Our Team

James O. Hill, Ph.D.

Executive Director- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

James O. Hill is the Executive Director of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Hill is the primary investigator for the 5th Gear Kids™ project.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University School of Medicine
Ph.D., Physiological Psychology, University of New Hampshire
Master of Science, Physiological Psychology, Univeristy of New Hampsire
Bachelor of Art, Psychology, University of Tennessee

Thrudur Gunnarsdottir, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow and 5th Gear Kids™ Program Manager- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

Thrudur Gunnarsdottir is the 5th Gear Kids™ program manager and a postdoctoral fellow at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. Dr. Gunnarsdottir is also a clinical psychologist specializing in family-based obesity programs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Ph.D., Public Health, University of Iceland
Master of Art, Clinical Psychology, Univeristy of Iceland
Bachelor of Art, Psychology, University of Iceland

Favorite quote: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."- Anonymous

Megan Mistler-Jackson, Ph.D.

5th Gear Kids™ Grant Coordinator- Cherry Creek School District

Megan Mistler-Jackson is the 5th Gear Kids™ Coordinator in Cherry Creek School District.

Education

Ph.D., Science Education, University of Colorado-Boulder
Bacherlor of Art, English, Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Vanderbilt University

Favorite quotes: "It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."- Albus Dumbeldore

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."- Judy Garland

Favorite Colorado adventure: Going to Camp Cheley with 5th graders for outdoor education!

Favorite physical activities: Walking, hiking, skiing, camping, and Pilates.

My motivation to stay active: Staying active makes me feel good and helps me enjoy the outdoors with my kids!

Favorite movies: Akeelah and the Bee, The Help, Up!, and the Harry Potter series

Kenny Webb, MS

5th Gear Kids™ Grant Coordinator- Aurora Public Schools

Kenny Webb is the 5th Gear Kids™ Coordinator in Aurora Public Schools.

Education

Master of Science, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor of Art, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado

Favorite quote: "So I got that going for me, which is nice."- Anonymous

Favorite Colorado adventure: Finishing the Warrior Dash with my wife at Copper Mountain.

My motivation to stay active: I want to be the best role model that I can be for my two girls. I want them to understand the importance of movement.

Favorite movies: Caddyshack, The Departed, 300!

Jimikaye Beck, MS

5th Gear Kids™ Project Coordinator- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

Jimikaye Beck is the 5th Gear Kids™ Project Coordinator at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Education

Master of Science, Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University
Bachelor of Science, Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Art, Spanish, Oklahoma State University

Favorite Colorado Adventure: Hiking outside of Frisco with my friends and experiencing the strange phenomenon of the droplets of water vapor from our breaths swirling around in the air.

My motivation to stay active: Staying active allows me to express the purest form of myself through my favorite activity- dancing. I also stay active so that I can maintain a strong and health body with the hope of returning to Spain and hiking the Camino de Santiago again!

Favorite movies: Big Trouble, Atlantis, Stardust

Michelle Cardel, PhD, RD

Post Doctoral Fellow and 5th Gear Kids™ Diversity Coordinator- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

Michelle Cardel is the 5th Gear Kids Diversity Coordinator and a post doctoral fellow at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. Dr. Cardel is also a registered dietician and her research focuses on obesity prevention and treatment programs in underserved populations at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Ph.D., Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
R.D., Dietetic Internship, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Florida State University

Favorite Quote: "Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, ot have thought, to have done."- Matthew Arnoled

Favorite adventures: Spending last summer in Alaska with my husband hiking, fishing, whale watching and camping

Favorite physical activities: Swimming, hiking, water skiing, fishing, camping, and skydiving (even though I'm terrified of heights)

My motivation to stay active: I love being outdoors!

Favorite books: The Great Gatsby, Anna Karenina, Me Talk Pretty ONe Day, The History of Love

Holly Wyatt, MD

Associate Director- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

Holly Wyatt is the Associate Director of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, and a physician and clinical researcher at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Wyatt is an advisor for the 5th Gear Kids™ project.

Education

Endocrinology Fellow, University of Colorado
Internal Medicine Resident, University of Colorado
Doctor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Bachelor of Art, Microbiology, University of Texas

John Peters, Ph.D.

Chief Strategy Officer- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center

John Peters is the Chief Strategy Officer of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, and an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Peters is an advisor for the 5th Gear Kids™ project.

Education

Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of California-Davis

Research interests: I am interested in multiple research areas including nutrition, physical activity, obesity prevention for both adults and children, and behavior change at both the individual and population levels.

Fun fact about me: I love to cook and have been the primary cook in my family since my children were small.

My motivation to stay active: I recently moved to Colorado and hope to climb at least one of Colorado's famous fourteeners each year I live in Colorado. So far I have climbed four 14ers!