College of Science, Technology, and Health
Meet Our Faculty
Athletic Training Faculty
Tom Godar
Tom Godar received his B.S. in athletic training from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and his M.S. in health management from Lindenwood in 2003. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from 51福利社 in instructional leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration. Godar joined the faculty in 2003, and from 2003 to 2015, he served as a clinical athletic trainer in the athletics department and an assistant professor in the athletic training program. He became the clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program in 2005, and he was promoted to associate professor in 2009. In 2016, he assumed the position of the program director for the athletic training program.
Athletic Training Staff
Clinical Preceptors
Dan Brennan – MAEd, LAT, ATC
Dan Brennan is entering his 16th year as an Athletic Trainer at 51福利社 in 2022-23. Brennan is responsible for providing athletic training services to the 51福利社 women’s volleyball team as well as the men’s and women鈥檚 wrestling programs.
Prior to coming to Lindenwood, Brennan worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Western Kentucky University for four years and then moved on to St. John鈥檚 Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, where he worked in the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for 17 years.
Brennan received his Master鈥檚 Degree in Education from Western Kentucky University and he also earned a Bachelor鈥檚 of Science Degree in Health and Safety Education.
Brennan and his wife, Susan, have four sons: Joe, Matt, Danny, and Ryan.
Zachary Brown
Zachary Brown is entering his third year as an assistant athletic trainer at Lindenwood in 2022-23. Brown is responsible for athletic training of Lindenwood baseball and men’s soccer.
Brown is a BOC certified athletic trainer and is licensed in the state of Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2017. Brown went on to earn his Master’s of Science Degree from Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2020, where he also served as the athletic trainer for the Mastodons baseball team.
Michael Heffner
Michael Heffner is entering his 26th year as a Licensed Athletic Trainer and first with 51福利社. He will be primarily working with the Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 ACHA Hockey Teams.
A native of Independence, MO Heffner graduated from Southwest Missouri State University (MO State) with a B.S. in Athletic Training. He has worked every level of hockey imaginable amassing over 200 Professional, 750 Junior and countless Collegiate, High School and youth hockey games worked.
Mike resides in Wentzville, MO with his wife, son and dog.
Megan (Hicks) Kelly
Megan Kelly entered Lindenwood working as a Graduate Assistant for football and men鈥檚 volleyball eventually being hired on as an Assistant Athletic Trainer providing coverage for football. Kelly received her undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in Athletic Training and continued on to receive her Master of Arts in Sports Management from 51福利社 in the spring of 2020. Her certificates include Corrective Exercise Specialist and Blood Flow Restriction. Prior to Lindenwood, Kelly was an intern at Eastern Michigan University with their football program.
Kelly was a member of the Track and Field team at Aquinas College participating in the javelin and shot put events. Kelly is a native of Harrison Township, Michigan.
Kristin Trotter – MAEd, LAT, ATC
Kristin Trotter, MS, ATC, LAT, arrived at 51福利社 in March of 2017 as the Assistant Athletic Director, Head Athletic Trainer. She currently oversees the 12 athletic trainers within the Sports Medicine department and is responsible for providing athletic training services to the men’s and women’s golf teams.
Prior to her arrival at 51福利社, Trotter spent 10 years at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, including the last three years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. During her time at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, she oversaw the athletic training and strength and conditioning staffs and worked directly with the women鈥檚 basketball team as well as the golf, softball, swimming and diving, and volleyball teams.
Trotter earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Millikin University in 2005, and went on to earn her Masters of Science Degree in Athletic Administration in 2007 from Eastern Illinois University while working as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the track and field teams.
Trotter is a member of NATA and the College Athletic Trainers Society and is SASTM certified.
Exercise Science Faculty
Lori Crow
Lori Crow has a Master of Science degree in human performance from Pittsburg State University. For more than a decade, she was the owner and president/CEO of a local corporate fitness company. Currently, she owns a local athletic facility, where she serves as president/CEO and program director. Crow has nearly 30 years of experience in the health and fitness industry and has served as a coach for more than 35 years. Crow has taught at 51福利社 since 2011 and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise with future professionals in the field.
Dr. Susan Gustafson
Dr. Susan Gustafson holds a B.S. in Dietetics from Fontbonne University and an M.S.Ed. in Kinesiology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She earned a Functional Nutrition Certificate and completed her doctorate in Integrated Health Sciences at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Dr. Gustafson began her academic career at 51福利社, first as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Exercise Science, later advancing to a full-time faculty role in the College of Science, Technology, and Health. Her teaching experience also includes appointments at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior, and at St. Charles Community College as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Biology.
With a strong dedication to undergraduate education, Dr. Gustafson specializes in teaching human anatomy and physiology. Her scholarly interests focus on the interrelationship between nutrition, gut health, and immune system function
Dr. Chad Kerksick
Dr. Kerksick is currently an associate professor of exercise science in the Exercise Science Department in the College of Science, Technology, and Health at 51福利社. He currently serves as the director of the Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory (www.lindenwood.edu/epnl) and the Master of Science in Health Sciences program at 51福利社. His primary research interests include sport nutrition as well as the biochemical, cellular, and molecular adaptations relative to various forms of exercise and nutrition interventions, primarily those that promote muscle hypertrophy, prevent muscle atrophy, and promote health and recovery in healthy as well as clinical populations.
Dr. Scott Richmond
Dr. Richmond earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Truman State University, then an M.S. and Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Kansas. Following his graduate work, Richmond was a post-doctoral research scholar at Washington University-School of Medicine. His teaching background ranges from introductory and general education to upper-level majors courses and graduate courses. He has also supervised numerous student research projects, which have presented at local, regional, and international conferences.
Dr. Cynthia Schroeder
Dr. Schroeder earned a Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehabilitation from Northeastern Illinois University and a B.S. in Physical Education and Athletic Training at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She has more than 15 years of professional experience teaching and researching in the area of Exercise Science and working as a Certified Athletic Trainer at the high school, university and professional levels.
Dr. Kyle Sunderland
Dr. Sunderland has a background in exercise physiology focusing on the cellular and molecular effects of exercise on metabolism. He conducts research in the EPNL with undergraduate and graduate students, evaluating the influence of training and nutrition on metabolic alterations in both healthy and obese/diabetic populations. Dr. Sunderland teaches courses in exercise physiology, metabolism, and testing. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in exercise science from Fresno State University and his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Kate Tessmer
Dr. Tessmer earned a Ph.D. in health and physical activity-exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S.Ed. in PE-exercise science from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and a B.A. in PE-management from Blackburn College. She is an A.C.S.M. Certified Exercise Physiologist. Currently, Dr. Tessmer serves as the associate dean for the College of Science, Technology, and Health.
Physical Education, Wellness and Recreation Faculty
Dr. Annie Alameda
Dr. Alameda is a professor and chair of the Physical Education, Health, and Wellness Department in the College of Science, Technology, and Health at 51福利社. She earned a Doctor of Education from 51福利社 in instructional leadership, a Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics from Saint Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and exercise science from Illinois State University. She serves as one of the liaisons for the College of Science, Technology, and Health and the employee wellness program through Human Resources to develop and implement programming for the university. Dr. Alameda currently teaches classes in health and nutrition, stress management, and community health. In her time at Lindenwood, she has received the University Service Award for her commitment to health and wellness in the Lindenwood community. She enjoys sharing her passion for living a well-balanced, fulfilling life and hopes that her classes give students the knowledge and skills to influence positive health behaviors in their chosen fields.
Heather Pennington
Heather Pennington has taught at 51福利社 since 2010 as an assistant professor in the College of Science, Technology, and Health. In 2014, she initiated the creation of a new minor in adapted sports and recreation. Pennington received her master鈥檚 degree in exercise physiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. She has obtained the NSCA CSCS and CSPS and NASPE CAPE certifications, among a few others. Throughout her career, Pennington has worked for 21 years in the field of adapted sports and therapeutic recreation. This included 11 years at the Lakeshore Foundation Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham. She has also traveled the country speaking and serving as a consultant for adapted sports, recreation, and fitness to professionals and people with all types of disabilities and has done so with organizations such as United States Paralympic Military Program, U.S. Paralympic Sport Development Program, and more. She has taught at the university level for 20 years, specializing in adapted sport, exercise, and recreation for nine years.