Vanessa Fiaud
Associate Professor of Sports and Exercise Science
Office: Virgil Hansen Activities Center 230
Email: vfiaud@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2677
Professional Profile
Dr. Fiaud joined the Sports and Exercise Science Dept. within the College of Nursing & Health Sciences in 2009. She received a Licence in English and Business Law from La Sorbonne Paris III, France, an M.Ed. in Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a Ph.D. in Kinesiology with concentrations in Biomechanics and Statistics from Texas Woman’s University. She holds multiple certifications, such as Department Chair certification from the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education, John Hopkins‘s contact tracing, and Green Belt from Lean Six Sigma.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Fiaud teaches Structural Kinesiology, Sports Biomechanics Measurement & Evaluation, Statistics, Research Methods, and graduate-level Biomechanics. She currently serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the Master’s degree in SES as well as the Director of the Biomechanics laboratory. She has been involved in numerous committees on campus and has been active in professional organizations such as the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) including leadership positions, the South Central American Society of Biomechanics (SCASB), and SHAPE.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Fiaud’s research interests include injury mechanisms related to balance, gender differences and the effect of obesity on balance abilities, as well as somatotyping in sports. She has published works in the International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, Gait & Posture, and Fitness Research among others. She has co-written the chapter “Biomechanics and Skill Analysis” in the book Coaching for Sports Performance.
Dr. Fiaud has also published on the topic of international student athletes, especially regarding their challenges in the US educational system.