Susan Puhl, Ph.D.
West 1972
Susan Puhl graduated from West High in 1972. She received a master's degree in physical education/health and a master's degree in teaching from Southeast Missouri State University. In 1986 she received her doctorate in exercise physiology from The Pennsylvania State University. She currently lives in Grover Beach, CA.
Susan is an associate professor of physical education and kinesiology at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She is an instructor in physiology of exercise, testing and exercise, advanced electrocardiography and other courses. Her research emphasis is the metabolic cost of physical activity and response to unmonitored and home-based exercise. Susan is also extensively involved in curriculum/program development and university and department committees.
Previously, Susan was an associate professor of physical education at the State University of New York at Cortland. There, she was the coordinator of the adult physical fitness undergraduate concentration and also spent time in instruction and research. She has also spent time at The Pennsylvania State University, Lock Haven University and Southeast Missouri State University.
Consulting and advisory experience includes work with Pacific Gas & Electric, the Journal of Physical Education, the American Running and Fitness Association and the Orthopedics Surgeon Group. Susan has made professional presentations of invited papers to groups in Williamsburg, Va., Seoul, Korea, Glasgow Scotland and more.
Over twenty of Susan's abstracts have been published, many in Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. She has also reviewed manuscripts for a variety of journals and book publishers. Susan has completed a number of research projects, including many for NordicTrack, Inc.
Susan has held leadership positions with and is currently a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance and other organizations.