Astrid Mel
Astrid Mel
About
Dr. Astrid Mel is Program Director and Associate Professor of Exercise Science at Mercy University. She is also co-founder/executive director of EPIK, a peer reviewed journal about educational practices in kinesiology. During the pandemic, her research focused on the impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on physical activity habits, and its effect on Exercise Science faculty and students. She is currently Co-PI on a grant-funded research project entitled “Live Stronger, Move Better: Assessing a Single Joint Force Frequency Protocol to Improve Age-related Movement Slowing”. She is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a Sports Nutritionist (CISSN) from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), a Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP) from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and holds a National Coaching Diploma from the National Soccer Collegiate Athletic Association (NSCAA).
Dr. Mel earned her Masters degree in Advanced Level Coaching from Springfield College and her thesis explored gender differences in soccer officiating. She earned her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, also from Springfield College, where she studied the effects of hydration status on soccer performance in female intercollegiate athletes. Prior to her current position, Dr. Mel served as Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Health and Exercise Science at Methodist University (Fayetteville, NC), Lab Coordinator, Instructor of Exercise Physiology and Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at Springfield College (Springfield, MA), Instructor of Physical Education, Head Soccer/Head Lacrosse Coach at Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, VA) and Assistant Soccer and Lacrosse Coach at William Smith College (Geneva, NY). Dr Mel played semi-professional soccer in the W-League with the Rochester Ravens (Rochester, NY) and captained the Laval Dynamites (Montreal, Canada).
Dr Mel teaches EXSC 110 Foundations of Exercise Science & Health, EXSC 230 Applied Motor Learning, EXSC 460/460A Exercise Physiology, EXSC285 Principles of Strength and Conditioning, EXSC 385 Advanced Strength and Conditioning.
Research interests include environmental physiology, injury prevention, improving quality of life through exercise, and pedagogy in Exercise Science.
Mel, A. (2026). The Science & Anatomy of Exercise Science. Hinkler.
Stenson, M., Johnson, S., Caputo, J., Mel, A. E., & Spillios, K. (2025). The Prevalence of High-Impact Teaching Practices in Undergraduate Introduction to Exercise Science Courses. International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/24711616.2025.2509901
Samantha Johnson, Jessica K. Fleming, Mary Stenson, Astrid Mel, Katherine Spillios, and Jennifer Caputo (2025). The landscape of undergraduate introduction to exercise science course. Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:1, 63-68.https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00174.2024
Stenson, Mary & Johnson, Samantha & Caputo, Jennifer & Mel, Astrid & Spillios, Katherine. (2024). High Impact Teaching Practices in Introduction to Exercise Science Courses. Physiology. 39. 10.1152/physiol.2024.39.S1.1070.
DeBlauw, JA, Stenson, M, Mel, A, German, D, Jaggernauth, A, Lora, B, Schabes, N, Walker, R, Yusuf, F, Ives, SJ. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures on the Physical and Mental Health of College Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(24):7163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247163
Fleming, J. K., Caputo, J. L., Spillios, K., Mel, A. E., Stenson, M. C., & Johnson, S. L. (2023). Resilient pedagogy: Experiences of kinesiology faculty during COVID-19. Advances in Physiology Education, 13 September 2023, 47(4):684-693. doi: 10.1152/advan.00050.2022
Mel, A., & Stenson, M. (2022).The Lingering Impact of COVID 19 Shutdowns on Physical Activity Habits in the United States. Physical Activity and Health, 6(1), pp. 42–54. doi: 10.5334/paah.165
Stenson, M. C., Fleming, J. K., Johnson, S. L., Caputo, J. L., Spillios, K., & Mel, A. E. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on access to laboratories and human participants: Exercise science faculty perspectives. Advances in Physiology Education, 27 Jan 2022, 46(2):211-218. doi: 10.1152/advan.00146.2021
Caputo, J. L., Mel, A. E., Stenson, M. C., Fleming, J. K., Johnson, S. L., & Spillios, K. (2021). Faculty perceptions of the exercise science student learning experience during the coronavirus pandemic. Advances in Physiology Education, 01 Sept 2021, 45: 829–834. doi.org/10.1152/advan.00114.2021
Mel, Astrid E., Stenson, Mary C. Physical Activity Changes during the Spring 2020 COVID-19 Shutdown in the United States, Translational Journal of the ACSM: Fall 2021 - Volume 6 - Issue 4 - p 1-8 doi: 10.1249/TJX.0000000000000176
Caputo, J., Clark K., Johnson, S., Fleming, J., Mel, A., Stenson, M. (2021). Educational Practices in Kinesiology Inaugural Editorial. Educational Practices in Kinesiology, Vol. 1(1).
Davitt, P., M.; Hartman, T., Estremera, S., Barone, P., Grassano, J., Muy, G., Akers-Goodwin, O., Marrero, A., Mel, A. (2018). Moderate-Vigorous Intensity Run vs Walk on Hemodynamics, Metabolism and Perception of Effort, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: May 2018 - Volume 50 - Issue 5S - p 468-469 doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000536621.18283.e1
AWARDS / HONORS
2026 Induction into the Alpha Eta National Honor Society
2024 HHMI Inclusive Excellence Teaching Fellows Program
2018 Mercy College Mavie Award for Outstanding Faculty
2014 Ann Grow Friends of Athletics Award, Mercy College
2013 East Coast Conference Faculty Appreciation Award
GRANTS / FUNDING PROPOSALS
2024- Rainwater Charitable Foundation. Mel, Astrid, Hyland Nanette. “Live Stronger, Move Better: Assessing a Single Joint Force Frequency Protocol on Age-related Movement Slowing.” IRB pending research ($63,343).
2019 - Rainwater Charitable Foundation. Mel, Astrid, Hyland Nanette. “Live Stronger, Move Better: Assessing an Indoor Cycling Protocol in Reducing Parkinson’s Symptoms.” IRB Approved research ($18 000).
2019 - Faculty Development Grant, Mercy University. Mel, Astrid, Hyland, Nanette. “Live Stronger, Move Better: Assessing an Indoor Cycling Protocol in Reducing Parkinson’s Symptoms.” IRB Approved research ($4,185.00).
2019 - Faculty Senate Micro-Grant, Mercy University. Mel, Astrid, Murphy, Allison. “Visit to BOUNDLESS Adventures in Purchase, New York”. Funding for a student-faculty activity to encourage collaboration, outside of the classroom setting. ($2,050.00).
2017 - Faculty Senate Micro-Grant, Mercy University. Davitt, Patrick, Williams, Allison, Mel, Astrid. “Adventure Ropes Course for Collaborative Team Building”. Funding for an activity to increase faculty-student social interaction outside of the classroom setting ($3595).
2015 - Micro-grant for Teaching Innovation, Mercy University. Hyland, Nanette, Mel, Astrid. “Bridging the gap between the classroom and practice: Preparing the students for the real world.” Interdisciplinary project that blends graduate and undergraduate students in a collaborative learning environment enhancing student success ($3000).
2014 - Faculty Development Grant, Mercy University. Davitt, Patrick, Mel, Astrid. “The Effect of Isoenergetic, Isointensive Endurance Exercise on Postprandial Metabolism.” Funding to support a collaborative research project ($3000).
2011 - Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions-Career Opportunities in research RIMI-COR, Mercy University. Beverly, Nancy, Mel, Astrid. Proposal to purchase motion analysis software ($11 900).