People
Inclusive Physical Activity Laboratory
Lab Director
Andrew Pitchford, PhD, CAPE
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Director, Inclusive Physical Activity Laboratory
Andrew Pitchford, PhD is an assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Health. He is also a certified adapted physical educator (CAPE). His research focuses on the physical activity, physical fitness, motor behavior, and health of individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He works to systematically examine health disparities and then identify, design and test targeted interventions for health promotion.
Postdoctoral Scholars
Franziska Loetzner, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Franzi earned her BS in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. She earned her MS in Exercise and Sport Science and PhD in Adapted Physical Activity from Wayne State University. Her time at Wayne State was primarily dedicated to the development and execution of the PLANE program: a community-based health intervention for autistic children and their primary caregiver. Her dissertation work focused on health-related physical fitness and physical activity within Special Olympics Unified sports. She believes that team sport and recreational sport opportunities should be accessible to everyone at all levels of ability. She has an additional expertise in evaluation methodology for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Franzi has been involved with adapted sports since her undergrad where she spent over 400 hours volunteering with the MSU Adapted Sports and Recreation program. She is also PSIA certified adapted ski instructor for individuals with cognitive disabilities and visual impairments. Outside of work, if she’s not at a Taylor Swift concert, you can find her climbing, cycling, or going on adventures with her dog River.
PhD Students
Anahita Younesiramedani
PhD Student
I am a second-year doctoral student in Kinesiology. I earned my master’s degree in corrective exercises and sports injury from the University of Tehran. I used to work as an exercise trainer in a rehabilitation center for people with spinal cord injuries in Iran, which motivated me to continue my education in Adapted Physical Activity. My research interests are spinal cord injuries and physical fitness assessments for people with disabilities.
Hanna Lee
PhD Student
Hanna Lee is a PhD student in the Kinesiology program (focusing on adapted physical activity) at Oregon State University, working under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Pitchford. She holds a Bachelor of Science in sport science and social welfare and a Master of Science in sport science with a specialization in adapted physical activity, both from the Adapted Physical Activity and Health Lab, University of Seoul, South Korea. For her master’s thesis, she investigated the effects of a combined virtual-reality-and gym-based physical activity intervention on physical activity levels, motor skills, and social skills in children with developmental disabilities. Her research focuses on promoting physical activity for individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan, particularly among children and adolescents, with the goal of reducing health disparities through innovative interventions.