearing Technologies
Voice Science
Auditory Perception & Cognition
Audiology

Katia Ferdowsi, MD, MPH

Lecturer

E-mail: katia.ferdowsi@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1446

Disease prevention
Public Health
common and preventable diseases in youth
Global Health

Christine Ferretti, MSW, LCSW

Assistant Director MSW, Associate Instructor

E-mail: christine.ferretti@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4987

Juvenile Sex offender population
At Risk Youth

Julie Feuerstein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor

E-mail: Julie.Feuerstein@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1193

Language Development
Language Disorders
Early Intervention
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Implementation Science Research

Thomas Fisher, Ph.D., CSCS, LMHC

Senior Lecturer

E-mail: thomas.fisher@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1895

Anti-Aging Medicine
Mental health
Sport Psychology
Biomarkers of Aging
Psychophysiology
Performance Enhancement
Health education
Men's health

Todd R. Fix, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Instructor, Internship Coordinator

E-mail: todd.fix@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0484

Supervision
Swallowing Disorders
Dysphagia
Adult neurogenic/acquired motor-speech
Language Disorders
Acquired Brain Injury/Cognitive Communication.

Jacqueline Flores-Otero, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Anatomy

E-mail: Jacqueline.Flores@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0812

Neurodegenerative Diseases
Auditory and Visual Sensory systems
Neuro-Oncology Research (Ocular Cancer and Perineural Invasion in Prostate Cancer)
Endocannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents for Cancer

Monica Folkerts, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

E-mail: monica.folkerts@ucf.edu

Hearing Perception
Spatial Hearing
Auditory Neuroscience
Hearing Loss
Aging

David Fukuda, Ph.D.

Division Chair, Professor

E-mail: David.Fukuda@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0442

Performance-based testing methodologies
Exercise training and nutritional interventions in varying populations
Fatigue thresholds and metabolic responses to exercise
Martial arts and combat sports

Kimberley Gryglewicz, Ph.D., MSW

Associate Professor, Center Co-Director

E-mail: kgryglew@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-2954

Suicide prevention
Health and mental health
Family engagement & caregiving issues
Program implementation and evaluation
Violence Prevention
Caregiver Health/Well-Being
Grief and Bereavement
Community-based participatory research

Carlos Gual, EdD, LAT, ATC

Associate Clinical Professor, Clinical Education Coordinator

E-mail: carlos.gual@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1407

Athletic training student integration in athletic training education programs
Management of critical incidents
General medical conditions

Shelley Hall, MSW

MSW Program Director

E-mail: shelley.hall@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3056

Clinical practice in a hospital with neonatal families and maternal/child mental health issues
Adoption
Foster Care

William Hanney, PT, DPT, ATC, Ph.D.

Division Chair, Professor

E-mail: William.j.hanney@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0217

Treatment Outcomes for patients with low back and neck pain
The influence of manual/manipulative therapy
Standardization of physical therapy interventions
Physical therapy practice patterns

Nancy Harrington, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP

Associate Instructor, FAAST Center/AAC Lab Research Grant Coordinator

E-mail: nancy.harrington@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0465

Language Acquisition
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Assistive Technology

Ethan Hill, Ph.D., CSCS, ACSM-EP

Assistant Professor

E-mail: Ethan.Hill@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1161

Neuromuscular and endothelial function
Resistance training interventions
Muscle function and fatigue
Sex-specific responses to exercise
Eccentric contraction-based interventions

Bari Hoffman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, Professor

E-mail: bari.hoffman@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4804

Voice disorders
Vocal health and Prevention
Upper Airway Disorders
Head and Neck Cancer
Respiratory Muscle Strength Training

Jalonta Jackson-Glasco, Ph.D., MSW

Lecturer

E-mail: jalonta.jacksonglasco@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0376

Micro and Macro Social Work Practice
Public Administration and Public Policy
Higher Education Teaching and Program Leadership
Social Justice Advocacy
Women, Criminal Justice, and Prison Reform
Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

Shante Jeune, Ph.D., RDN

Assistant Professor

E-mail: shante.jeune@ucf.edu

Nutrition Education
Eating Behaviors
Self-regulation and Cognitive Skills

Qianxia Jiang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

E-mail: qianxia.jiang@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1051

Measurement
Physical Activity
Childhood Obesity
Neighborhood Environment

Gail Kauwell, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, FAND

Department Chair, Professor

E-mail: Gail.Kauwell@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0782

Folate and vitamin B12 requirements and metabolism
Nutrient-gene interactions/epigenetic alterations and disease risk

Jennifer Kent-Walsh, BEd, MS, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, S-LP(C)

Associate Dean of Research, FAAST Center/AAC Lab Director, Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Excellence, Pegasus Professor

E-mail: jkentwalsh@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-4800

Language Disorders
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Assistive Technology
Service-Learning / Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Sheila Klausner, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCS

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Practice

E-mail: Sheila.Klausner@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0377

Orthopedic Manual Therapy
Post-surgical Management of Orthopedic Injuries
Optimal Performance in Athletic Care

Debra Knox, MS, CCC-SLP

Associate Instructor, Clinic Director

E-mail: debra.knox@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0464

Cochlear Implants
Hearing Aids
Hearing Disorders
Language Disorders
Supervision

Robin Kohn, MSW, LCSW

BSW Program Director, Senior Instructor

E-mail: robin.kohn@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-2967

Grief and Bereavement
End-of-life care
Varying Abilities & Disabilities (primarily mobility & neurological disorders)
Practice Health

Shawn Lawrence, Ph.D., LCSW

Interim Director, Professor

E-mail: shawn.lawrence@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3112

Obesity and Stigma
Substance Abuse
Student learning environments and outcomes

Eunkyung “Muriel” Lee, Ph.D., RDN

Associate Professor

E-mail: eunkyung.lee@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3365

Evaluation of cancer treatment using the patient-reported outcomes research and comparative effectiveness research approaches
Interrelationship among adjuvant radiotherapy, comorbidity, survival, and health-related quality of life among older women with breast cancer
Evaluation of healthy behaviors among cancer survivors utilizing the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) data
Evaluation of interventions in improving quality of life among cancer survivors

Yen-Han Lee, Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor

E-mail: yen-han.lee@ucf.edu

Substance Use
Global Health
Health disparities
Geriatric health
Secondary Data Analysis

Hsiu-Fen Lin, Ph.D., MSW

Assistant Professor

E-mail: hsiufen.lin@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1393

Prevention of Intimate Partner Homicide
Prevention and Intervention for Interpersonal Violence
Economic Empowerment for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
The Impact of Domestic violence on Mental Health and Financial Well-being
Screening and Assessment for Immigrant and non-English speaking populations
International Social Work

Humberto Lopez Castillo, MD, Ph.D., CPH, CMI-Spanish

Assistant Professor

E-mail: dr.hlc@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3012

Alcohol use and abuse
Risky sexual behaviors
Cardiovascular health
Sexual minority populations
Secondary data analyses
Sexual and reproductive health

Carrie Loughran, MA, CCC-SLP

Clinical Instructor

E-mail: Carrie.Loughran@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1645

Language Acquisition
Language and Literacy Disorders
Reading Disorders

Shuang Lu, Ph.D., MSW

Assistant Professor

E-mail: shuanglu@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-0490

Youth mental health and resilience
Migration/immigration
Community-based psychosocial intervention
Mindfulness
Social service capacity building

Jaclyn Lucey, MA, CCC-SLP

Graduate Program Director, Instructor

E-mail: Jaclyn.Lucey@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-2057

Fluency disorders

L. Colby Mangum, Ph.D., MEd, LAT, ATC

Assistant Professor

E-mail: lauren.mangum@ucf.edu

Lumbopelvic-Hip Complex Muscle Function
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging
Core Stability and Athletic Function
Innovative Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain, Patellofemoral Pain

Julie Matura, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Instructor, Internship Coordinator

E-mail: julie.matura@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-882-0449

Cognitive-Communication Disorders
Diagnostic/Clinical Processes
Genetics
Language Disorders
Neurogenic Communication Disorders
Swallowing Disorders

Shellene Mazany, LCSW, MSW

MSW Program Director, Senior Instructor

E-mail: shellene.mazany@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1089

Mental Health and Addictions
Children
Youth and Families
Crisis Intervention
Assessment and Treatment Planning
Clinical Supervision
Online Education and Technology

Maxine McGregor, LMSW, MSW, MS

Associate Instructor

E-mail: maxine.mcgregor@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-3037

child welfare
domestic violence
Online Education

Nancy McIntyre, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

E-mail: Nancy.mcintyre@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-1684

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Reading Disability
Reading Comprehension
Social Communication
Language And Literacy

Victoria McKenna, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor

E-mail: victoria.mckenna@ucf.edu

Voice
Dysphagia
Speech Science
Technology

Olga Molina, DSW, MSW, LCSW

Associate Professor

E-mail: omolina@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-6793

Divorce
Intimate partner violence
Groupwork

Laurie Neely, PT, DPT, NCS

Assistant Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Education

E-mail: laurie.neely@ucf.edu

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Patient Care
Physical Therapy Clinical Education Outcomes
Management of Medically Complex Patients

A’Naja Newsome, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP

Assistant Professor

E-mail: anaja.newsome@ucf.edu

Clinical Exercise Physiology
Exercise Psychology
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Research Measurement

Grant E. Norte, Ph.D., ATC

Associate Professor

E-mail: Grant.Norte@ucf.edu

Neuromuscular assessment
Biomechanics
Orthopedic injury
Clinical rehabilitation

Yeonggwang Park, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

E-mail: yppark@ucf.edu

Voice production and perception
Voice and speech acoustics
Clinical voice and speech assessment

Dylan Pearson, Ph.D.

Post Doctoral Scholar

E-mail: dylan.pearson@ucf.edu

Psychoacoustics
Speech Perception
Aging and Hearing Loss
Rhythm and Entrainment
Auditory Attention

Jennifer Plant, EdD, LAT, ATC

Clinical Professor, Curriculum Coordinator

E-mail: jennifer.plant@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-5232

Role strain of graduate and post-graduate athletic training students
Scapular dyskinesis in overhead athletes
Best methods for transitioning young athletic training professionals into a clinical practice environment - both from the professional education side and the employer side
Mentoring and Onboarding of Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainers within the Athletic Training Profession
Burnout of Athletic Trainers within the Secondary School and Collegiate Settings