Director
Justin A. Haegele
Justin A. Haegele, PhD, is a Professor and the Director of the Center for Movement, Health, & Disability in the Department of Human Movement Sciences at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA, USA). Contextualized within the interdisciplinary field of adapted physical activity, his primary research interests center on exploring how disabled individuals experience physical activity participation, including within school-based physical education contexts. Since joining Old Dominion University in 2015, Dr. Haegele has amassed over 250 peer-reviewed research publications, as well as several edited or authored texts. He currently serves as the director of Project CAPER and the co-director of the MAMC, two adapted physical activity training collaboratives that are funded through the US Department of Education focused on training doctoral scholars in the field. He is also currently the president of the North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, and the editor-in-chief for the peer-reviewed publications Quest (2022-2024) and Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (2023-2025).
Connect with Dr. Haegele
Email: Jhaegele@odu.edu Office: 757-683-5338 Twitter: @justin_haegele
Co-Director
Xihe Zhu
Xihe Zhu, PhD., is a Professor in the Department of Human Movement Sciences at Old Dominion University. He obtained his doctorate degree in kinesiology from University of Maryland - College Park. His research focuses on epidemiological, psychological, and pedagogical variables such as physical activity, health-related fitness, motivation, and learning among school-aged children and adolescents. Specifically, he examines the longitudinal growth and correlates of fitness and knowledge, and interventions and models to promote physical activity and health among a variety of populations, including those with disabilities.
Connect with Dr. Zhu
Email: x2zhu@odu.edu Office: 757-683-3545
Program Coordinator
Ally Keene
Ally coordinates two of the CMHD initiates, Camp Webber and the Mighty Monarchs Adapted Sport Program for youth with visual impairments. She is a doctoral student in health and sport pedagogy. She graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology from James Madison University in 2012 and a M.S. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science with a focus in Adapted Physical Activity from the University of Hawai'i in 2018. She taught Adapted and General Physical Education in Beaufort, South Carolina for 3 years before returning to school to work on her PhD. Ally has worked at Camp Spark, through the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, every summer since 2016 and enjoys coaching swimming in her spare time. Her research interests include amplifying the voices of disabled people and improving the physical education experience for all students.
Connect with Ally
Email: mkeen002@odu.edu
REACH Coordinator
Bethany Arrington
Bethany directs the CMHD initiative, Recreate, Educate, Advocate & Climb Higher (REACH) for youth with Type 1 Diabetes. She is a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Park, Recreation, and Tourism from Old Dominion University. She received her B.A. in Sports and Recreation Management from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2021. Bethany completed research through REACH during her work toward her masters degree. She has attended national conferences and had the opportunity to present with other researchers. Her goal is to continue encouraging self determination for children with Type 1 Diabetes.
Affiliated Doctoral Students
- Lindsay Ball - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Kat Creveling - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Ally Keene - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Monica Klock - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Lauren Luginsland - Exercise Science
- Sheyla Martinez Rivera - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Aaron Mason - Health & Sport Pedagogy
- Lindsey Nowland - Health & Sport Pedagogy