Department of Public Health and Exercise Science

Education

• Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (2017)
  • Exercise Physiology

• M.S., University of Pittsburgh (2014)
  • Health, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease

• B.S., Slippery Rock University (2013)
  • Exercise Science

Current Teaching

• ES 3002 Exercise Physiology

• ES 3003 Exercise Physiology Laboratory

• ES 4800 Exercise Prescription

Professional Affiliations / Organizations

• American College of Sports Medicine-Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP)

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

  • Southeast Chapter

• American Heart Association (AHA)

  • Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health

• Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN)

• Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA)

Laboratory Affiliation

• Director, Exercise Physiology Teaching Laboratory

• Cardiometabolic Research Laboratory (CMRL)
  • https://sites.google.com/appstate.edu/cmrl/home

Research Interests

• Prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal disease and disorders through the optimization of 24-hour movement behaviors, with a particular focus on sedentary behavior.

Recent Publications

• Kowalsky, R.J., van Werkhoven, H., Meucci, M., Quinn, T. D., Stoner, L., Hearon, C. M., & Gibbs, B. B. (2024). Distinguishing Passive and Active Standing Behaviors From Accelerometry. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2024-0004
• Kappus, R.M., Kowalsky, R.J. Healthy Aging: The Role of Physical Activity in Optimizing Cardiovascular Health. The Journal of the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services. 2023. https://jihhs.pubpub.org/pub/jc8t1t09/release/1
• Kowalsky, R.J., Grosicki, G.J., Meucci, M., Hanson, E.D., Moore, J.B., Stoner, L. (2023). Unseating the Sedentary Threat: A Vital Strategy for Curbing Cardiovascular Disease in Young Adults. J Phys Act Health. 2023;20(12):1078-1080. doi:10.1123/jpah.2023-0480 PMID: 37917974
• Kowalsky, R.J., Farney, T.M., Kline, C.E., Hinojosa, J.N., Creasy, S.A. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Related Behaviors in College Students. J Am College Health. 2023; 71(4) 1161-1166. doi:10.1080/07448481.2021.1923505 PMID: 34161199
• Poles, J., Burnet, K., Kelsch, E., Heffernan, K.S., Meyer, M.L., Kowalsky, R.J., Barone Gibbs, B., Stoner, L. Overall and repeated measures agreement between brachial-femoral and carotid-femoral measures of pulse wave velocity in young and healthy individuals. Blood Press Monit. 2022;27(5):334-340. doi:10.1097/MBP.0000000000000614 PMID: 35866509
• Kowalsky, R.J., Farney, T.M., Hearon, C.M. Effect of Daily Resistance Exercise Breaks in College Students for Ratings of Discomfort, Fatigue, and Sleepiness Across One Week. Res Q Exerc Sport.2022. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2021.1959508 PMID: 35089851
• Barone Gibbs, B., Diaz, K., Kowalsky, R.J., Smith, P., Stoner, L. Association of Standing with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Adults. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2021; 8(4): 200-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-021-00276-3
• Kowalsky, R.J., Stoner, L., Faghy, M.A., Barone Gibbs, B. A Call to Clarify the Intensity and Classification of Standing Behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(16): 8460. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168460 PMID: 34444209
• Stoner, L., Barone Gibbs, B., Meyer, M.L., Fryer, S., Credeur, D., Paterson, C., Stone, K., Hanson, E., Kowalsky, R.J., Horiuchi, M., Mack, C. Dave, G. A Primer on Repeated Sitting Exposure and the Cardiovascular System: Considerations for Study Design, Analysis, Interpretation and Translation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.716938 PMID: 34485414
• Fick, A.N., Kowalsky, R.J., Stone, M.S., Hearon, C.M., Farney, T.M. Acute and chronic supplementation of citrulline malate on muscle contractile properties and fatigue rate of the quadriceps. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2021; 31(6) 490-496. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0117 PMID: 34470906
• Hinojosa, J.N., Hearon, C.M., Kowalsky, R.J. Blood Lactate Response to Active Recovery in Athletes vs. Non-Athletes. Sport Sci Health. 2021; 17, 699-705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00735-w
• Kowalsky, R.J., Hergenroeder, A.L., Barone Gibbs, B. Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting with Resistance Exercise Breaks. Workplace Health Saf. 2021; 69(8), 359-365. PMID: 33509068
• Alansare, A.B., Kowalsky, R.J., Jones, M.A., Perdomo, S.J., Stoner, L, Barone Gibbs, B.  The effects of a simulated workday of prolonged sitting on seated vs. Supine blood pressure and pulse wave velocity. J Vasc Res, 2020; 57(6): 355-266. doi:10.1159/000510294. PMID: 32937620
• Farney, T.M., Kowalsky, R.J., Salazar, D.A., Fick, A.N., Nelson, A.G., Hearon, C.M. The effect of vinegar supplementation on cycle sprint performance within recreationally trained individuals. Medicina, 2020; 56(9) 429. doi: 10.3390/medicina56090429 PMID: 32867047
• Kowalsky, R.J., Stoner, L., Perdomo, S.J., Taormina, J.M., Jones, M.A., Credeur, D.P., Barone Gibbs, B. Validity and reliability of peripheral pulse wave velocity measures in a seated posture. J Hypertens Res, 2020; 43, 845-847. PMID: 32152481
• Armas, C., Kowalsky, R.J., Hearon, C.M. Comparison of 7-minute circuit training vs HIIT training on acute cardiometabolic outcomes. Int J Exerc Sci, 2020; 13(2): 306-409. PMID: 32148625