Professional Summary
Dr. Cameron S. Mackey is an exercise scientist, researcher, and educator specializing in applied exercise physiology and human performance, particularly in military populations. He serves as the Director of Health and Human Performance Graduate Studies at Wartburg College, leading graduate programs in Sports Science and Data Science in Human Performance. Prior to his current role, Dr. Mackey held academic and research appointments at Loyola University Chicago and the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. A veteran of the United States Air Force, his work bridges applied exercise science, human performance optimization, and statistical analysis.
Education
- PhD in Health and Human Performance | Oklahoma State University
- Graduate Certificate in Statistical Methods and Analyses | Oklahoma State University
- MS in Applied Exercise Science | Oklahoma State University
- BS in Health and Exercise Science | Oklahoma State University
- AAS | Community College of the Air Force
Academic Leadership & Teaching
Dr. Mackey leads curriculum development and instruction across graduate and undergraduate levels. His teaching expertise encompasses applied statistics, research design, biomechanics, and exercise physiology.
- Wartburg College (2026 – Present): Directs the MS in Sports Science and MS in Data Science and Human Performance programs. Teaches Applied Statistics, Research Methods, and Evidence-Based Practice and Integrated High-Performance Management.
- Loyola University Chicago (2020 – 2024): Taught coursework at the graduate and undergraduate levels in applied biomechanics, program design, and exercise physiology while also leading student research roundtables and programmatic committees.
Research & Scholarship
Dr. Mackey’s research focuses on muscular and neuromuscular fatigue, muscle coactivation, physical performance testing in military and tactical populations, and human performance metrics. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including European Journal of Applied Physiology, Military Medical Research, and Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, and serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for multiple scientific publications.
Personal Interests
Dr. Mackey enjoys being out in nature, finding hiking trails to explore and is an avid reader of epic fantasy literature. His most recent favorite novels are Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle and Alex Aster’s Starside.
Current Favorite Quotes
“You cannot hope to make progress in areas where you have taken no action.” – Epictetus
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.” -Laurie Buchanan
