Education & Certification
Course Instructors
Sue Beckham, Ph.D.
Dr. Sue Beckham earned a doctoral degree in Physiology and M.S. degree with an emphasis in exercise physiology from Oklahoma State University. Certified by the American College of Sports
Medicine (ACSM) as a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), she has 25 years of experience in the health/fitness field. Sue also serves as Treasurer for the Texas American College of Sports Medicine.
Sue’s experience includes three years as Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Cardiology at the Dallas VA Medical Center, 10 years as Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as experience in sports medicine, exercise testing, personal training, and corporate wellness. She has published research articles on nutritional supplements, authored chapters in ACSM’s Resource Manual, and served on the Editorial Board for ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal since 2001. Dr. Beckham is also the Exercise Editor for Your Healthstyle, a corporate wellness newsletter.
Sue is a former age-group triathlete, competing several times in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Currently, she enjoys recreational cycling, resistance training, and running with her four-legged friends.
Susan Devers, RN, CNS, ANP
Ms. Devers earned her MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Oklahoma and a post-masters certification from UT Arlington as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. Since 1995, she has been a CPR and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor (ACLS) for AHA. She is currently AHA Faculty for the Medical City Dallas Training Center and Cooper Aerobics Center Course Administration Director for CPR and ACLS.
Susan’s experience includes 3 years as The Cooper Institute’s Clinical Trials Site Director, plus previous experience as a Cardiology Nurse Specialist in outpatient care and intensive care nursing. She has published peer reviewed articles in the areas of cardiology and general imaging.
She stays active with jogging, indoor cycling, and weight training. She also has a passion for helping animals and is involved in dog rescue and animal rights.
Stephen W. Farrell, Ph.D.
Dr. Farrell received his Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University in 1996 with a major emphasis in Exercise Physiology and a secondary emphasis in Nutrition. His M.S. (Exercise Physiology) and B.S. (Physical Education) degrees were earned at the University of South Carolina and Springfield College, respectively.
Employed by The Cooper Institute since 1982, his current position is Director of 
Professional Education for the Division of Education. He is also responsible for updating course content, manuals, and slide presentations for all of our workshops. Dr. Farrell has teaching responsibilities both here in Dallas and worldwide, and has conducted several workshops for all branches of the U.S. military, as well as many federal and state law enforcement agencies.
On numerous occasions he served as Workshop Director for the American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Test Technologist and Health Fitness Instructor certification courses. He has been a lead author or co-author on more than 15 peer-reviewed research publications, and has presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine on numerous occasions. Dr. Farrell currently holds the position of chair of The Cooper Institute’s Review Board (IRB), which reviews and approves all proposed research studies and also serves as a consultant for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
A former competitive runner with racing distances and PR’s ranging from 800 meters (1 minute 58 seconds) to half-marathon (1 hour, 17 minutes), he is still an avid exerciser, and enjoys cycling, in-line skating and weight training.
Mike Harper, M.Ed.
Mr. Harper is an Associate Director in the Division of Professional Education. 
His responsibilities include providing instruction in a wide variety of health and wellness areas and developing curriculum for workshops for health and fitness professionals.
He has a Bachelor of Science from Howard Payne University and a Masters Degree in Education with a major in Health and Physical Education from Tarleton State University. Prior to joining The Cooper Institute, Mr. Harper had been heavily involved in the athletic setting as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Division I & II levels – most recently Head Strength Coach at Tarleton State University.
Michael also stays active with philanthropic quests with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and American Legion in addition to his participation as a triathlete – focusing on the Olympic Distance – and providing different fitness challenges through his personal website www.tri4fitness.net
Karyn Hughes, M.Ed.
Karyn Hughes, M.Ed. has devoted her life to the promotion of fitness and wellness. As an Associate
Director of Education, She delivers fitness and health course instruction worldwide to aspiring personal trainers and military personnel, plus numerous federal, municipal, and state law enforcement agencies and academies across the United States.
Karyn earned her Bachelors in Kinesiology from the University of Texas and Masters in Education, with a Major in Physical Education, from the University of North Texas. With 35 years of experience in the field of fitness, exercise, and health promotion, she has taught and coached in public schools, led corporate wellness programs, and was the first female personal trainer in Dallas.
Karyn is also the founder and CEO of Better Body Systems, Inc., and has invented the WOW Stretch and WOW Sequential Stretching System.
Lucille Marcoux, RN, MSN, ANP
Lucille Marcoux is an adult nurse practitioner with extensive clinical experience in critical care, emergency medicine, clinical research, diabetes, and cardiology.
She graduated from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Rhode Island, and continued her education in Texas, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, a Master of Science in Nursing, and certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner.
In addition to her work in critical care and emergency medicine, she has served as National Nurse Coordinator for a ninety-center Congestive Heart Failure study and has partnered in developing a cardiac rehab program at a local hospital. Before coming to The Cooper Institute, she was employed at a general cardiology practice where she managed both inpatient and outpatient cardiac care. She specialized in counseling patients and families about exercise, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose management for attaining and maintaining maximal health.
At The Cooper Institute, Lucille provides medical management for the patients in our clinical trials and continues to counsel these patients in therapeutic lifestyles.
Roger Reynolds, M.A.
Mr. Reynolds is the Director of Contract Relations for the Division of Education at The Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas. Roger has over 35 years experience in the health and fitness industry and for the past 25 years has served on the professional staff at The Cooper Institute. 
Roger has been directly responsible for providing consulting services, fitness certification training and contract relations with national and international clients. Roger has assisted corporate, military, law enforcement, educational, clinical, special operations units and athletic organizations in the design, development and implementation of fitness, wellness, and staff certification programs.
Roger received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Health and Physical Education, and is a certified instructor for American College of Sports Medicine. He has provided fitness certification leadership to over 100,000 personal trainers worldwide and over 8,000 military instructors. He has co-authored articles in research journals and has written numerous articles for local, state and national media publications.
He has also appeared on local, state and national radio and television broadcasts thought out his career. He is a nationally recognized speaker having delivered over 2000 lectures and presentations for professional and general audiences.
Gina Cortese-Shipley, M.S.
Mrs. Cortese-Shipley has an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Texas A & M University and a B.S. in Exercise Science and Health and Wellness from Washington State University.
Her responsibilities include providing instruction in a wide variety of health and wellness areas and developing curriculum for workshops for health and fitness professionals. Ms. Cortese has been actively involved in the wellness field serving as a speaker for many educational series, health conferences, and certification courses; authoring articles pertaining to health and exercise published both locally and nationally and advising student interns.
Prior to joining our team, Ms. Cortese served as Exercise Physiology Department Supervisor for the Baylor Tom Landry Center where she worked with medical professionals conducting physiologic assessments and providing wellness enhancement through lifestyle intervention.