Faculty & Staff

PhD, Exercise Physiology, The University of Alabama

Dr. Martino received his BA from Furman University in Health and Exercise Science in 1988. From 1990 to 1995, he completed his MA and Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, with emphases in Molecular Biology, Statistics, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. He is a Certified Strength and conditioning Specialist with distinction through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, a Master Instructor for the Evidence Based Fitness Academy, a certified Functional Movement Screen professional, a Certified Battling Ropes Coach, and a Cancer Exercise Specialist. During his tenure at Alabama, he served as an assistant coach to the nationally ranked varsity swimming team. Dr. Martino has been involved with fitness and human performance for over 35 years. From 1983 to 1988, he was a scholarship athlete at Furman University and developed into a world-class swimmer. His unique combination of education and elite-level coaching has provided him with the opportunity to work with a variety of groups including; Olympic gold medalists, elite-level college athletes, personal training clients, cancer survivors, geriatric patients, and adolescents. Dr. Martino served as a USA Swimming National Team Coach from 1990 to 2000. He was a member of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Advisory Coaching Staffs in Barcelona and Atlanta. He has traveled the world competing, coaching, and lecturing on human performance. 

Dr. Martino began his career at Georgia College & State University in 1997 and is a tenured full professor serving as the coordinator for the undergraduate Exercise Science and graduate Human Performance programs. He has won the university-wide Excellence in Teaching and Service awards during his tenure at Georgia College & State University. In addition, he currently serves as the Bobcats Sports Performance Program Director overseeing 200 varsity athletes with the assistance of graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Health & Human Performance. He has been a member of the NSCA since 1987 and has served as the Georgia State Director, SE Regional Coordinator, and Chair of the State Provincial Director Committee. In 2012, he received the prestigious Educator of the Year Award presented by the NSCA for his outstanding teaching and service to the field of strength and conditioning.

Ph.D. Athletic Training, Physical Education & Sport Science, University of South Carolina

Dr. Hunt is a Tenured Full Professor with a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina

MEd, Kinesiology: Health Promotion, Georgia College & State University

Mrs. Childs received her BS in Exercise Science and Masters in Education degree with a concentration in Health Promotion from Georgia College & State University. She began her professional career at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where she served as Assistant Director of Employee Wellness and Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness programs. Mrs. Childs returned to Georgia College & State University as the Assistant Director of Student Fitness programs in 2009. Since that time, she has held the positions of Associate Director of Fitness Operations for the Wellness and Recreation Center, University Employee Well-Being Liaison, and Lecturer in Exercise Science. Mrs. Childs is also a certified ACSM/ACS Cancer Exercise Trainer and led the Survive & Thrive cancer wellness program for 6 years. She has held AFAA/NASM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor certifications for over 20 years.

MS, Athletic Training, Georgia College & State University
BS, Exercise Science, Georgia College & State University

Ashlyn Alligood is a double alumna of GCSU, holding Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science ('21) and Master of Science in Athletic Training ('23) degrees. She is a certified Athletic Trainer by the Board of Certification (BOC) and licensed by the State of Georgia. In addition to her clinical experience, Ashlyn is certified in Dry Needling and serves as a CPR Instructor through the American Heart Association. Her academic interests focus on women's health and mental health, with an emphasis on the athletic population. 

PhD, Educational Leadership: Higher Education Track, Mercer University
MS, Exercise Science: Fitness & Health Promotion, Georgia State University
BS, Health Education: Exercise Science, Georgia College & State University

Dr. Scott Bassett has been a leader in the health, wellness, and sports industry for over 20 years. He holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from Mercer University, an MS in Exercise Science from Georgia State University, and a BS from Georgia College & State University, his alma mater, where he also competed as a member of the cross-country team. Dr. Bassett’s research focuses on the leadership role coaches play in supporting student-athletes’ mental wellness, with a particular emphasis on mental health literacy. In addition to his role at Georgia College, he also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Georgia Military College and is a faculty affiliate at Georgia Tech. With over 25 years of officiating experience, including more than 20 years at the high school level and over 15 seasons as a men’s NCAA basketball official, Dr. Bassett brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his teaching and mentorship. He is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as an Exercise Physiologist. Outside the classroom and off the court, Dr. Bassett enjoys spending time with his wife, Dorothy, and their two dogs, Palmer and Doodles.

Ph.D., Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Purdue University

Dr. Butler arrived at Georgia College & State University in 2007 and completed his Ph.D. in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention from Purdue University in 2009. He served as the Assistant Director of the School of Health & Human Performance from 2014 to 2020. He received the Georgia College & State University Outstanding Scholar Award in 2012 and the College of Health Sciences Outstanding Scholar Award in 2010 and 2014. In 2010-2011, he participated in the Georgia Governor’s Teaching Fellowship program, and from 2016-2017 served as a fellow in the University System of Georgia Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellows initiative.

PhD, Sport Physiology and Performance, East Tennessee State University
MS, Sport Science & Coach Education, East Tennessee State University
BS, Physical Education, East Tennessee State University

Fiona Dodge is an alumna of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) where she received a BS in Physical Education, MS in Sport Science and Coach Education, and a PhD in Sport Physiology and Performance. While completing her Masters and Doctorate degree at ETSU, she was a graduate assistant coach, a strength and conditioning coach, and a sport scientist for the womens soccer team. Her teaching and research interests include athlete monitoring, athlete development and rehabilitation/return to play processes.

MS, Health & Human Performance: Health Promotion

Helen DuPree has served as a Lecturer in the School of Health & Human Performance since 2021. She is currently a PhD candidate in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, specializing in Health Promotion & Behavior. She is also a proud graduate of two GCSU programs: the M.S. in Health Promotion and the MAT in Health & Physical Education, for which she was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Student Award. At GCSU, Mrs. DuPree teaches across multiple programs, including Public Health, Exercise Science, and the MAT. Her academic and research interests center on behavioral and mental health, with a particular focus on eating disorder awareness and prevention. In recent years, she has led the implementation of The Body Project at GCSU, a peer-led body image program designed to prevent eating disorders among college-aged women. She has published on topics including eating disorder prevention, adolescent mental health, and media literacy, offering actionable strategies for educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Her conference presentations further explore topics such as mental health interventions, body image, and health behavior change. In the classroom, Mrs. DuPree is committed to helping students make meaningful connections between academic concepts and real-world health challenges. Previously, she worked to expand access to essential health services in rural communities by organizing health fairs, wellness events, and other outreach initiatives. She also has experience teaching in secondary education and coaching middle and high school athletes. Mrs. DuPree is an active member of the National Eating Disorders Association, the American Public Health Association, and the Georgia Public Health Association.

Doctor of Chiropractic, Life University
BA, Biology, Purdue University

Dr. Brittney Evans brings over a decade of combined academic and clinical experience to her role at Georgia College & State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and graduated summa cum laude with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University. Before joining GCSU, she taught Anatomy and Physiology at Central Georgia Technical College for seven years, where she was known for her engaging, student-centered teaching style. She also spent five years in clinical chiropractic practice and is an actively licensed chiropractor in the State of Georgia. Dr. Evans is certified in physiotherapy modalities and has completed extensive training in chiropractic radiology theory and practice. She is a proud member of Pi Tau Delta, the national chiropractic honor society. Her academic interests focus on integrating clinical insight with foundational human anatomy to help students develop a deeper understanding of human structure and function.

MS, Leisure and Sport Management, Middle Tennessee State University

Clayton Faircloth graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Georgia College & State University in 2014.  He received a Master of Science in Leisure and Sports Management in 2016 from Middle Tennessee State University. Clayton is a certified Athletic Trainer by the Board of Certification (BOC), a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, and is licensed by the State of Georgia. He has 9 years of clinical experience in high school, college, and industrial settings.

Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of the West Indies

Dr. Damian K. Francis is a Nutritionist and Epidemiologist trained at the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Dr. Francis is the Director of the Center for Health & Social Issues at Georgia College & State University. He is an Emerging Leader of the Americas Programme (ELAP) scholar, completing a research fellowship in knowledge synthesis and knowledge translation at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Francis is the founder of the Cochrane Caribbean and currently serves as adjunct faculty for the World Health Organization (WHO)/Cochrane/Cornell Summer Institute for systematic reviews in nutrition for global policymaking.  He serves both the Pan American Health Organization and as a member of the Essential Medicine List expert panel. Dr. Francis is an Assistant Editor for the Campbell Collaboration Nutrition Sub-group of the International Development Coordinating Group. He enjoys teaching epidemiology, translational research methods and mentoring students in research.  Dr. Francis has a track record of excellence in research publication which has focused on the epidemiology of chronic non-communicable diseases among people of Afro-Caribbean heritage with an emphasis on health equity, systematic reviews of interventions, and the food environment as a risk factor for diseases.

Ph.D., Mercer University, Higher Education Leadership

Brittney Hardin comes to Georgia College & State University from Mercer University and was Georgia College & State University's Outstanding Athletic Training Clinical Student in 2013 and a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She is a nationally certified athletic trainer and a licensed athletic trainer in Georgia. Her teaching and scholarship interests include academic leadership and athletic training education. 

PhD, Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Georgia

Standardized Patients in Athletic Training Education, Interprofessional Education in Athletic Training, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Dr. Mandy Jarriel received her PhD from the University of Georgia focusing on athletic training services and eating disorders within the recreational setting.  She received her MEd in Health Education and Promotion and her BS in Athletic Training from Georgia College & State University. Prior to her current role in Academic Affairs, she served as the Assistant Director for SHHP, as well as served in Program Director and Clinical Education Coordinator roles for the CAATE accredited athletic training program at Georgia College, being awarded outstanding teaching and service awards at both the college and university levels. Dr. Jarriel is active within the profession where she serves as a CAATE site visitor and has also served the profession through her role in chairing regional and state athletic training education committees and has previously lobbied nationally for the profession on Capitol Hill. She was selected as a 2019/2020 Georgia College & State University Women's Leadership Faculty Fellow (WLFFP) and is currently serving as the (WLFFP) Co-Chair. Her research agenda focuses on the use of standardized patients in athletic training education, inter-professional education in athletic training, and scholarship of teaching and learning within athletic training curriculum.

DrPH, Florida A&M University

Cancer Disparities (prostate, breast), Population Health Outcome, Implementation and Dissemination Science

Dr. Kaninjing received his Doctor of Public Health degree from Florida A&M University’s Institute of Public Health in August 2016. He completed a two-year postdoctoral training in cancer health disparities at the University of Florida’s Minority Cancer Research and Training (MiCaRT) Center. During this period, he also served as the program manager for the National Institutes of Health sponsored consortium: Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), where he collaborated on a number of prostate cancer research studies with scientists in Nigeria, Cameroon and England. He is a behavioral scientist with prostate cancer and health disparity research expertise. His research examines the impact of immigration on prostate cancer burden and aims to delineate the modifiable risk factors for prostate cancer among sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States. Additionally, his research explores the “within-group” differences in prostate cancer outcomes among men of African ancestry.

Ph.D., Sport Science, Georgia State University

Kelly P. Massey, Ph.D. EP-C, CMES, AASDN-NS completed her graduate work at Georgia State University in Exercise Physiology and Sport Science. She is very active in undergraduate research and oversees the Scholars of Health and Human Performance Studies (SHHPS) research program. She is a Health Sciences Division representative for the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), a division chair for the Global Undergraduate Awards, and the Editor-in-Chief/Managing Editor for the Undergraduate Research journal. Her research interests include cardiac rehabilitation, metabolism/energy balance studies, and nutrition interventions and ergogenic aids. She has served for the past nine years on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Strategic Health Initiative – Women, Sports, & Physical Activity committee where she promotes cardiac rehabilitation programs and other health initiatives for women. In 2014, she was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Recognition award for the College of Health Sciences and the Excellence in Scholarship of Teaching & Creative Endeavors award in 2017. 

Ph.D., Health Education and Promotion, The University of Alabama

Dental Health, Health Disparities, and Health Inequities

Dr. John B. Moore received a Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion and an MA in Health Sciences from The University of Alabama where he was awarded the Most Outstanding Doctoral Student and Most Outstanding Masters Student. He also received a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida. Previous work experience includes co-advising the nation’s largest peer-led health organization. In this role, he implemented community-based strategies and analyzed outreach data to improve the health of the campus community. His teaching interest includes research methods, public health policy, and substance use/misuse. His research interest includes dental health behaviors, oral health disparities, and health inequities. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Healthcare Quality & Economics and has authored various publications in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Health Education. He has presented and assisted in the development of numerous presentations for national, international, and regional conferences. He is also co-advisor for The Body Project at GCSU which is a peer-led program aimed at reducing eating disorders among college students.

PhD, Exercise Physiology, Georgia State University
MS, Human Performance, Georgia College & State University

Austin Parks received a BS in Athletic Training and an MS in Human Performance from Georgia College. While completing his Master's degree, he was a strength and conditioning graduate assistant working with multiple athletic teams. After graduating in 2017, he took a job in the private sector doing sports performance training with athletes from middle school to professional. He began teaching at Georgia State University in the department of Kinesiology and Health part-time in 2018. His love for teaching has led him to pursue his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology at Georgia State.

PhD, Kinesiology, University of Georgia
MS, Kinesiology with concentration in Athletic Training, Temple University
BS, Athletic Training, Immaculata University

Tom Prato earned a BS in Athletic Training from Immaculata University and became a certified Athletic Trainer before completing an MS in Kinesiology at Temple University. He recently earned a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Georgia. His research interests include concussion, biomechanics, and visual function, with a focus on how concussion may alter movement and increase the risk of subsequent injury.

Ph.D., Sport Physiology and Performance, East Tennessee State University

Dr. Spalding received her BA from Northeastern State University Oklahoma in Health and Human Performance, she completed her MBA from Averett University, and a MA and Ph.D. in Sports Physiology and Performance at East Tennessee State University. Prior to coming to Georgia College, she was an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at ETSU as well as an instructor in their undergraduate exercise science department. Dr. Spalding brings with her professional practice expertise through her work as a coach at the collegiate and club level and as a sports scientist for club, high school and college level athletic teams. Her teaching and scholarship interests include long-term athletic development and monitoring at the club, high school and college level.

Ph.D., Educational Psychology, University of Georgia

Meta-analyses in the programmatic use of challenge courses and wilderness therapy.

Liz Speelman is a Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education and also serves as Director of the Outdoor Center at Georgia College. In addition to her Ph.D. she received her M.Ed. in Outdoor Education from Georgia College & State University and her B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph in Guelph, ON, Canada. Her teaching focuses on group development, facilitation skills, leadership and challenge course management. Liz served as the lead author for the textbook Aerial Adventure Environments: The Theory and Practice of the Challenge Course, Zip Line, and Canopy Tour Industry published in 2020.

Ph.D., Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Georgia
Graduate Certificate in Public Health, Georgia Southern University

Jeff Turner is an Associate Professor of Outdoor Education. He teaches classes related to outdoor education theory, outdoor leadership, environmental education, and environmental health. His research is focused on the development of outdoor leaders and impacts of natural environments on health and well-being.