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College of Applied Science and Technology

Samantha McDonald

Assistant Professor
Sch Kinesiology & Recreation
Office
SFCM Student Fitness Center & Mccormick Hall 182E
Office Phone
(309) 438-5008office
phone
Email
smmcdo4@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Biography

New to the MidWest! Outside of academia, I enjoy exercise (lifting, running, swimming etc.), cooking, building furniture, traveling back home to Washington State and playing with my son!

Current Courses

208.003Dynamics Of United States Contemporary Health Issues

208.004Dynamics Of United States Contemporary Health Issues

307.001Exercise In Health And Disease

307.002Exercise In Health And Disease

499.017Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

313.002Exercise Programming For Neuromuscular Fitness

313.003Exercise Programming For Neuromuscular Fitness

499.017Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

400.017Independent Study

481.001Work Metabolism

Teaching Interests & Areas

Introduction to Exercise Science
Exercise Programming for Neuromuscular Fitness
Exercise Programming for Cardiometabolic Fitness
Exercise Physiology
Lifespan Exercise Physiology
Physical Activity Epidemiology

Research Interests & Areas

My research focuses on the effects of exercise during pregnancy on the health of the mom and baby. Specifically, I examine its effects on maternal and offspring metabolism, body composition and future health trajectories.

PhD Exercise Science

University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina

MS Nutrition and Exercise Science

Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

BS Health and Physical Education

Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon

Book, Chapter

Allman, B., McDonald, S., May, L., Kinsey, A., & Borsheim, E. Using Resistance Training in Women with Gestational Diabetes to Improve Glucose Regulation. Gestational Diabetes - New Developments. InTech Open (2021)
Archer, E., McDonald, S.M. (2017). The Maternal Resources Hypothesis and Childhood Obesity. In Fetal and Early Postnatal Programming and its Influence on Adult Health, Eds: Patel, M.S. & Nielsen, J.H. CRC Press, Francis & Taylor group. ISBN: 978-1-4987-7-7064-4

Journal Article

Renaghan, E., Wittels, H.L., Feigenbaum, L.A., Wishon, M.J., Chong, S., Wittels, E.D., Hendricks, S., Hecocks, D., Bellamy, K., Girardi, J., Lee, S., Vo., Tri, McDonald, S.M., Wittels, S.H. Exercise Cardiac Load and Autonomic Nervous System Recovery during In-Season Training: The Impact on Speed Deterioration in American Football Athletes. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 2023; 8(3):134.​​​​
May L.E., McDonald, S., Stewart, C., Newton, E., Isler, C., Steed, D., Sarno, L.A., Kelley, G.A., Chasan-Taber, L., Kuehn, D., Allman-Tucker, B.R., Strom, C., Claiborne, A., Xiangming, F. Influence of Supervised Maternal Aerobic Exercise During Pregnancy on 1-Month-Old Neonatal Cardiac Function and Outflow: A Pilot Study. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 2023; 55(11):1977-1984
Temme, L.A.; Wittels, H.L.; Wishon, M.J.; St. Onge, P.; McDonald, S.M.; Hecocks, D.; Wittels, S.H. Continuous Physiological Monitoring of the Combined Exposure to Hypoxia and High Cognitive Load in Military Personnel. Biology 2023, 12, 1398. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111398
Wittels, S.H., Renaghan, E., Wishon, M.J., Wittels, H.L., Chong, S., Wittels, E.D., Hendricks, S., Hecocks, D., Bellamy, K., Girardi, J., Lee, S., Vo., Tri, McDonald, S.M., Feigenbaum, L.A. Recovery of the Autonomic Nervous System Following Football Training Among Division I Collegiate Football Athletes: The Influence of Intensity and Time. Heliyon, 2023; 9(7):e18125.
Wittels, S.H., Renaghan, E., Wishon, M.J., Wittels, H.L., Chong, S., Wittels, E.D., Hendricks, S., Hecocks, D., Bellamy, K., Girardi, J., Lee, S., Vo., Tri, McDonald, S.M., Feigenbaum, L.A. Recovery of the Autonomic Nervous System Following Football Training Among Division I Collegiate Football Athletes: The Influence of Intensity and Time. Heliyon, 2023; 9(7):e18125.

Grants & Contracts

The Accuracy of Metabolic Equivalents (METs) in Estimating Energy Expenditure of Select Aerobic Activities in Pregnant Women: Is a New Compendium of Physical Activities Needed?. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2021)