Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Health Science
Brent Peterson’s teaching expertise is within the realm of physiology of human movement in research, clinical, and public health applications. His teaching portfolio includes Functional Assessment and the Prescription of Exercise, Contemporary Health and Conscious Consumerism, and Nutrition and Human Metabolism, Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Exercise, and Cardiovascular Physiology, Muscle Physiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Cancer Rehabilitation. Peterson engages learning from a dynamic and energetic approach emphasizing the role of the student to engage with learning and take personal ownership of the material. He approaches student/class interaction from the perspective that each person has unique, God-given skills, talents, and experiences that immensely impact collective learning. He also emphasizes peer-reviewed research, case evaluation, and practical applications and employs digital tools such as Prezi, Screen Cast, and TopHat Monocle, but also enjoys including a good old fashioned “chalk-talk.” He strives to encourage students to be strong and courageous in the integration of their faith in Christ and how they approach their field of study. Students are encouraged to fervently and consistently draw closer to their Heavenly Father as they study His creation.
Peterson’s research interests spans from the molecular to the applied, with particular emphasis on exercise and human movement-related physiological adaptations that impact human health conditions and disease states. Current research is focused on how physical activity and/or exercise (with or without additive nutritional supplementation) impact health, human performance, and disease states such as cancer. Work in his lab aims to greater elucidate the mechanistic actions of healthy and active lifestyles, targeted and prescriptive exercise interventions, and nutritional interventions. Peterson conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Colorado.