Vipa Bernhardt

Vipa Bernhardt, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Health and Human Performance within the College of Education and Human Services at Texas A&M University-Commerce. She serves as the coordinator and faculty advisor for the B.S. Kinesiology & Sports Studies–Human Performance degree program and directs the Human Performance Laboratory (ROARHP Lab), where she mentors students in research.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and a B.S. in Neurobiological Sciences, both from the University of Florida, along with a B.A. in Music. She completed postdoctoral training at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, affiliated with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Bernhardt's research centers on exercise physiology, particularly exertional dyspnea in obesity, fitness and performance measurement, and interventions to promote physical activity. She has led initiatives in collaboration with the Morris Recreation Center to enhance campus wellness, recognized by the American College of Sports Medicine with an 'Exercise is Medicine' on-campus award. Her recent publications explore the effects of weight loss on breathing discomfort and the use of wearable technology to increase student activity levels.

She has received several honors, including:

• Faculty Development Grant, TAMUC (2015–2019)
• Junior Faculty Research Award, TAMUC (2017)
• Phi Pi Delta “Lion Heart” Award, TAMUC (2018)
• Global Fellow, TAMUC (2015)
• Exercise is Medicine Recognition (team award)

Dr. Bernhardt actively mentors McNair Scholars, honors students, and master’s thesis candidates. She teaches core courses such as Exercise Physiology (HHPK 450) and Advanced Exercise Physiology (HHPK 545), integrating her expertise in neuroscience, physiology, and athletics. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Physiological Society. Her lab provides hands-on research experience for students interested in clinical and applied aspects of human performance.