Dierdra Bycura, EdD

Dierdra Bycura, Ed.D. has been a member of the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Health Sciences faculty since 2006 and currently serves as the lead faculty for the Fitness Wellness program.  Dr. Bycura earned her B.S. in Exercise Science and M.P.E. in Secondary Physical Education and Doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Exercise Psychology.

Dr. Bycura is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Certified Exercise Physiologist and a Certified Personal Trainer.Additionally, Dr. Bycura serves as chair of a national committee with the American College of Sports Medicine for Credentialing (2004 – present).

Current research interest area: Dr. Bycura’s research experience is in exercise adherence and motivation, exercise intervention effectiveness, trending exercise modalities (adherence and motivation), combining physiological and psychological measures.

Research focus:

• Exercise intervention on gut microbes:  Exercise microbiome project
• Examining the motivation and adherence toward trending exercise modalities
• Physiological and psychological measures of firefighter job tasks
• Firefighters ability to sustain chronic cardiorespiratory exercise training to support to job task requirements

Primary courses:

• PE 325  Applied Movement Analysis and Motor Learning
• FW 420c Exercise Program Design and Modification
• FW 430 Professional Practice and Responsibilities

Certifications / licenses:

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Physiologist
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer
• American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Exercise Instructor