I am a T32 Postdoctoral Scholar working under the supervision of Dr. Brian Downer in the Sealy Center on Aging. My overall research theme is the health of older adults, with an emphasis on Hispanic aging. I’ll also be working closely with Dr. Elizabeth Lyons to receive training in the implementation and analysis of mobile health (m-Health) interventions to increase physical activity (e.g., daily step counts) in aging populations, supported by behavioral change theory. I’m hoping to additionally collaborate with other researchers at UTMB interested in studying the relationships between various types of physical activity (e.g., aerobic, strength, combined exercise) and important indices of health (e.g., mortality, cardiometabolic risk factors, sleep quality) across the lifespan in the general and/or clinical populations (e.g., older adults with sleep apnea). Please let me know if you or your colleagues are interested in working with me!

I just graduated with my PhD in Kinesiology (emphasis: Physical Activity Epidemiology) from Iowa State University (ISU). I had many roles as a doctoral student, but the role I enjoyed the most was running our in-house prospective cohort known as the “Physical Activity and Aging Study” (PAAS).

I received a Bachelor’s (2009) and a Master’s (2010) in Exercise Physiology at the University of Central Lancashire. I completed a second Master’s (2013) in the same discipline at the University of Texas – Arlington. I taught undergrad Kinesiology for 3 years before starting my PhD, working at Our Lady of the Lake, Incarnate Word, and St. Mary’s (all in San Antonio, TX). I then completed my PhD (2024) in Kinesiology at ISU.

I want to be a professor of Physical Activity Epidemiology with expertise in both observational and interventional study designs. To achieve this objective, I will leverage the training opportunities of the T32 program to bolster my skillsets in the analysis of epidemiologic cohort data (e.g., Mexican Health and Aging Study), while also working closely with physical activity researchers to develop best practices in the design, delivery, and evaluation of feasible and acceptable interventions that promote physical activity and ultimately improve health outcomes.

If we have the pleasure of meeting in person, you’ll notice fairly quickly my lack of an American accent. I hail from across the pond, specifically -- the English county of Yorkshire. I married my better half, Casey (from San Antonio), in 2023, and we’re expecting our first child/daughter in January 2025. I love Manchester United, the UFC, Yorkshire Tea, and craft IPAs. I recently stumbled across a British pub in Kemah called “Fish and Chips Houston,” a place I intend to visit each weekend to watch Manchester United play shambolically poor “football” against historically inferior teams (we’re like the Dallas Cowboys of The English Premier League). They say misery loves company, so feel free to join me in anguish if you ever feel inclined.