Researchers at University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Department of Kinesiology, are conducting a study to learn more about how virtual reality (VR) adventure exergaming can help improve the mental and physical health in Veterans. VR-based exergaming is associated with improved cognition; endorphin production and release; improved mood, increased self-confidence, mindfulness, feelings of connectedness, and well-being.
You may be eligible to participate if you:
If you are interested in participation, please click the link below to complete the study consent and screener questions:
https://utaedu.questionpro.com/vrate-screener
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Dr. Schuman is a military spouse and mother to a military member. She holds licensure in clinical social work and professional counseling and holds certifications in addiction counseling, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. She has almost two decades of clinical behavioral health experience, and has previously worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Army. Her research is focused on studying the biopsychosocial impact of trauma. She is dedicated to improving trauma treatment outcomes for service members, veterans, and first responders through psychophysiological interventions.
Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology
Areas of Interest
Anushree is originally from Mumbai, India. She graduated with a bachelor’s in physical therapy in 2021 with 2 years working in an outpatient clinical set up and she is a first-year master’s student in exercise science at UTA. Her research interests mainly involve assessing and developing interventions for motor development and control and dealing with adult and pediatric neurological patients. In her free time, she loves researching new things and enjoys cooking.
Casey is from Arlington, Texas, and Graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology and religion from Texas Wesleyan University and is a second-year master’s student in social work at UT Arlington. She seeks to become a Licensed Social Worker with a focus in Mental Health and Substance Misuse. Outside of school, Casey is very active with various roles in her family’s church and enjoys playing the piano and spending time with her family.
Christine Highfill retired as a military spouse in 2014. She has since earned her Master degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington (2019) and a Master of Arts in Human Services, Counseling, Military Resilience from Liberty University (2016). She is currently a PhD student at UTA. She studies complementary therapies for Veterans, like Wind Therapy and Equine Therapy, and also researches Military-Connected Domestic Abuse.
Third-year Doctoral Student
Kim is a native Texan, beginning her Ph.D. program in Kinesiology at UTA in 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, where she has also taught for over ten years as adjunct faculty in the Kinesiology department. She completed her Master’s degree in Exercise Science at UTA. She has been active for several years in providing community-based physical activity intervention for diabetes prevention and Full Plate Living programs. Her research interests focus on the benefits of physical activity for age- and disease-related motor-cognitive decline, and other types of cognitive dysfunction, as well as rehabilitative and corrective exercise.
Caifang was born in China and has been trained on 100m-dash during childhood and adolescence. She graduated with her bachelor’s in physical education track at HENU and first master’s at ECNU in China and came to UTA from Connecticut, where she did her second master's in clinical exercise science. She is a first-year doctoral student in the Motor and Rehabilitation Science track and is looking to pursue a future career as a scholar and researcher. Her research interests focus on the understanding, application, and promotion of interventions for disease and cognitive dysfunction in young children and adolescents.
