Dr. Chris Hopper

Dr. Hopper is a Professor of Kinesiology. His primary teaching area is adapted physical activity/education. He has served in a variety of administrative positions at Humboldt since he arrived on campus in 1980. Previously he was the Associate Dean for Teacher Education from 1996-2006. He has also served as Chair of Kinesiology and Recreation and Elementary Education departments. He has written six books and published his research on children’s health and fitness in peer-reviewed journals. He currently serves as a reviewer of grant applications for the National Institutes of Health. He was selected as the Scholar of the Year at Humboldt in 2015-16.

Recent Publications
Hopper, C., Fisher, B., & Munoz, K.D. (2007). Physical Activity and Nutrition for Health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Current Projects
Adapted Physical Education Grant Program funded by the U.S Department of Education.

Contact Information:
Email: cah3@humboldt.edu
Phone: (707) 826 3853

Dr. Justus Ortega

Dr. Ortega is a Professor of Kinesiology. His primary teaching area is biomechanics and motor learning and development. He has served as the director of the Biomechanics lab since 2006 and as director of the North Coast Concussion Program (NCCP) since 2009. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Ortega research has focused on the effects of aging and exercise on the mechanics and energetics of movement; particularly walking. From this research Dr. Ortega has developed balance, mobility and fall risk assessments services for the surrounding North Cost community. At the NCCP Dr. Ortega’s provides concussion education and diagnostic services for over 20 schools of Northern California including k-12 schools and local universities. As part of this program Dr. Ortega integrates his expertise in balance and locomotion biomechanics to investigate the effects of concussions on neurocognitive and motor control function. He also has a research interest in the impact of concussion management practices on incidence and recovery of concussion in youth sports.  

Recent Publications
Beck ON, Ortega JD, Roby JM, Turney AL, and Kram R. (2015) Older Runner Retain Youthful Running Economy Despite Biomechanical Differences.  Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 

Ortega JD, Beck ON, Roby JM, Turney AL, and Kram R. (2015) Running for Exercise Mitigates Age-Related Deterioration of Walking Economy. PLoS ONE 9(11): e113471.

Ortega JD, Lindstedt  SL, Jubrias  S, Kushmerick MJ, Nelson  FE  and Conley  KE. (2015) Making Sense of the Fenn Effect?  Journal of Experimental Biology 218, 2075-2082.

Ortega, JD and Farley CT. (2015) Aging and the determinants of steady-state energetics cost during uphill walking. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 25, 193-198.

Ortega JD, Beck ON, Roby JM, Turney AL, Kram R (2014) Running for Exercise Mitigates Age-Related Deterioration of Walking Economy. PLoS ONE 9(11): e113471. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113471

Ortega JD. (2013) Counterpoint: Aging does not reduce mechanical efficiency. Journal of Applied Physiology 114(8): 1112-1113.

Current Projects
Effects of concussion among NCAA athletes funded by NCAA and Department of Defense Grant
Effect of concussion on walking mechanics among high school and collegiate athletes
Balance, mobility and fall risk among rural dwelling older adults

Contact Information:
Email: jdo1@humboldt.edu
Phone: (707) 826-4274