Faculty Profile

Rebecca L. Schultz, Ph.D.

Professor, Exercise Science

Dr. Rebecca Schultz has a strong background and interest in both basic and applied sciences. She earned her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from the University of North Dakota after completing two years as a Christian Ministries major at Grove City College. She completed her M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, two years toward her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University, and graduated with a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Dakota. While her primary passions are advising and teaching, Dr. Schultz has also been engaged in research and clinical activity. Her dissertation examined the effects of long-term exercise on cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in heart-failure-prone rats. Her favorite classes to teach are EXS220, Nutrition; EXS310, Exercise Physiology; EXS344, Cardiovascular Physiology and Electrocardiography; and EXS410, Exercise for Special Populations.

Dr. Schultz has served on and chaired numerous USF committees, such as the Faculty Development and Academic Policies committees, as well as two terms as Faculty Association Chairperson. Currently, she serves as the Secretary for the Faculty Association and as Co-Chair of the Social Sciences Academic Area. From 2008 to 2013, Dr. Schultz served as the Title III Project Director overseeing a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to start the USF School of Nursing. During that time she served on the admissions committees for the School of Nursing and continues to serve on its Nursing Community of Interest Board.

Dr. Schultz teaches a variety of courses in the Exercise Science major. She has also taught SDV100 (Freshman Orientation), Research Methods, and LAR111 and LAR112 (Writing and Intellectual Traditions I and II). In 2011, Dr. Schultz developed EXS319, Service Learning, as a way for EXS majors to serve the local community by engaging in the needs of the underserved, while also gaining valuable skills as future professionals and citizens.

Dr. Schultz and her husband, Todd, have three children.

Education

Ph.D., Biological Sciences (emphases in cardiovascular physiology and exercise physiology), University of South Dakota, 2007
M.S., Exercise Science, University of Southern Mississippi, 1996
B.S., Athletic Training, University of North Dakota, 1994

Courses Taught

EXS147 - Wellness Workshop
EXS160 - Practicum in Sports Medicine I
EXS200 - Dimensions of Wellness
EXS205 - First Aid/CPR
EXS210 - Care & Prevention Of Injuries
EXS213 - Medical Terminology
EXS220 - Nutrition
EXS225 - Anatomical Kinesiology
EXS260 - Practicum in Sports Medicine II
EXS280 - Anatomy and Physiology for theExercise Professional
EXS300 - Practicum
EXS310 - Exercise Physiology
EXS319 - Service Learning
EXS330 - Cardiac Rehabilitation
EXS344 - Cardiovascular Physiology andElectrocardiography
EXS360 - Practicum in Sports Medicine III
EXS395 - Internship
EXS410 - Exer Prescr II:Special Popultns
EXS420 - Advanced Exercise Physiology
EXS430 - Sem in Hlth Fitness Instruction
EXS460 - Practicum in Sports Medicine IV
EXS495 - Senior Seminar
LAR111 -
LAR112 -
SDV100 - The USF Experience
PSY250 - Methods of Research

Professional Memberships

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

ACSM- Northland Regional Chapter

Expertise

Clinical Exercise Physiology / Cardiovascular Physiology / Metabolism / Diabetes / Obesity / Aging / Sports Medicine / Electrocardiography

Research

Honor and Doctoral Student Research Advisor, 2007-2008, 2015-2016, 2022-2024
The University of Sioux Falls

Dr. Schultz is currently chairing a dissertation committee for a student in the Doctorate (EdD) in Leadership program: "Parental Stressors of Children in Youth Sports: An Examination of Their Relationship to Parental Emotions and Behaviors.
Dr. Schultz has supervised four research studies by students in the Honors Program: 1) the effectiveness of a weight loss intervention at a local wellness facility; 2) the effectiveness of ankle strengthening and flexibility training on balance in older women; 3) leveling the match: adaptive tennis; and 4) age-related pain perceptions to ischemic pre-conditioning.

Doctoral Student/Research Associate, 2003-2007
Cardiovascular Research Institute
The University of South Dakota

Dr. Schultz's dissertation research focused on examining the effects of long-term exercise on cardiovascular remodeling and function in the spontaneously hypertensive heart failure rat.
Her work included performing echocardiograms, left ventricular catheterizations, isolation and measurement of cardiac myocytes, skeletal muscle sampling, histological staining and various assays.

Graduate Assistant, August 1996-July 1998
Noll Physiological Research Center & General Clinical Research Center
The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Schultz coordinated an NIH-funded clinical research study within a NIH-funded General Clinical Research Center. She served as a co-investigator on several other research projects.
Dr. Schultz's research focus was examining possible mechanisms of Type 2 diabetes and the effect of exercise and diet on reducing insulin resistance. Her work included measurement of resting and exercise metabolism (calorimetry), performing various assays and both radioactive and stable isotope infusate prep. Dr. Schultz also assisted with various glucose clamp procedures and muscle biopsies.

Research Associate/ Graduate Assistant, April 1995-August 1996
Laboratory of Applied Physiology
University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Schultz coordinated research studies which examined the effects of exercise on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This included performing various blood chemistry analyses and the administration of glucose tolerance tests.

Scholarships and Creative Work

Lectures

Schultz, R. Wellness. University of Sioux Falls All Staff Meeting, August 26, 2008.
Schultz, R. Fitness After 50. Welcyon, November 14, 2013.
Schultz, R. Fitness After 50: Cardio Training. Welcyon, September 23, 2014.
Schultz, R. Nutrition. University of Sioux Falls Campus Accepted Students Day Mock Lecture, February 20, 2017.
Schultz, R. The Flipped Classroom. University of Sioux Falls Faculty Retreat, August 22, 2017.
Schultz, R. Professional Overview and Advice to Beginning EXS Students. EXS100- Introduction to Exercise Science. University of Sioux Falls, every semester, 2009-present.
Schultz, R. Sugar and the Body. HIS390/ENG490- The Sweet Life: Sugar’s Place in History and Culture. University of Sioux Falls, January 17, 2018.
Exercise Physiology. Current Trends in Cardiac Rehabilitation Workshop. Sioux Valley Hospital, May 18, 1999.
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Career Options in Exercise-Related Fields. Dakota Wesleyan University, April 17, 2001, and April 7, 1999.
Benefits of Exercise. Dow Rummel Retirement Home, December 22, 2003.
Fitness 101. Lincoln High School, November 19, 2003.
Diabetes-Induced Cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular Research Institute, April 2, 2003.
Exercise and the ICD Patient. ICD Support Group. Sioux Valley Hospital, March 10, 2001.
Cardiac Rehabilitation. South Dakota State University, February 6, 2001.
Exercise and the Insulin Pump. Diabetes Support Group. Sioux Valley Hospital, November 13, 2000.
Basic Exercise Physiology for the Cardiac Rehab Professional. South Dakota State University UPCRA Meeting. Watertown, S.D., October 12, 2000.
Exercise Considerations for Special Populations. ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Workshop. University of Southern Mississippi, February 27, 1997.
Exercise Principles, Procedures and Programming. ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Workshop. University of Southern Mississippi, February 26, 1997.
Physical Fitness Screening, Appraisal. ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Workshop. University of Southern Mississippi, February 24, 1997.
Submaximal Graded Exercise Testing (Practicum). ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Workshop. University of Southern Mississippi, February 24-26, 1997.
Lewis, R. Submaximal Graded Exercise Testing (Practicum). ACSM Health Fitness Instructor Workshop. University of Southern Mississippi, February 6-8, 1996.

Presentations

Schultz, R. #CooPhys Culture for Service. Presented at the American Kinesiology Association 2018 Leadership Workshop – Promoting Quality Undergraduate Programs in Kinesiology, January, 2018, in Denver, CO.
Schultz, R.L., J.P. Kirwan, H. Huang, R.P. Waters, A.M. Gerdes, and J.G. Swallow. Metabolic Adaptations to Voluntary Wheel Running in Hypertensive Heart Failure Prone Rats. To be presented at American Physiological Society Integrative Biology of Exercise Meeting, September, 2008, in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Schultz, R.L., B.E. Anderson, R.A. Redetzke, P. Waters, J.G. Swallow, and A.M. Gerdes. Effects of long-term exercise on cardiac myocyte remodeling in hypertensive heart failure prone rats. Presented at ACSM Annual Meeting, June, 2006, in Denver, Colo.
Schultz, R.L., J.G. Swallow, P. Waters, A.M. Gerdes, and Y Li. Effects of Long-term Exercise on Nitric Oxide Synthase within the Paraventricular Nucleus in SHHF Rats. Presented at ACSM Annual Meeting, June, 2008, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Schultz, R.L., P. Waters, R.A. Redetzke, S.Said, J.G. Swallow, and A.M. Gerdes. Excessive Exercise in Hypertension May Worsen Outcome. Presented at Heart Failure Society of America Annual Meeting, September, 2006, in Seattle, Wash.
Lewis, R., D.L. Williamson, D.J. O’Gorman, L. del Aguila, R.K. Krishnan, and J.P. Kirwan. Free fatty acid suppression of insulin mediated glucose metabolism in older overweight individuals. Presented at ACSM Annual Meeting, June, 1998, in Orlando, Fla.
Lewis, R., D.L. Williamson, D.J. O’Gorman, L. del Aguila, R.K. Krishnan, and J.P. Kirwan. Free fatty acid suppression of insulin mediated glucose metabolism in older overweight individuals. Presented at Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, March, 1998, in State College, Pa.
Lewis, R., J.C. Denton, A.Z. Jamurta, A.H. Goldfarb, R.T. Cutrer, W. Forsythe, III, and T.J. Angelopoulos. Effects of short-term exercise on glucose tolerance in young obese males. Presented at ACSM Southeast Regional Chapter Meeting, January 1997, in Atlanta, Ga.

Publications

Schultz, R.L., E.L. Kullman, R.P. Waters, H. Huang, J.P. Kirwan, A.M. Gerdes, and J.G. Swallow. Metabolic Adaptations of Skeletal Muscle to Voluntary Wheel Running Exercise in Hypertensive Heart Failure Rats. Physiological Research. 2013.
Schultz, R.L, J.G. Swallow, R.P. Waters, J.A. Kuzman, R.A. Redetzke, S. Said, and A.M. Gerdes. Effects of excessive long-term exercise on cardiac function and myocyte remodeling in hypertensive heart failure rats. Hypertension, 50 (2), 410-416. 2007.
Denton, J.C., R. Schultz, A.Z. Jamurtas, and T.J. Angelopoulos. Improvements in glucose tolerance in obese males with abnormal glucose tolerance following 10 days of aerobic exercise. Preventive Medicine, 38 (6), 885-888. 2004.
Angelopoulos, T.J., R. Schultz, J.C. Denton, and A.Z. Jamurtas. Significant enhancements in glucose tolerance and insulin action in centrally obese subjects following 10 days of training. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 12 (2), 113-118. 2002.
Kirwan, J.P., L.F. del Aguila, J.M. Hernandez, D.L. Williamson, D.J. O’Gorman, R. Lewis, and R.K. Krishnan. Regular exercise enhances insulin activation of IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase in human skeletal muscle. Journal of Applied Physiology, 88, 797-803. 2000.
Angelopoulos, T.J., R. Lewis, T. Jamurtas, and C. Schuman. Significant changes in very-low-density lipoprotein-triacylglycerol and glucose tolerance in obese subjects following ten days of training. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 77, 556-559. 1998.

Abstracts

O’Gorman, D.J., L.F. del Aguila, R.K. Krishnan, D.L. Williamson, R. Lewis, P.A. Farrell, and J.P. Kirwan. Effects of exercise and insulin on extracellular-signal regulated kinase-1 in human skeletal muscle. Presented at European College of Sports Science Annual Meeting, July, 1998, in Manchester, England.
Del Aguila, L.F., D.J. O’Gorman, R.K. Krishnan, D.L. Williamson, R. Lewis, and J.P. Kirwan. Acute exercise decreases insulin stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human subjects. Presented at European College of Sports Science Annual Meeting, July, 1998, in Manchester, England.
Kirwan, J.P., J.M. Hernandez, L.F. del Aguila, D.L. Williamson, D.J. O’Gorman, R. Lewis, and R.K. Krishnan. Effects of exercise training on insulin mediated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation in human skeletal muscle. Presented at American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting, June, 1998, in Chicago, Ill.
Angelopoulos, T.J., J.C. Denton, M.R. Lewis, M. Martino, and W. Forsythe, III. Effects of short-term exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in obese men with abnormal glucose tolerance. Presented at ACSM Annual Meeting, June, 1998, in Orlando, Fla.
Denton, J.C., M.R. Lewis, A.Z. Jamurtas, A.H. Goldfarb, M. Akram, W. Forsythe, III, and T.J. Angelopoulos. Short-term training without weight loss improves glucose tolerance in obese males with abnormal glucose tolerance. Presented at ACSM Southeast Regional Chapter Meeting, January, 1998, in Sandestin, Fla.
Angelopoulos, T.J., M.R. Lewis, J.C. Denton, R.T. Cutrer, and W. Forsythe, III. Effects of short-term exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in men with abdominal obesity. Presented at ACSM Annual Meeting, May, 1997, in Denver, Colo.
T.J. Angelopoulos, C. Schuman, M.R. Lewis, and J.J. Johnson. Effects of acute training on glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism in sedentary moderately obese males. Presented at ACSM Southeast Regional Chapter Meeting, February, 1996, in Chattanooga, Tenn.