a man and a woman sitting at a table

Our Team

Leadership

Laura DeFina, MD, FACP, FAHA

Laura DeFina, MD, FACP, FAHA

President, CEO and Chief Science Officer

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Kayla Heath

Kayla Heath

Chief Financial Officer

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Beth B. Wright, PhD

Beth B. Wright, PhD

Senior Director, CCLS and Administration

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Research

Jarrett Berry, MD

Jarrett Berry, MD

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David Leonard, PhD

David Leonard, PhD

Director of Biostatistics
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Clare Meernik, PhD

Clare Meernik, PhD

Assistant Investigator
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Andjelka Pavlovic, PhD

Andjelka Pavlovic, PhD

Director of Youth Research and Education
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Kerem Shuval, PhD, MPH

Kerem Shuval, PhD, MPH

Director of Epidemiology
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Staff

Sarah Bickerstaff

Sarah Bickerstaff

Executive Administrator
Michael Callac

Michael Callac

Director of IT
Mark Donovan

Mark Donovan

Director of Accounting
Rachel Eisen

Rachel Eisen

Youth Program Coordinator
Jizyah Injil

Jizyah Injil

Youth Program Manager
Julie Reed

Julie Reed

Business Coordinator
Carla Smith

Carla Smith

Data Entry
Nicole Svor

Nicole Svor

Staff Accountant
Jim Summers

Jim Summers

Database Administrator

Board of Trustees

The Cooper Institute's Board of Trustees provides fiduciary oversight, strategic guidance, and visionary leadership critical to our efforts in promoting lifelong health and wellness through research and education. Board members reflect diverse civic, corporate and philanthropic backgrounds that embody the core values of The Cooper Institute.

The Board of Trustees utilizes various committees to oversee key areas of The Cooper Institute such as our mission, governance, philanthropy and financial operations.  

Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH

Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH

Board member since 1970

Tedd L. Mitchell, MD

Tedd L. Mitchell, MD

Board member since 2010

Charles Anderson

Charles Anderson

Board member since 2011

Stephen D. Good

Stephen D. Good

Board member since 2017

Troy Aikman

Troy Aikman

Board member since 2017

Arthur M. Blank

Arthur M. Blank

Board member since 2003

Brian O. Casey

Brian O. Casey

Board member since 2011

Thomas W. Codd

Thomas W. Codd

Board member since 2017

Tyler C. Cooper, MD, MPH

Tyler C. Cooper, MD, MPH

Board member since 2017

Elmer L. Doty

Elmer L. Doty

Board member since 2006

Tony Evans, ThD

Tony Evans, ThD

Board member since 2018

Ray L. Hunt

Ray L. Hunt

Board member since 1984

Jim W. Keyes

Jim W. Keyes

Board member since 2006

Drayton McLane, Jr.

Drayton McLane, Jr.

Board member since 1993

Jeanne L. Phillips

Jeanne L. Phillips

Board member since 2005

Nina B. Radford, MD

Nina B. Radford, MD

Board member since 2007

Steve S. Reinemund

Steve S. Reinemund

Board member since 2003

Eduardo J. Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Eduardo J. Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Board member since 2011

Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach

Board member since 1980

Scientific Advisory Board

Jarrett D. Berry, MD, MS

Jarrett D. Berry, MD, MS

Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine at UT Tyler Health Science Center

Cedric X. Bryant, PhD

Cedric X. Bryant, PhD

President and Chief Science Officer, ACE Fitness

Kelley Pettee Gabriel, PhD

Kelley Pettee Gabriel, PhD

Professor and Associate Dean of Research, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham

William S. Harris, PhD

William S. Harris, PhD

Professor, Department of Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota

Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD

Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD

Professor, University of Colorado Denver – Anschultz Medical Campus

I-Min Lee, MBBS, MPH, ScD

I-Min Lee, MBBS, MPH, ScD

Professor of Epidemiology, TS Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University

Benjamin D. Levine, MD

Benjamin D. Levine, MD

Professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Charles E. Matthews, PhD

Charles E. Matthews, PhD

Senior Investigator, National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, Metabolic Epidemiology Branch

FitnessGram Advisory Board

Kelly Allums Featherson, PhD

Kelly Allums Featherson, PhD

Assistant Professor, Health & Human Performance, Texas A&M University- Commerce

Eloise Elliott, PhD

Eloise Elliott, PhD

Ware Distinguished Professor, College of Applied Human Sciences, West Virginia University

Kathleen F. Janz, EdD

Kathleen F. Janz, EdD

Professor Emeritus in the Department of Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa

Kelly R. Laurson, Ph.D.

Kelly R. Laurson, Ph.D.

Professor, School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State University

Matthew Mahar, EdD

Matthew Mahar, EdD

Professor and Director, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University

Georgi Roberts, MLS

Georgi Roberts, MLS

Director of Health, Physical Education & Coordinated Health for Fort Worth ISD

Francis X. Short

Francis X. Short

Professor Emeritus in the Department of Kinesiology, Sports Studies, and Physical Education at SUNY Brockport

Gregory J. Welk, PhD

Gregory J. Welk, PhD

Barbara E. Forker Professor with the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University

Vanessa Yingling

Vanessa Yingling

Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, East Bay

Weimo Zhu, PhD

Weimo Zhu, PhD

Professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Join Our Team

The Cooper Institute is committed to diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, providing equal employment including internship and post-doctoral opportunities to all those qualified, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

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