The Human Performance Assessment Center (HPAC) is the outcome of a vision by faculty members in the Exercise Science Program. Marquette University’s 24th president, Dr. Michael Lovell, initiated the Innovation Fund and the first round of awardees included the HPAC. This allowed for capital equipment purchases and renovations in Cramer Hall to develop a laboratory to support the HPAC mission. The HPAC began supporting research in the department in early 2016, hired Director Toni Uhrich and officially opened its doors that summer. It is a fee-for-service model and is housed in the College of Health Sciences. 

Mission

The HPAC mission is threefold: teaching of the next generation of exercise scientists; assessment of human health and physical performance; and research collaboration in human movement across all abilities.

Director
Toni D Uhrich, MS ACSM-EP 

Clinical Assistant Professor, Exercise Science

Toni is an ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist with a master’s degree from UMass–Amherst and a bachelor’s in biochemistry from Florida State University. After grad school (1988-89), she spent a year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as a sports scientist testing various U.S. national team members. She has been teaching Marquette undergraduate exercise physiology labs since 1995. Prior to directing the HPAC, she did research in physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, specifically on blood pressure control and endothelial function related to ischemic reperfusion injury. As the director of the HPAC, she is committed to the three pillars of their mission: teaching, research and testing. Her goal is to bring together minds from across the campus, have a positive impact on Marquette student trainees and provide high-end service to the community at large.

Ancillary Members

Faculty from Marquette, both in and out of the department, and from the Medical College of Wisconsin are available to assist or collaborate with HPAC activities as additional expertise is required.

Student Interns

One to four interns per semester spend time learning about human performance testing. They learn exercise testing, communication of results, the administrative side of the business, are engaged in the research process and are encouraged to present at scientific meetings.