Faculty

Department Chair

Karen L. Francis, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor


Department of Kinesiology

College of Arts and Sciences
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA  94117-1080

kfrancis@usfca.edu


Tel:  (415) 422-6265

Fax:  (415) 422-6040

 

Department Staff

Trudy Moesch May, Program Assistant

Department of Kinesiology

College of Arts and Sciences
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA  94117-1080

may@usfca.edu

Tel:  (415) 422-6615

Fax:  (415) 422-6615

 

Faculty

 

Tel:(415) 422-6265
kfrancis@usfca.edu

Karen Francis

Associate Professor

Karen Francis, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Chair in the Exercise & Sport Science Department at the University of San Francisco. She teaches courses in the areas of movement science: Neuroscience, Motor Learning, and Statistics. Dr. Francis's research interests are focused on how we control and coordinate movement and how aging and disease affects our ability to control movements. In one line of research, she is examining the extent to which pathological tremor interferes with force control abnormalities and hence mechanisms responsible for control and coordination. In another line of research, she is examining neural and behavioral mechanisms that underlie skill acquisition and hence our knowledge regarding force control changes associated with aging and disease processes. She is a member of the Neuroscience Minor Committee, Interdisciplinary Committee on Aging and the Active Living Across the Lifespan research group. Dr. Francis is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, Gerontological Society of America, and the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.

Tel:
jmhavenar@usfca.edu

Jacob Havenar

Adjunct Professor

Jacob Havenar, Ph.D., M.C., is an adjunct faculty member in the Exercise & Sport Science Department at the University of San Francisco. He currently teaches Exercise Physiology and Exercise Program Design. Dr. Havenar's research focuses on the relationship between intrinsic motivation and physical activity adherence and the interaction between intervention modality and sustainable health behavior change. His current research objectives include the examination of baseline psychosocial predictors of long term weight loss and the impact of weight training on self-determined motives and exercise adherence. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and The National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dr. Havenar is an American College of Sports Medicine certified Health Fitness Specialist.

Tel:415.422.6875
howell@usfca.edu

Jeremy Howell

Professor

Dr. Howell has a joint appointment in the Sport Management Master's Program and Kinesiology Department. 

Tel:(415) 422-2141
dlattimore@usfca.edu

Diana Lattimore

Assistant Professor

Diana Lattimore, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department at the University of San Francisco. She teaches Exercise Psychology, Exercise and Health Promotion, Exercise and Healthy Kids, and Professional Practicum. Dr. Lattimore's research interests are focused around childhood obesity and policies that influence behavior, children's perceptions of the motivational climate in PE and sport as well as examining the psychological aspects of sport injury with athletes. Dr. Lattimore is a member of the Child and Youth Studies Minor Committee, the IRB committee, and the Wellness committee at USF. Also, Dr. Lattimore is currently an Advisor (previous Board Member) for Generations Community Wellness Centers, which provides fitness and wellness programs to youth, families, and seniors focusing specifically on helping underserved populations. Dr. Lattimore is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and American Psychological Association Division 47.

Tel:(415) 422-2682
laughlinn@usfca.edu

Neil Laughlin

Professor

Neil Laughlin, Ed. D. Stanford, 1971, is a Professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department and has taught at USF since 1971. He currently teaches two classes in Area E (Social Sciences) of the University's Core Curriculum: Personal and Community Health and Substance Abuse. Dr. Laughlin's current research interests are character development in judo and gender-based differences in sport. He serves on the University's Promotion and Tenure and Disabilities Committees and is on the Advisory Board of New Life, a San Francisco-based residential drug treatment program.

Tel:(415) 422-6508
lauro@usfca.edu

Geraldine Lauro

Assistant Professor

Geraldine Lauro Ed.D. University of San Francisco (1992) is an assistant professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department who has taught in the department since 1970.  She teaches Foundations of Exercise and Sport Science, Motor Development Across the Lifespan, Elementary School Physical Education Curriculum and Instruction, and other courses that prepare students for a physical education teaching credential program.  She is also the Coordinator for the ESS department's physical activity program.  Having taught individual activity classes for many years she is currently teaching the department's golf class. Women's physical activity participation, patterns, and adherence issues are of particular interest to her.  She is a member of WSPECW, AAHPERD, CAHPERD, and NASPSPA.

Tel:(415) 422-2331
jorri@usfca.edu

Julia Orri

Associate Professor

Julia Orri, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department at the University of San Francisco. She teaches Exercise and Disease Prevention, Clinical Exercise Testing, Kinesiology, and Statistics. Dr. Orri's research interests focus on chronic disease prevention in postmenopausal women. Currently she is investigating the effects of exercise intensity on menopausal symptoms. Another current project involves the effects of vigorous exercise on endothelial function in postmenopausal masters athletes. Past research has included the influence of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal type 2 diabetics and C- reactive protein in college students. Dr. Orri is a member of the American College of Sport Medicine and the North American Menopause Society. She is also an American College of Sport Medicine certified Health Fitness Specialist.

Tel:(415) 422-5270
cjthompson@usfca.edu

Christian Thompson

Associate Professor

Christian Thompson, Ph.D. University of Kansas, 2001, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of San Francisco. Christian has published scientific publications on exercise programming for older adults in peer-reviewed journals such as Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, and Journal of Applied Research.