NSCA Foundation Governance

President | Dr. Don Melrose, PhD, CSCS,*D

Don Melrose is a Full Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Military Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). He is currently in his 21st year with TAMUCC. Completing his PhD in Exercise Physiology in 1999 from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, he served as TAMUCC’s first Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for its new Division 1 Athletic Program. Prior to that point he served as an Assistant Strength Coach at another university. Three years later he became a full time Assistant Professor in TAMUCC’s Department of Kinesiology and Health. Dr. Melrose is a teacher and a researcher who has spoken nationally, regionally, and locally. In addition, he has organized and promoted numerous NSCA events between 2011 and 2019. On behalf of the NSCA, he served as Texas State Advisor, Texas State Director, Midwest Regional Coordinator, and Vice Chair and Chair of the State-Provincial Director/Regional Coordinator Committee, overseeing the program in the U.S. and Canada. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Education Committee for the NSCA. He has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on a variety of sport, fitness, clinical, and educational issues. In a previous life he was a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter. He is a proud Dad and husband as well as a guitarist and singer in two different bands. Lastly, he proudly served in the US Air Force Reserves from 1990-1996. Term End: July 2024 (At-Large Position)

Vice-President | Scott Caulfield

Scott Caulfield oversees, develops, and manages the individual and group strength and conditioning programs for over 600 student-athletes participating in Norwich University's 22 Division III varsity athletic programs. As a native Vermonter and US Navy Veteran, he has honed his expertise through "under the bar" lifting and coaching throughout his various roles, including his tenure at the NSCA world headquarters in Colorado Springs from 2011-2019. Before joining the NSCA, Coach Caulfield was an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Dartmouth College from 2008-'11, working with football, men's & women's swimming, and men's rugby teams. Notably, from 2006-08, he was the head strength and conditioning coach and director of camps for the back-to-back American Basketball Association champions, Vermont Frost Heaves. Caulfield holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from Castleton University in 2000 and a master of arts in sports coaching from the University of Denver in 2017. His credentials include the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (CSCS,*D) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator with Distinction (TSAC-F*D) certifications and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCCD), as well as USA Weightlifting's Level 2 Advanced Sports Performance Coach certification and Precision Nutrition's PN1 sports nutrition certification.

Secretary | Dr. Kristen Snyman, PhD, CSCS,*D (she/her/hers)

Kristen C Snyman (Cochrane), Ph.D., CSCS,*D is an Assistant Professor of Health & Human Performance and doctoral program coordinator at Concordia University, Chicago. She has previously worked as an Assistant professor in the California CSU system. She earned her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and MSc in Kinesiology at California State University-Fullerton. Her research involves physiological mediators of the perception of effort and neuromuscular adaptations to exercise. She maintains an active role as a reviewer and associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has been an active member of the NSCA for 10 years with a consistent record of poster and oral presentations at NSCA National conferences and service on the NSCA research committee (2017-2020). She’s also the proud mom of a future scientist. Term End: 7/2024 (At-Large Position)

Treasurer | Dr. Ludmila Cosio-Lima, PhD, CSCS (she/her/hers)

Dr. Ludmila Cosio-Lima, is a professor of exercise science at the University of West Florida. Her specific areas of study and research involve Sports Cardiology and 12-Lead ECG as a screening tool for sudden cardiac death, and investigating modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. She has published more than 115 articles and abstracts on various aspects of exercise and its effects on health. Cosio-Lima puts her research into practice: she is an USA Triathlon All-American and level II coach who currently competes in Ironman triathlons (she completed 27 triathlons during the past 19 years). She is also an American College of Sports Medicine Fellow. She speaks six languages fluently. She received a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from the University of New Mexico, and a master’s and doctorate in exercise physiology from Springfield College and was a Postdoctoral fellow in Preventive Cardiology at Hartford Hospital, Hartford CT under Paul Thompson, MD. Term End: 7/2022 (Academic Position)

Public Member | Kevin J. Farley (he/him/his)

Kevin Farley currently serves as Director of Marking and Communications at Pikes Peak Community Foundation in Colorado Springs. He has more than 15 years of experience in professional communications management, brand development, and marketing strategy. Before joining the Community Foundation, Kevin served five years managing the communications and marketing activities for the national brand of USA Weightlifting, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of weightlifting. He also spent ten years serving communities across the west coast as an award-winning broadcast journalist. Kevin has been honored with two Emmy Awards and a Colorado Broadcasters Association award for his news coverage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from California State Polytechnic University. Term End: 7/2025 (Public Member Position)

Member | Dr. Dave Heikkinen

Dave Heikkinen is an Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He earned a doctoral degree in Exercise Physiology at Springfield College in 2012, and has held the CSCS credential and been an active member of the NSCA since 2003. Prior to his career in academia, Dave worked in the fields of Strength & Conditioning, Personal Training, and as a Coach in the sport of Alpine Ski Racing. He has been involved in many volunteer roles within the NSCA, with previous terms at the Massachusetts State Director, and the Northeast Regional Coordinator. He continues to serve the organization on the Membership Committee, as a member of the Northeast Regional Advisory Committee, and as an Administrator to the NSCA Northeast Facebook group. Dave has spoken at many conferences, for the NSCA as well as for other professional organizations. He has authored scientific articles and book chapters in the field of sports performance. Dave is a certified Alpine Coach and remains active as a competitor in Masters ski racing events.

Member | Jay Dawes, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA, ACSM-HFS ASCA-L2

Dr. Jay Dawes is an Associate Professor of Applied Exercise Science at Oklahoma State University. Dawes has worked as a university athletic performance coordinator, strength/performance coach, personal trainer, and educator for approximately 25 years. He also frequently coaches and provides sports science support to numerous elite and professional teams, as well as law enforcement, fire, and military groups. His primary research interests are focused on improving the health, fitness, and human performance for the tactical athletes/first responders, as well as sport athletes. Dawes has a broad background in strength and conditioning, with specific training and expertise in training and conditioning methods for athletes and first responders.  Term End: 7/2023 (NSCA Appointed Liaison/Member Position)

Executive Director | Carissa Gump, OLY, MPA (she/her/hers)

Carissa Gordon Gump has previously worked for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Weightlifting serving as their Associate Executive Director for Business & Development as well as the USA Weightlifting Foundation Executive Director. Gump is a 2008 Olympian in the sport of weightlifting, an American Record holder, National Champion, Pan American Champion, All-American, World Team member and USA Weightlifting & New England Weightlifting Hall of Fame member. Carissa holds an B.S. in Business with an Emphasis in Sport Management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, an M.P.A. in Non-Profit Management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Liberty University.