Garcia Ashdown-Franks

Dr Garcia Ashdown-Franks is a University Research Fellow at York St John University's Institute for Health and Care Improvement (IHCI) within the School of Science, Technology and Health. Their research focuses on the complex relationships between physical activity, mental health, body image, and weight stigma, with a commitment to fostering inclusive physical activity spaces for individuals of all body shapes, sizes, and weights.

Dr Ashdown-Franks earned a BSc in Kinesiology in 2015 and an MSc in Exercise Sciences in 2018 from the University of Toronto, followed by a PhD in Exercise Sciences in 2022 from the same institution. They also spent time as a Visiting Researcher at King's College London, where their research focused on parkrun, mental health, and social inclusion. Prior to joining York St John University in 2024, they held an externally funded postdoctoral research position at Brunel University London.

Dr Ashdown-Franks employs both qualitative (interviews, ethnography) and quantitative research methods, drawing from critical health studies, fat studies, exercise science, psychology, and sociology. Their work takes a critical stance toward health and weight studies, challenging traditional paradigms and advocating for more inclusive approaches to physical activity and mental health. Their research often explores how community-based physical activities like parkrun can serve as therapeutic landscapes for mental health recovery while acknowledging that these spaces may not be equally accessible or beneficial for all individuals.

Analysis of Dr Ashdown-Franks' recent publications reveals a strong focus on community-based physical activity interventions, particularly parkrun, as mechanisms for improving mental health and fostering social inclusion. Their work spans multiple disciplines including sports sociology, mental health research, critical weight studies, and health geography. A notable trend is their examination of how physical activity spaces can be both therapeutic and exclusionary, with particular attention to marginalized populations including individuals with mental health conditions, fat individuals, and Black women.

Dr Ashdown-Franks contributes to teaching in the areas of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Body Image, and Research Methods. They also provide research-specific training and CPD sessions for staff and postgraduate students, helping to develop research capacity within the university community.