Dr. Baur is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Performance and Wellness. His primary research interests are military/human performance and ergogenic aids. Specifically, Dr. Baur investigates the physiological impact of heavy load carriage in different environments including simulated high altitude.

His teaching responsibilities include Exercise Physiology, The Physiology of Military and Endurance Performance, Boxing Fitness, and Principles of Physical Conditioning.

Dr. Baur is a Lexington, Virginia native. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008, his Master’s degree from James Madison University in 2013, and his Doctorate from Florida State University in 2017.

Captain Baur has been an instructor in the Department of Human Performance and Wellness since 2017. Her primary interests involve supporting the holistic and lifelong health and fitness of the Corps – through teaching foundational concepts in training, research that investigates relevant training practices and outcomes, and by mentoring cadets in their individual training endeavors. She also currently serves as the Director of Physical Training for the Summer Transition Program.

Her teaching responsibilities include Principles of Physical Conditioning (HPW 205), Speedwork for Running (HPW 326), Passive Stretching and Yoga (HPW 327), and Cardiovascular Training Applications (HPW 413).

Captain Baur is originally from the Philadelphia area. She received her Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in 2013 and her Master’s degree from Florida State University in 2015.

Professor
Department Head
Human Performance and Wellness (HPW)

Professor Coale has been teaching at the Virginia Military Institute since 1979 and was appointed department head in 2003. Coale is responsible for overseeing the department’s seven-semester academic program required of all cadets - centered on enhancement of the mind-body connection. He is also responsible for the Rat Challenge Program (experiential outdoor program), that was initiated in 1968. The Rat Challenge Program consistently ranks as one of the best developmental opportunities/experiences for cadets, offered at VMI.

Coale’s teaching responsibilities include: Fitness and Aging, Boxing, and Resistance Training. His area of focus centers on the benefits derived from Resistance Training – from both a performance perspective, and a health/wellness perspective. From the performance aspect, his focus is on the younger athlete. With regards to the health/wellness aspect, his focus is on the enhancement of quality-of-life factors in older populations.

During his time as department head, a minor in Exercise Science was initiated, and the name of the department was changed - from the Department of Physical Education to the Department of Human Performance and Wellness. The new name provides a more accurate description of the department’s overall focus, goals, and research initiatives.

In addition to serving as a faculty member, Coale initiated the Strength and Conditioning Program for VMI’s NCAA athletes in 1982 and continued to direct and oversee the program for a period of 35 years. Coale oversaw numerous upgrades and expansions to training facilities across Post while serving in this capacity.

Coale has degrees from Springfield College, James Madison University, and the University of Maryland. He lives in Lexington, Virginia with his wife Kathy and they have three sons – Kevin, Danny, and Ryan.

Captain Dryden received her degrees from Auburn University and master’s from Virginia Tech. Captain Dryden’s teaching responsibilities are Swimming, Wellness Concepts and Drug and Alcohol Awareness. Captain Dryden has returned to VMI after living in South Korea for the past 9 years.

Jack B. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D., is a Professor within the Department of Human Performance and Wellness at the Virginia Military Institute. He has been teaching and coaching at the Virginia Military Institute since 2006. Prior to arriving at VMI, Dr. Johnson was a strength and conditioning coach at Radford University (1995-1998) and Virginia Tech (1998-2006).

He received his bachelor’s degree from Emory and Henry College in 1995. He received his Master’s degree from Radford University in 1998 and his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 2001.

He lives in Lexington, Virginia with his wife Anne and they have two children – Jack and Emma.

Instructor
Physical Education

Capt. Joyce has been teaching at VMI since 2002. He is also the assistant director of Rat Challenge and is primarily in charge of overseeing the onsite activities, with oversight of the Low Initiatives.   Additionally, he is the director or Teacher Education at VMI. 

Capt. Joyce’s teaching responsibilities include: boxing, swimming, wrestling, volleyball, tennis, basketball, combatives, Principles of Conditioning, racquetball and CPR. 

Capt. Joyce’s area of focus is on the benefits of outdoor adventure programs such as Rat Challenge as they pertain to first-year cadets. He also has an interest in exercise intervention in chronic disease. 

Capt. Joyce received his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Springfield College in 1988. He received his Master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University in 1998. He is currently finishing up his Ed. D. at the University of Virginia in higher education administration. He lives in Lexington with his wife Leslie and their three children - Mitch, Bryan, and Elsa.

Office Hours:  Capt. Joyce is available throughout the day or by appointment. Please contact him at:joyceca@vmi.edu or by phone (540) 464-7558.

Professor
Human Performance and Wellness

Dissertation: An analysis of football player position group, height, weight, and relative body weight and their relationship to scores on the Functional Movement Screen™
Masters Project: The Effects of Two Strength Training Methods on Skinfold Measurements, Strength Gains and Flexibility in College Age Female Athletes
Double minor in Athletic Training and Psychology

A.A.S. Physical Therapist Assistant, Orange County Community College, Middletown, NY

Academic/Research Interest:

• Health and Fitness for Older Adults and Special Populations
• Movement Analyses/Biomechanics
• Exercise Adherence

Instructor
Human Performance and Wellness

B.S., University of Rhode Island

M.S., Eastern Kentucky University

Research interests: Developing strategies and enhancing behaviors that lead to improved health and dietary outcomes in college students

Courses taught: Wellness Concepts (HPW 105), Basic Swimming Survival (HPW 201), Nutrition & Cardiovascular Health (HPW 306), Swim Fitness (HPW 311), Global Food and Nutrition (HPW 313), Advanced Swimming & Survival (HPW 403), Nutrition (HPW 433), Snorkeling (Study Abroad; HPW 470)

Instructor
Human Performance and Wellness