Kristen McAlexander
Lecturer
Ph.D., University of Houston
Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports
6000 Airline Rd., #013
Dallas, 75205
214-768-4201
Send an email
Dr.
Kristen McAlexander joined the faculty of the Department of Applied Physiology
and Wellness in the Fall of 2010 after earning her Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a
specialty in obesity from the University of Houston. As a university fitness
instructor and lecturer, sports-specific trainer, personal trainer, marathoner,
author and obesity researcher, Dr. McAlexander strives to educate individuals
and organizations about living well and serving their local community. Dr. McAlexander is also president and founder of Reflections Wellness, a local
non-profit organization designed to promote wellness while fighting local
poverty and eliminating health disparities.
Currently, Dr. McAlexander teaches several sections of Choices I: Concepts of
Wellness and Choices II activity classes. Dr. McAlexander has over 10 years of
experience as a personal trainer and has taught several university and community
health and fitness classes including: Basic Nutrition, Boot Camp, Health
Disparities, Circuit Training, Functional Fitness, Kickboxing, Personal
Training, Strength Training and Weight Management. She frequently performs
various health assessments and teaches at wellness seminars for local
organizations, particularly in underserved communities.
Dr. McAlexander research interests include environmental and sociocultural
influences of wellness behaviors and obesity, particularly among vulnerable
populations such as women and low socioeconomic populations. Her research and
non-profit organization focuses on understanding and reducing health disparities
and improving wellness opportunities among underserved neighborhoods. She has
provided analytical support for several nationally funded obesity research
grants, including the National Institutes of Healthâs (NIDDK) Maintaining
Physical Activity in Ethnic Minority Women and the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation Active Living Researchâs Environmental Correlates of Leisure and
Transportation Walking of Residents of Public Housing. Dr. McAlexander also
studies mobile technological and online social networking methods to improve
university student retention and performance. In her spare time, Dr. McAlexander
enjoys running, dancing, eating chocolate chip pie and watching Saved by the
Bell reruns.
Education:
University of Houston, Ph.D., Kinesiology, Obesity Studies, 2010
Sam Houston State University, M.A., Kinesiology, 2006
Texas A&M University, B.S., Journalism, 2002
American Council of Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer
Recent Peer Reviewed Publications:
Lee, R.E., McAlexander, K.M., Banda, J.A. (2011). Reversing the Obesogenic
Environment. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois.
Lee, R.E., Mama, S.K., McAlexander, K.P., Adamus, H., Medina, A.V. (2010).
Neighborhood Factors and Physical Activity in African American Public Housing
Residents. Journal of Physical Activity and Health: In press.
McAlexander, K.M., Lee, R.E., Mama, S.K., Medina, A.V. (2010). Measured and
Self-reported Neighborhood Characteristics and Physical Activity Among African
American Women. International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Abstract
Submissions: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 31. Available at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss2/31
McAlexander, K.M., Banda, J.A., McAlexander, J.W., Lee, R.E. (2009). Physical
activity resource attributes and obesity in low income African Americans.
Journal of Urban Health, 86(5), 696-707.
McAlexander, K.M., Banda, J.A., McAlexander, J.W., Lee, R.E. (2009). Physical
activity resource attributes and obesity in low income African Americans.
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Abstract Submissions: Vol.
3: Iss.1, Article 8. Available at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol3/iss1/8/
Lee, R.E., Mama, S.K., Banda, J.A., Bryant, L.G., McAlexander, K.P. (2009).
Physical activity opportunities in low socioeconomic status neighborhoods.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 63(12), 1021. Available at:
http://jech.bmj.com/content/63/12/1021.extract
Lee, R.E., Liao, Y., McAlexander, K.M. (2009): Associations between Neighborhood
Factors and Physical Activity in African American Public Housing Residents.
Urban Affairs Association 2009 Annual Meeting: Contesting and Sustaining the
City: Neighborhood, Region, or World. Available at: http://www.udel.edu/uaa/pdfs/2009_abstracts.pdf
Professional Certifications:
American Council of Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer
Professional Development Affiliations
Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC)
Society for Nonprofit Organization (SNPO)
Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)
Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (TAHPERD)
Texas Chapter of American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM)
Urban Affairs Association (UAA)