NSCA Foundation Governance

President | Dr. Nicole Dabbs, PhD, FNSCA (she/her/hers)

Dr. Nicole Dabbs is currently an Associate Professor at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in the department of Kinesiology. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton. Her Ph.D. is in Kinesiology from The University of Mississippi. Her research interests include neuromuscular facilitation, adaptation, and recovery during sports performance as well as kinematics and kinetics during sport movements. Dr. Dabbs enjoys mentoring her undergraduate students in the lab on research projects. She was awarded the CSUSB-Office of Student Research Faculty Research Mentor Award. She has been an active member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) since 2008 and has served as the chair of the Women’s Committee and two terms on the Membership Committee. She is the current President of the NSCA Foundation Board of Directors and was the past Vice President of the NSCA Foundation Board of Directors. She is an Associate Editor of the Strength and Conditioning Journal and a reviewer for JSCR and SCJ. Dr. Dabbs was awarded the NSCA Fellow in 2018 and was elected to the NSCA’s Nominations Committee in 2019. Term End: 7/2023 (At-Large Position)

Vice President | Dr. Don Melrose, PhD, CSCS,*D (he/him/his)

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)

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)

Secretary | Ashley Jackson (she/her/hers)

Ashley Jackson joined the University of Michigan Strength and Conditioning staff as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in the fall of 2013. She is responsible for Women’s Lacrosse and Water Polo and assists with Volleyball. Additionally, she is the coordinator of the Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning Internship Program. During her time at Michigan, Jackson has worked with 3 conference championship teams (Water Polo 2016-2018), 12 All Americans, and multiple all-conference honorees. Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2009 from Texas A&M University, where she studied exercise physiology. In 2012, she earned a Master of Science in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University. Term End: 7/2023 (Practitioner Position)

Member | 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)

Public Member | Dr. Thomas Mahoney, MEd (he/him/his)

Tom Mahoney serves as the Superintendent at Oregon Community Unit School District in Oregon, IL. He received his Master's degree in educational leadership from Loyola University and his Education Specialist Certification from Western Illinois University. Previously Mr. Mahoney has served as a teacher, coach, strength and conditioning coordinator, and an assistant principal. Mr. Mahoney is also the President and Owner of the Leadership Academy, an organization that supports the leadership development of teachers and administrators. Term End: 7/2022 (Public Member Position)

Member |  Helen M. Binkley, PhD, ATC-L, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FNSCA (she/her/hers)

Dr. Helen Binkley is an Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Athletic Training Program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physical Education from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Physical Education from Temple University. Binkley’s areas of expertise include aquatic research, strength training and conditioning, and emergency response in athletic training. She has authored and co-authored numerous abstracts, texts, and manuscripts, in addition to presenting at local and national events. Binkley has held numerous volunteer positions with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and previously sat on the Board of Directors (2004 – 2007). She holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) and NSCA Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) certifications and is a Fellow with the NSCA. Term End: 7/2022 (NSCA Appointed Liaison/Member Position)

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

Carissa Gump has previously worked for the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Weightlifting serving as their Associate Executive Director for Business & Development as well as the USA Weightlifting Foundation Executive Director. Her experience includes management of fundraising, sponsorship, marketing, events, communications, digital media, and membership management. 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 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 and an M.P.A. in Non Profit Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.