Deanna Schmidt

Deanna Schmidt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology within the College of Education, Health and Human Services at California State University San Marcos. Her office is located in University Hall 316, and she can be reached at (760) 750-7358 or djschmidt@csusm.edu.

Dr. Schmidt completed her educational journey with a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Dr. Schmidt's research focuses on upper limb biomechanics, particularly examining how various factors affect human movement and function. Her work spans multiple areas including:

• Biomechanics of touchscreen interaction
• Effects of backpack load carriage on upper limb function
• Nerve compression injuries (including "backpack palsy")
• Pinch and grip strength analysis
• Medical imaging of muscle function
• Simulation of musculoskeletal mechanics

Dr. Schmidt's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical applications of biomechanics research, particularly in military, first responder, and everyday technology usage contexts. Her work combines engineering principles with human movement science to address real-world ergonomic challenges.

Dr. Schmidt teaches courses including KINE 303 (Statistics and Research Methods), KINE 425 (Biomechanics of Human Movement), and KINE 301 (Motor Control and Learning), providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in kinesiology.