A woman and a girl on yoga maps with an instructor behind

The School of

Human Performance and Lifespan Health

Exercise, nutrition and lifestyle approaches to optimize human health and performance.

Optimizing health, movement and performance across the lifespan

The School of Human Performance and Lifespan Health prepares students to enhance physical function, nutrition and overall well-being from early development through aging. Grounded in applied science and human-centered practice, the school emphasizes prevention, performance and lifestyle-based approaches to health. Students engage in hands-on learning across clinical, community and performance settings, building expertise in areas such as exercise, nutrition and wellness coaching. Graduates are equipped to help individuals and populations improve quality of life, sustain long-term health and perform at their highest potential across every stage of life.

Vegetables

Faculty Dean's Fellows


Karen Sweazea

Karen Sweazea

Karen Sweazea is an associate professor at ASU and physiologist specializing in diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with research on metabolic resilience and nutrition. Her work explores how diet, aging and evolutionary biology inform prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders.

Maureen McCoy

Maureen McCoy

Maureen McCoy is a teaching professor at ASU, dietetic internship director and faculty advisor for Pitchfork Pantry, with expertise in nutrition, food insecurity and health equity. Drawing on her experience as a registered dietitian, she is passionate about mentoring students and supporting their academic and career paths.

Simon Holzapfel

Simon Holzapfel

Innovative educator and instructional designer with over 10 years of experience in higher education, specializing in inclusive, evidence-based learning and curriculum development. Proven success in leading program redesigns, aligning accreditation standards with learning outcomes, and using modern tools and frameworks to enhance engagement and knowledge retention.

Undergraduate programs