Manuela Cristina Caciula

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology - Exercise Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (2014);  
• Master of Science - Physical Education and Kinesiology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romanian (2010) 
• Master of Science - Sports Management, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (2010) 

Structural Kinesiology; Sports Nutrition; Adapted Physical Education; Motor Learning and Control; Contemporary Issues in Exercise Science; Exercise Physiology; Community Health Internship; Step Aerobic; Foundations of Physical Fitness; Introduction to Exercise Science; Lifespan Motor Development; Principles of Health, Nutrition and Weight Management

My research interests center on human motor behavior and the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting cognitive, physical, and psychological health across diverse populations. A major focus of my scholarship has been examining how exercise influences executive function, physical function, and motor performance in individuals with neurological and developmental conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. My work has explored motor control and gait, dual-task performance, exercise frequency, and community-based exercise interventions, with an emphasis on translating research findings into strategies that enhance functional independence and quality of life. More recently, my research has expanded to investigate the complex relationships among physical activity, mental health, and body composition in college students, including cross-cultural comparisons of young adults in the United States and Romania following the COVID-19 pandemic. I am particularly interested in understanding how physical activity and exercise can serve as accessible, non-pharmacological approaches for supporting mental health, cognitive function, physical function, and overall well-being across the lifespan. In addition, my scholarship includes an interest in evidence-based teaching and learning in the exercise sciences, particularly instructional approaches that foster metacognition, student engagement, and academic performance. Collectively, my research integrates motor behavior, exercise science, public health, and applied pedagogy to better understand how movement and physical activity can improve health, function, and quality of life in both clinical and non-clinical populations.