sean healy

Dr. Sean Healy is an Assistant Professor of Health Behavior Science and Director for the health, physical activity, and disability minor. Previously, after completed his PhD at the University of Virginia, Dr. Healy worked as an Assistant Professor at Humboldt State University, CA (2015-2017).

Dr. Healy’s research aims to deepen our understanding of obesity and obesity risk factors (e.g. physical activity and sedentary behavior) among youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and refine the use of scalable and sustainable interventions to increase physical activity among this population. Currently, Dr. Healy utilizes big data to examine movement behaviors, and overweight and obesity among youth with ASD. Dr. Healy’s most recent work on behavioral interventions involved the examination of web-based, parent-mediated interventions to (1) increase physical activity among youth with ASD, and (2) to improve motor skills of youth with developmental disabilities. For his research, Dr. Healy received the David P. Beaver Adapted Physical Activity Professional Young Scholar Award in 2017. Dr. Healy is the Books & Media Review Editor for Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly and on the editorial board of Palaestra.

Education

• PhD, University of Virginia, 2015

Research Interests

• Disability, autism spectrum disorder, health behaviors, physical activity, 24-hour activity cycle, mixed-methods research

Affiliations

• Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Cardiovascular Health,

Courses

• BHAN 342: Introduction to Adapted Physical Activity
• BHAN 240: Fundamental Movement Skill