Rate My Professor Elizabeth Harper

Elizabeth Harper serves as Associate Professor of Biology in the Division of Natural Sciences at Mount Saint Mary College, where she also directs the Exercise Science program. She earned her PhD in Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health from the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University, a Master of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts and dance from New York University’s Gallatin Program. Before pursuing her doctorate, Harper worked as a research physiologist for the US Navy. Throughout her career, she has taught anatomy, physiology, and exercise science courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels across various colleges and developed movement programs for physically vulnerable community members. At Mount Saint Mary College, her teaching portfolio includes Biological Principles (BIO 1130), Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 1030), Introduction to Exercise Science (EXS 1010), Kinesiology (BIO 3250), and Junior Seminar I (BIO 3910). She was instrumental in establishing the college’s Exercise Science major, which emphasizes the body’s responses to physical and emotional stress and prepares students for careers in health, wellness, nutrition, public health, health education, fitness, and graduate programs in athletic training, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.

Harper’s research centers on the therapeutic benefits of exercise, with a current focus on identifying biomarkers of inflammation, stress, and satisfaction arising from strenuous exercise activities. Her work evaluates various exercise protocols tailored to specifically challenged populations, aligning with her specialization in integrative exercise science. A member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the Human Anatomy and Physiological Society, she has contributed significantly to the field through numerous publications. Notable works include her textbooks Run and Jump and Play: A Primer for Exercise Science (2025) and Introduction to Exercise Science (2025, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company), designed for introductory undergraduate courses. Earlier publications encompass “The Effects of Pranic Breathing on Maximal Respiratory Pressures, Fatigue and Quality of Life of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis” (Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 2009), “Premature Skeletal Muscle Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis and its implications toward exercise therapy” (Medical Physiology Online, 2008), Ellen’s Choice, Case Studies in Science (2001), a test bank for Functional Human Anatomy (1995), “Exercise Intensity Change, Bone Mineral and Connective Tissue Degradation” (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1990), and “Adaptation to Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage” (Clinical Science, 1987).