PhD FACSM RCEP CES, Omar Smith Endowed Chair in Kinesiology, Dept. of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University.
Dr. Lightfoot received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Northeast Louisiana University and his doctorate from the University of Tennessee. He then completed a research consultantship with NASA at Kennedy Space Center in the Biomedical Laboratory and then a three-year National Institute of Health postdoctoral research fellowship in the Division of Physiology at Johns Hopkins University. He was an Assistant and Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University for 6 years, and a Professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte for 14 years, 11 years of which he was Chair of the department. Dr. Lightfoot has published over 50 scientific, peer-reviewed articles on the genetics of daily physical activity and exercise endurance, as well as the physiological response to high-G exposure and hemorrhage and is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on the genetics of physical activity. His lab also has an unique interest in the physiological responses of motorsports athletes to the race environment. His research has been featured in numerous general media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Time.com, National Public Radio, the Rush Limbaugh show, CNN, the NBC Today Show, MSNBC, Charlotte Talks radio show, Revista Epoca (a Brazilian weekly magazine), and on Australian National Radio.
As the inaugural Director of the Texas A&M Coaching Academy, Dr. Thornton brings a wealth of experience as an athlete, coach, and athletic administrator to the position. After playing high school and junior college basketball in San Antonio, Thornton came to Aggieland to play for Coach Shelby Metcalf. Thornton was the 1973-1974 Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year after being the second-leading scorer and rebounder on the Aggie squad. In 1974-75, Thornton was the team captain and helped lead the Aggies to the 1975 SWC Championship title.
Taking full advantage of the opportunities presented to him by Texas A&M, Thornton graduated cum laude from Texas A&M in 1975. Thornton was named the Department of Education's Distinguished Honor Award winner. Thornton spent two years as a graduate assistant basketball coach on Metcalf's staff and earned his master's degree in educational administration from Texas A&M. He would become the basketball head coach at Athens High School, spend a brief time at UT-San Antonio before taking the athletics director and head basketball coaching job at Hill Junior College in Hillsboro. In 1981, Metcalf would call and ask Thornton to serve as an assistant basketball coach. From 1981 until the 1990, Thornton would serve as Metcalf's assistant helping the Aggies to one NCAA appearance (1987) and four NIT appearances. During the middle of the 1990 season, Thornton was asked to serve as interim head basketball coach and finished with a 5-7 mark as the Aggies' head coach.
Ms. Schwartz is from Bainbridge Island, Washington. She earned a BA in Cross-cultural Sociology from Westmont College and studied in Asia. She has since lived and worked across the states and in Germany and England. Ms. Schwartz earned a CELTA and has taught English as a Foreign Language at home and abroad. She has also worked intensively with students to improve their literacy. She enjoys cooking, hiking, languages and is learning to garden in Texas.
David is a fourth year doctoral student studying Exercise Physiology at Texas A&M University. He received his Bachelors degree in Kinesiology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and his Masters degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. During his Masters degree David worked with NASCAR pit crews to investigate the physiological effects of the racing environment on pit crew health and performance. To date, he is the only person to have published a study examining the physiological response of NASCAR pit crews during a race. Following his Masters degree David entered the PhD program at UNC Charlotte. David transferred to Texas A&M University in Fall 2010 to continue his research goal of investigating the genetic regulation of physical activity. David is also a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine.
Emily is a third year doctoral student studying Exercise Physiology at Texas A&M University and specializing in the genetic regulation of physical activity. Before coming to Texas, Emily worked as an exercise physiologist in the Strides to Strength Program at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC. This program was designed to help cancer patients manage fatigue levels and overcome physical and emotional limitations following a cancer diagnosis. Emily has also spent a number of years working with older adults in the clinical setting to help them better manage chronic conditions through individualized exercise programs. Emily received her Bachelors degree in Exercise/Sport Science from Elon University and her Masters degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina Charlotte.