Our Team

Dr. William Lunn has a B.S. in Chemistry from UMass Amherst, after which he worked in the pharmaceutical industry for several years.  After reading exercise physiology textbooks for fun, Dr. Lunn left industry to earn an M.S. in Exercise Science from SCSU, and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from UConn.  His research interests align with the courses he teaches: sport and exercise physiology and nutrition.  Specifically, Dr. Lunn has interests in sport performance testing, nutritional supplementation, and protein metabolism.  In his spare time, Dr. Lunn dreams about his glory days as a competitive triathlete, tries to defy age by prepping for ski season each year, and takes naps with his dogs.

Dr. Robert Axtell earned his B.S. Physical Education from Springfield College, played 1 year of soccer, 4 years baseball which was highlighted by a 3-week exhibition in the Netherlands where he played 9 games.

He earned his M.S. in Physical Education from Indiana University, taught tennis, racquetball, squash, and weight training and personal fitness; was one of two coaches of the junior varsity baseball team; had Dr. James Counsilman (Mark Spitz’s coach and former Olympic coach for course entitled “Advanced Theories of Athletic Performance”.

His Ph.D.  was earned in Exercise Physiology from The Ohio State University, with a graduate assistantship position funded by the School of Medicine and Athletics to test athletes for strength (isokinetic), body composition, and VO2max to help monitor training adaptations across the academic year and identify outliers who may need specific training to offset deficiencies.

While at Southern Dr. Axtell has been involved in athlete and general public testing for many years.

His research has covered lactate threshold changes in collegiate swimmers across the season; case study of rehabilitation of a ruptured biceps tendon; physiological characteristics of elite junior alpine skiers; and currently strength characteristics of female collegiate athletes to help determine readiness to play prior to the start of the season.

He is an avid downhill skier, master swimmer, and enjoys non-competitive road cycling.

I grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut. I have an undergraduate degree from SCSU in Exercise Science and from Uconn in Physical Therapy. I My graduate education consisted of the SCSU Exercise Science program and a Post-Professional Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy. I was in private practice for 15 years, taught Biomechanics as an adjunct for 6 years at SCSU, and currently teach along a tenure track in the Exercise Science Department at SCSU.

Dr. Robert Gregory is the Director of the Biomechanics Laboratory and the CT Running Injury Clinic at Southern Connecticut State University. He has a B.S. in Pre-Professional Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Biomechanics from St. Cloud (MN) State University, and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology (biomechanics emphasis) from The Pennsylvania State University. He also is a certified Level I Running Gait Analyst through the Association for Clinical Excellence and a Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

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Dr. Gregory is a subject matter expert in biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and sport science. His current research focuses on walking and running gait biomechanics, footwear development, and monitoring training and performance in athletes.

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A former competitive cross-country skier and biathlete, he enjoys hiking, skiing, rock and ice climbing, and mountaineering.

Andrew is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

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Andrew has a bachelors degree in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. He then went to Springfield College where he received a Master of Education in Psychology with a concentration in Athletic Counseling. He also received a Certificate of Graduate Studies while at Springfield in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling. He also attend Post University where he received his MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership Systems. 

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Currently Andrew is the owner of Deep Breaths Counseling and Sport Psychology where he and his team work with both mental health clients and sport psychology athletes. He is also an Adjunct professor of Sport Psychology in Southern Connecticut State Universities Sport Psychology Graduate program. He is currently listed in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees  (USOPC) mental health registry. He is the co-host of the Mental Mindset Podcast and lastly, he currently works with athletes all over the country in various sports from high school to professional levels. 

Ciao a tutti! Alessio Caradolfo is the manager of the CHAMP Center at Southern Connecticut State University. He comes from a small town called Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, Italy. In May 2023, Alessio earned his MS degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Human Performance at SCSU. He played soccer throughout his entire life, fortunate to have grown up in the youth teams of a professional club and also to have played semi-professionally before concluding his soccer career at Southern.

Alessio's research interests revolve around Strength and Conditioning (S&C) and Sports Science, which led him to conduct an independent study with the Southern men’s soccer team. In this study, he utilized the Catapult GPS system to investigate the physical and physiological demands of NCAA Division II men’s soccer players during competitive games.

Beyond academia and sports, Alessio finds joy in cooking, working out, and spending quality time with friends whenever he has the opportunity.

Favorite quote: If you want something, go get it. Period!

David Martin is a 4x USA Triathlon All American and 2x Team USA elite amateur triathlete. David is a USA triathlon certified coach. In 2019 he competed on behalf of team USA at the ITU Triathlon World championships in Lausanne, Switzerland where he placed 13th in his division. He is currently in his 4th year of his PhD in Exercise Science and is the Co-director of athlete performance and safety at the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut. At KSI he studies thermoregulation in a walk in heat chamber where he has tested professional athletes. He received his Master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University where he was a graduate assistant in the human performance laboratory and currently serves as an advisor for their human performance lab. David focuses on the effects of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation and performance. He is a course record holder of the Jack Bristol 50k ultra in a time of 3:21. He also holds the course record at the tarrywile trail half marathon, considered to be the hardest trail half marathon in CT. He also broke the fastest known time of the CT section of the Appalachian trail which is 51 miles and over 13,000 ft of elevation in 2020.

Madison Lecher is from upstate New York and currently a master's student at Southern Connecticut State University in the exercise science program. She obtained her undergraduate degree at SUNY Plattsburgh in Fitness & Wellness, minoring in nutrition and personal training. Madison will have her master's degree in the spring of 2024 from Southern and is planning on attending Springfield College to pursue her PhD in exercise physiology fall of 2024.

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Madison has done research with the men's soccer team at SUNY Plattsburgh, presenting at several ACSM conferences and is now working on her thesis which pertains to cardiovascular health in women with PCOS. Besides working in Southern's human performance lab, she is also on the SCSU women's rugby team and teaches both cycling and strength classes. 

Most of Madison's passion for fitness is geared toward the Health at Every Size Movement and applying that to the fitness world. To her, exercise should be about feeling good and staying healthy no matter your body shape or size!

Outside of Southern Madison enjoys hiking, swimming, and folk concerts.

Favorite Lab Test: VO2 Max

Angela Saraceno is from Farmington, Connecticut. She is currently a junior at Southern, studying for her Bachelor's in Exercise Science with a concentration in allied health.

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In addition to working as an undergraduate assistant at the Human Performance Lab, Angela works as a fitness consultant for The Edge Fitness Clubs. Her own strength training journey, as well as immersing herself in the gym environment, has led Angela to obtain her personal trainer certification, as well as become interested in various other certifications such as corrective exercise specialist. 

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Her down time is spent at the gym, watching movies and cooking with her roommates, or visiting her family (specifically, her dog, Duke) at home. 

Favorite quote: "The great doesn't happen through impulse alone, and is a succession of little things that are brought together" ~Vincent Van Gogh

Favorite lab test: VO2 max treadmill test

Jess received her bachelor's degree from Southern CT State University in Exercise and Sport Science. She continued her education at SCSU to pursue a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology. She completed an internship with Yale New Haven Health in a cardiac rehabilitation outpatient center and is currently interning at Griffin Hospital in the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center. She currently works as a graduate research and teaching assistant for the department. She is working on a research project exploring health perceptions and health behaviors of young adult women with obesity. Her research interests for her own master's thesis revolve around low energy availability and the clinical implications of inadequate nutritional intake in collegiate athletes. Her goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition and Exercise and also become an ACSM clinical exercise physiologist and registered dietitian. 

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Favorite Lab Test: DXA

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Favorite Quote: "Passion is energy. Feel the power from focusing on what excites you." - Oprah Winfrey 

Hunter Dale was born here in Connecticut but is a duel citizen of both the US and New Zealand. He is a member of the Southern Connecticut State University track team and his passion in exercise science is in sports performance biomechanics. Hunter got his undergraduate degree at Southern in physics to set him up for a future in the mechanics and physics behind sport. He is currently working on his thesis on assessing asymmetry in collegiate hurdlers using force output analysis methods. Beyond that, his research interests include using biomechanics to optimize sport, translating in lab findings to practical, on ground coaching, and looking for markers in youth/inexperienced athletes that could determine their future in various sports/events. 

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Favorite Lab Test: Marker-less motion capture of force plate movements

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Ray Magliozzi, from Burlington, MA, is a junior exercise science major concentrating in sport science. Ray is a defensive lineman for the football team at Southern. He was a 2x All Conference football player at Burlington high school and also competed in the Massachusetts Super 8 hockey tournament his junior year. Ray also lettered in baseball in high school. His career goal is to work in collegiate strength and conditioning. He has completed internships with Mike Boyle's Strength and Conditioning, Quinnipiac University, and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. His hobbies outside of exercise science include watching movies, playing video games, and golfing. He plans to pursue his masters degree in Exercise Science after he completes his undergraduate education.

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Favorite Lab Test: Wingate Test

Britt Verstegen is a Graduate Assistant for the CHAMP Center this year. She is from a town called Ede in the Netherlands, and 6 years ago, came to the US to play soccer and get her university degree. Now, she is a 2nd-year master's student in Exercise Science with a Human Performance concentration. She has also played for the SCSU women's soccer team for the past two years!

Britt has completed a Sports Science internship with the Olympic Sports Department at Clemson University. She is currently interning at the Strength & Conditioning department at Yale University to gain more experience in the sports performance field. 

Britt's main interests in Exercise Science are sports science and an athlete’s performance to drive their athletic success.

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Favorite Lab Test: Lactate Threshold