We pride ourselves on our community of dedicated, high-caliber instructors. Our faculty challenge their students to expand their thinking and to truly know — not just memorize — the material.
All instructors involved in the online Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology are full-time faculty. They bring to the APK program decades of experience, certification in more than a dozen sport and fitness divisions, and membership in the major sport associations, including the:
“I love the ‘light bulb moment,’ when my students truly understand the material and can apply and make connections to everyday movements. If you’re motivated and put in the hard work, the faculty at UF is going to support you and make sure you can do this.”
—Linda Nguyen, Instructional Assistant Professor
Instructional Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Dr. Adolphs is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. Adolphs earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Exercise Science from Northern Michigan University. He then completed his doctorate in health and rehabilitation sciences at Indiana University – Indianapolis, where he studied strategies for improving disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
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Instructional Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Dr. Ahlgren joined APK in 2009. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Kansas State University, followed by her doctorate in physiological sciences (focus on autonomic neurophysiology) from UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As an Instructional Professor, Dr. Ahlgren is a teaching-intensive faculty member whose primary courses are Applied Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Kinetic Anatomy. She is a huge teaching nerd and was named UF Teacher of the Year in 2016 and HHP Teacher of the Year in 2012, 2016, and 2019. Dr. Ahlgren is also a huge exercise nerd and has been teaching fitness classes since 1998. She brings fitness industry experiences and personal injury stories to all her classes and encourages her students to do the same. If you love learning about the body…and love moving your body…you’ll enjoy taking classes with “Doc. A.”
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Director of Academic Technology & Innovation
College of Health and Human Performance
Instructional Associate Professor
Program Coordinator, M.S. in Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Phone: (352) 294-1721
Email: gbeatty@hhp.ufl.edu
Dr. Garrett Beatty is the Director of Academic Technology and Innovation in the College of Health & Human Performance, where he facilitates instructional technology implementation, college-supported instructional continuing education, and initiatives to imbed artificial intelligence within the curriculum. Garrett is also an Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, where he coordinates the Department’s master of science program. Garrett teaches courses in Sport Psychology, Exercise Psychology, and Applied Sport Science. Garrett’s research interests primarily center on utilizing virtual reality, augmented reality, and other emerging cognitive training tools with integrated eye-tracking technology to facilitate skill acquisition in movement-dependent performance tasks within sport, tactical operations, and high-stakes medical procedures. Garrett is involved in numerous study abroad programs and aspires to leverage the modern higher education “classroom” to increase UF student access to international cultures and their diverse perspectives on human performance.
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Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Phone: (352) 294-1726
Email: pborsa@hhp.ufl.edu
Paul Borsa, Ph.D., came to the University of Florida in 2003. He is the director of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory (2003–present) and has served as the graduate coordinator (2003–2004). In April 2001, he was awarded Fellowship of the American College of Sports Medicine. Borsa has served on the Convention Committee of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association as well as on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Athletic Training (Section Editor) and the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation. He has been published numerous times.
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Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Clinical Education Coordinator
Doctor of Athletic Training Program
Dr. Brown is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA), and Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida (ATAF). He was named the SEATA Educator/Administrator of the Year in 2022. Within ATAF, Dr. Brown earned the ATAF President’s Award in 2018 and was named Educator of the Year in 2022. He serves as the Clinical Education Coordinator of the DAT program and oversees the sub-specialization in Sport Performance. He has expertise in performance enhancement, therapeutic modalities, and athletic training educational methodology.
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Associate Professor
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Dr. Stephen Coombes co-founded the Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience (http://lrnlab.org/) at the University of Florida in 2011. His research focuses on brain structure and brain function in human models of neurodegeneration and other disorders that affect the sensorimotor system. His research group has been at the cutting edge of developing novel neuroimaging paradigms to study pain physiology, motor systems physiology, and diffusion MRI analysis approaches for understanding brain microstructure in disease. Dr. Coombes’s body of work is documented in 81 peer-reviewed publications in journals that include PAIN, Cerebral Cortex, Neurology, Lancet, Human Brain Mapping, Journal of Pain, Journal of Physiology, and Neuroimage. As PI (principal investigator), his laboratory has two active NIH R01 grants in the areas of chronic pain and Alzheimer’s disease. He is also Co-I (co-investigator) on 3 R01s that use his motor and pain paradigms to understand brain function in shoulder pain, stroke, and autism. He is a Co-I and member of the 1FLORIDA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Biomarker Core, co-mentor on a K23, and mentor on an NIH-T32 award in pain and aging.
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Instructional Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Benjamin Gordon joined the College of Health & Human Performance as a Lecturer in August 2019. Ben began his studies in exercise physiology at the University of South Carolina under the mentorship of Dr. Larry Durstine, with his dissertation being chaired by Dr. Steven Blair. Throughout the years, Ben’s interests have ranged across the landscape of exercise science. His certifications and research interest reflect the breadth of his interests; he currently holds certifications from ACSM, NSCA, NASM, and FMS, and his research interests include energy balance, cholesterol, phytochemicals, and strength and conditioning. In addition, Ben also spent two years on his Ph.D. dissertation. As a lecturer, Ben strives to spread knowledge in a fun and entertaining manner, while also implementing information he has gained from research and practical experiences along the way. Ben is constantly searching for ways to make his classes more about learning and less about earning a grade.
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Instructional Associate Professor
Internship Coordinator
Integrative Strength & Conditioning Sciences Certificate Coordinator
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Phone: (352) 294-1704
Email: blaincharrison@ufl.edu
Dr. Blain Harrison joined APK in 2016 as both a lecturer and the Internship Coordinator for the undergraduate and graduate APK programs. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in exercise physiology, and a Ph.D. in Sports Medicine, all from the University of Virginia. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Athletic Training from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and serves in various roles within the NSCA. He developed several courses within the Human Performance program, including APK6611 – Tactical Strength and Conditioning, APK6176 – Strength and Conditioning for Advanced Practitioners, APK6320 – Corrective Exercise, and APK6167 – Nutrition Aspects of Human Performance, in addition to co-developing APK5177 – Applied Sport Science. Each course Dr. Harrison developed prepares students to pass industry leading certification exams that may enhance their careers.
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Research Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Basma Yacoubi Keyhani, Ph.D., has been a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology since 2019. Her work focuses on sensorimotor control deficits in individuals with neurological pathologies involving the cerebellum. She is interested in developing novel strategies for rehabilitation of motor control deficits using at-home solutions. She has a broad interest in variability and its functional significance in biological systems.
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Instructional Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Dr. Diba Mani earned her degrees under the mentorship of Dr. Roger Enoka in the Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory at the University of Colorado. Her doctoral dissertation focused on evaluating the effects of electrical nerve stimulation on motor unit discharge properties and mobility in young and older adults. Dr. Mani most enjoys the human component of any work she is engaging in, be it research in the field of geriatrics or teaching college students in the classroom. Dr. Mani is a regular vinyasa yoga practitioner and an international judo referee, as well as the Faculty Advisor and a coach for Gator Judo Club. She has an emphasis on internationalizing STEM courses, which you may experience in classes you take with her, and she welcomes undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the study abroad programs that she typically leads during spring break and the Summer semester.
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Instructional Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Dr. Mann joined the College of Health & Human Performance as a lecturer in August 2023. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University, followed by a Master of Arts from San Diego State University and a doctorate from the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida. As a student, Dr. Mann studied emotion, attention, and the development of sport expertise. Since that time, his research and practice interests have continued to evolve in the areas of performance expertise, emotional intelligence, and the assessment of human performance potential. As an Instructional Assistant Professor, Dr. Mann is passionate about bringing content to life, while engaging with and empowering students to acquire and develop tangible skills to excel. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Mann has served as a performance consultant to elite athletes, military, and corporate performers.
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Instructional Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Phone: (352) 294-1723
Email: linda.nguyen@hhp.ufl.edu
Dr. Nguyen joined the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Performance as an Instructional Assistant Professor in August 2017. She earned her B.S in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, her M.S. in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from York University, and her doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Florida. Dr. Nguyen teaches multiple large-enrollment classes in APK in both in-person and hybrid formats. She also mentors and supervises the department’s graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants and has a keen interest in diversity, student-focused learning, teaching pedagogy, and academic support to meet the current needs of students in higher education.
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Instructional Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
Phone: (352) 294-1716
Email: MJT023@ufl.edu
Matthew Terza is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, where he teaches graduate-level biomechanics courses. Dr. Terza is an alum of the University of Florida. He completed his undergraduate and master of science degrees in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Sciences in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. His research has centered on pathologic gaits and leveraging adaptive gait response in novel environments for rehabilitation. His teaching interests include using art and embodiment to facilitate exploration and understanding of the human body and the ways it moves.
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To learn more about the University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology and download a free brochure, fill out the fields below. You can also call (888) 581-1855 to speak to an academic coordinator.