School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Impact Report FY24-25

College of Health and Human Services

School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences

Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Dear Donor,

I’m honored to share our progress, made possible by your continued generosity and belief in our mission.

From innovative research in exercise science and nutrition to impactful community wellness eforts, our students and faculty advance this important work. Thanks to your support, our students thrive academically and confdently step into roles as future health professionals.

Your philanthropy expands scholarships, supports student-led community engagement, and enhances professional development, creating a vibrant learning environment grounded in service and innovation.

Our School is uniquely positioned to lead interdisciplinary eforts that address urgent health challenges— from preventing chronic disease and advancing wearable technologies to designing integrated curricula that prepare students for evolving health professions.

Your gifts refect a shared commitment to a healthier, more informed society. Thank you for being a vital part of our community.

With appreciation,

Matthew Mahar, Ed.D., FACSM, FNAK Professor and Director School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences College of Health and Human Services

Propelling the SDSU Community Forward

Kasch-Boyer Endowed Scholarship

Signifcant contributions were made to the Kasch-Boyer Endowment, intended to encourage and support research and academic growth of master's level graduate students in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences (ENS) at San Diego State University.

Scholarship awards are ofered in the following categories:

1. Graduate research scholarships

2. Graduate tuition scholarships

3. Professional meeting attendance scholarships

4. Scholarships for study or research at another university

Thriving in the Aztec Experience

Jessica Manzuk, Class of 2025

Class Level: Graduate Student

College: College of Health and Human Services

Major: Master of Science in Athletic Training

At SDSU, Jessica served on the Future Athletic Trainer’s Association board, was chair of the Master of Science in Athletic Training Advisory Council, and acted as a student mentor for SDSU’s School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Mentorship Program.

She served as a teaching assistant for clinical anatomy, a lab assistant for PNF at a symposium, volunteered with the Adaptive Fitness Clinic, and completed over 1,500 hours of sports medicine internships at SDSU, CSUSM, and USD.

Jessica is honored to have received the D8 Bill Chambers Scholarship, Richard E. Vandervoort Memorial Scholarship, CATA Scholarship, Jerry Lloyd Memorial Scholarship, Robert Gamble Bowers Sr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship, ReetHowell Memorial Endowed Scholarship, and the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Emeritus Professors’ Scholarship.

Jessica became a certifed athletic trainer in March 2025 after passing the National Board exam. She also holds certifcations in corrective exercise and emergency cardiovascular care. A member of National Athletic Trainers' Association and Far West Athletic Trainers' Association, she plans to work as a clinician and educator in high schools.

Jessica excelled at SDSU—leading student orgs, mentoring peers, earning top scholarships, completing 1,500+ clinical hours, and becoming a certifed athletic trainer.

Jesse Baker, Class of 2025

Class Level: Graduate Student

College: College of Health and Human Services

Major: Master of Nutritional Science

Jesse graduated in May 2025 with the distinguished “Outstanding Graduate” award from the College of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences and will begin her dietetic internship this fall.

During her time at SDSU, Jesse conducted innovative research in the food science laboratory, developing vegan seafood favors from kelp. She thrived in the research environment, particularly valuing faculty mentorship that encouraged her to present her work at numerous conferences. Her dedication paid of when she earned second place for her oral presentation at Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) FIRST conference in Chicago, where she showcased her groundbreaking research to industry professionals.

Jesse’s academic excellence was supported by scholarships and fellowships secured with guidance from her advisors, enabling her to graduate debt-free. Beyond academics, she has been building a social media presence, where she helps women heal their relationship with food through realistic nutrition education and evidence-based guidance.

Looking ahead, Jesse plans to complete her dietetic internship and establish her own private practice, combining her research background with her passion for helping others develop healthy relationships with food.

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From groundbreaking vegan seafood research to winning top honors, Jesse’s 2025 Outstanding Graduate award marks the start of an inspiring journey in nutrition and wellness!

Kelly Bell, Class of 2025

Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services

Major: Foods & Nutrition

Kelly graduated summa cum laude this past May with a B.S. in foods and nutrition.

A transfer student from Miramar Community College, she joined Dr. Hooshmand's research team in the fall of 2023, collaborating with UCSD in support of their MEASURE study. Over the course of a year, she led a team of fve undergraduate students in the preparation and delivery of standardized low- and high-sodium meals for study participants.

Outside of academics, Kelly devoted herself to gaining handson healthcare experience. In the fall of 2023, she began volunteering as a Pathmaker Intern at Palomar and Pomerado Hospitals and has since accrued over 300 hours across various departments. In the summer of 2024, she spent three months in Cusco, Peru, as an intern, assisting doctors and nurses with charting and exams while sharpening her medical Spanish.

Upon returning in the fall of 2024, she began working as an EMT, where she continues to develop her clinical and patient care skills. This summer, she applied to physician assistant programs and plans to matriculate in the fall of 2026.

From leading nutrition research and volunteering in hospitals to interning in Peru and working as an EMT, Kelly is building a strong foundation for PA school.

Celebrating Shared Success

Statistics of Interest

Academic Year 2024–25 undergraduates who received a B.S. degree

School of ENS: 491

B.S. Foods & Nutrition: 67

B.S. Kinesiology: 424

Exercise Science Emphasis: 77

Fitness & Exercise Science Emphasis: 78

Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis: 269

Academic Year 2024–25 master's students who received an M.S. degree

School of ENS: 47

M.S. Athletic Training: 14

M.S. Exercise Physiology: 10

M.S. Nutritional Sciences: 16

M.S. Nutritional Sciences and MS Exercise Physiology: 7

Recent Highlights

The new M.S. program in Food Science will begin in Fall 2025, with the frst cohort of students enrolling that semester.

Class of 2025

New Program

In the 2024–25 academic year, 538 undergraduates and 47 graduate students earned degrees from the School of ENS.

The new M.S. program in Food Science launches Fall 2025.

Alison Meagher, MS, RDN-AP

Title: Lecturer and Internship Coordinator, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences

College: College of Health and Human Services

Achievement: The annual CHHS Unity Award recognizes groups representing more than one CHHS school who thoughtfully and creatively cultivate the CHHS core values— boldness, curiosity, belonging, empowerment, student success, lifelong learning, collective good, and authentic collaboration—in their eforts to advance equitable health and wellbeing within CHHS and beyond.

Awardees are advocates genuinely committed to bridging gaps between people, groups, and communities to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, contributing to the greater good.

This award was earned through the High-Performance Partnership between the Adapted Sports Physical Therapy Clinic (School of Physical Therapy) and the Sports Nutrition Cooperative (School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences), which supports our Adapted Athletes through both physical therapy and nutrition counseling, education, and support.

The partnership between the ASPT Clinic and the Sports Nutrition Cooperative (SNC) refects the values of CHHS. These student-led groups support SDSU Adapted Athletics through education, coaching, and mentorship. SNC, led by faculty member Alison Meagher, provides inclusive, evidencebased nutrition support.

Both groups participate in multidisciplinary rounds, fostering collaboration, real-world learning, and holistic care. This model of inclusive, student-driven teamwork elevates care for adapted athletes and prepares future professionals to lead with compassion and equity.

Faculty Achievements

Shawn O'Connor, Ph.D.

Title: Associate Professor, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Dr. O'Connor was honored to receive the S³ Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Mentor Award for guiding undergraduate students in a rehabilitation kneebrace project that culminated in presentations at the SDSU Student Symposium. Additional honors include the Most Infuential Faculty Award and the Mortar Board Outstanding Faculty Award.

He mentored three students through the research process: recruiting and screening subjects with moderate to severe medial knee osteoarthritis; designing and conducting laboratory and overground gait assessments; analyzing muscle activity and metabolic data; and presenting fndings to peers.

Their work compared two unloading knee braces—Guardian (rehabilitative design) and Össur (standard)—across three key outcomes: (1) Muscle Activation: Guardian use led to signifcantly greater quadriceps engagement, indicating enhanced muscle recruitment; (2) Gait Kinematics: Guardian users exhibited larger increases in step length and more extended limb positioning at heel-strike, refecting improved knee mechanics; and (3) Functional Performance: Over repeated trials, Guardian users achieved faster walking speeds and longer strides without increasing energy expenditure.

Beyond the technical results, the project immersed students in hands-on clinical research—interacting with orthopedic patients, learning recruitment protocols, operating biomechanical and strength-measurement equipment, and translating complex datasets into clinically meaningful insights. This experience not only equipped the students for future clinical roles but also honed their critical thinking, technical profciency, and professional communication skills beyond typical volunteer opportunities.

"As an associate professor at SDSU, I investigate the biomechanics and control of walking to improve balance and mobility in older adults. I create and validate novel systems to assess muscle health, metabolic cost, and balance control, uncovering multifactorial causes of mobility decline. Current projects span computational and experimental analyses of walking balance for early fall-risk assessment and evaluations of knee brace rehabilitation in osteoarthritis and post-ACL repair." — Dr. O'Connor

Faculty Achievements

Amanda C. McClain, Ph.D., MS

Title: Associate Professor of Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences College: College of Health and Human Services

Achievement: Community-engaged research can take years, if not decades, to develop and advance for the beneft of the communities it is intended to serve.

For Dr. McClain, two critical factors in 2019, early in her faculty position at SDSU, set the foundation for establishing a research program deeply rooted in the San Diego community: 1) securing a 5-year National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute K01 Mentored Research Scientist Award, and 2) accepting an invitation to join the Advisory Committee for Project New Village, a local grassroots nonproft promoting food sovereignty in Southeastern San Diego.

Together, these foundational opportunities have resulted in numerous community-engaged research fndings and programmatic achievements. Dr. McClain has published policy-relevant research on food insecurity measurement among Hispanic/Latino families with children and on how San Diego County agencies leverage capacities and partnerships to address food insecurity, including during COVID-19.

She is currently partnered with San Ysidro Health Center on a mixed-methods study to inform an intervention promoting food security, diet quality, and cardiometabolic health. Her partnership with Project New Village led to San Diego’s frst mobile farmers’ market—the People’s Produce Mobile Farmers’ Market. She integrates students into this program and her research. In 2024, Dr. McClain was nominated for the inaugural San Diego Hunger Coalition Hunger Fighter Award.

Over the last seven years at SDSU, Dr. McClain has curated her community-engaged Food Access for Equity in Nutrition (FARE Nutrition) research program to refect meaningful community engagement that directly addresses food insecurity and food access issues through community-driven programs, culturally tailored interventions, and policy-relevant fndings—all with the goal of promoting health equity. Dr. McClain earned her Ph.D. from the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in 2016 and completed a twoyear postdoctoral research fellowship in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2018.