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)

Past-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, served as the chair of the Women’s Committee and two terms on the Membership Committee and previously the Foundation Board President from 2020-2022 and Vice President 2018-2020. 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. 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)

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)

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 | 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 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.