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Research Interests

My research interests are focused on the relationship between motor function and cognition in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s (PD), Huntington disease (HD), and Cerebral Palsy (CP) and the effects of exercise interventions on both their physical and mental health. In my most recent work, I looked at the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a physical activity coaching program for people with pre-manifest and early stage HD and PD in a clinic setting. Previously, I examined the effect of an upper extremity power-training intervention on pain and spasticity among young people with CP in a rural area. The project supported the NICHD’s mission to develop knowledge that ensures the health, productivity, independence, and well-being of people through optimal rehabilitation. Currently, I am developing an intervention that will look at the effects of an intense acute bouts of exercise on the executive function of individuals with neurological disorders, and the potential benefits for slowing their disease progression. 

Education

Ph.D., Kinesiology / Exercise Science, The University of Georgia, Athens GA 
M.S., Kinesiology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 
M.S., Sports Management, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 
B.S., Physical Education and Sport, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania