Education
BS, Management, Middle East Technical University (Turkey)
MA, Kinesiology, San Jose State University
Ph.D (in progress), Applied Exercise Physiology, Hacettepe University (Turkey) to be continued
I am an SJSU graduate with an MA degree in Kinesiology and taught for the Kinesiology Department back in 2004-2007. I am currently a lecturer teaching general education, upper division, and activity classes for our department.
I received a B.S. degree in Management and have experience in business operations including staff recruitment and training, and facility management. I worked as a business systems analyst in the past and developed systems and procedures based on given rules and regulations for any given business. I am also a Personal Trainer (CPT) through the NASM and have worked with people with various physical and mental abilities.
I am a multi-national individual, Turkish-American, born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. I am also mother to my awesome daughter, Duru, and grandmother (!) to our lovely cat, Dusty :). I strive to stay healthy and active as much as my body allows. I love being outdoors, especially on the beach dancing with the waves of the ocean!
I truly believe in the importance of physical activity and health, and am passionate about sharing my knowledge. I consider fitness a broad concept integrating a high quality nutrition/supplementation, efficient recovery, accurate rehabilitation/healing methods, and mental health. You can find me in the Exercise Physiology lab, YUH 233 most of the time.
Expertise, Research & Teaching Interests
Applied Exercise Physiology focusing on the metabolic demand of exercise, the effect of high intensity interval training on the resting metabolic rate, and metabolism and exercise.
Also done studies specifically on “Pregnancy and Exercise” and “Training for Climbing”.
Courses Taught
KIN/CHAD 67 Development of Human Potential (no longer offered)
KIN/CHAD 149 Children’s Health and Fitness
KIN/NuFS 163 Physical Fitness and Exercise
KIN 180 Senior Seminar
KIN 157 Physiological Assessments (Labs)
KIN 70 Introduction to Kinesiology (Labs)
Activity Courses:
KIN 31 Body Sculpting
KIN 32 Aerobics
KIN 34 Step Training
KIN 35 Beginning (35A) and Intermediate (35B) Weight Training
KIN 36 Conditioning through Cross Training
Selected Publications
Plato, P., McNulty, M., Crunk, S. M., & Tug Ergun, A. (2008). Predicting lactate threshold using ventilatory threshold. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 29, 732-737.
Selected Presentations
Master’s Thesis: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Responses to Non-contact Kickboxing in Females.
This study investigated whether non-contact cardio kickboxing elicits a sufficient intensity to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and maintain body weight.
Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Denver (2006).
Professional Affiliations
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Professional Member
