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Kevin Ballard
Associate Professor/KNH Graduate Director
Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health

Kevin Ballard, Ph.D.

Contact Info

513-529-9247
Phillips Hall 27
LinkedIn Profile
Google Scholar Profile
PubMed Bibliography
Undergraduate Research Interest - Ballard Lab

Educational Credentials

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Connecticut, Nutritional Sciences
  • Ph.D., Kinesiology, University of Connecticut
  • M.S., Exercise Physiology, University of Louisville
  • B.S., Health and Human Performance, University of Louisville

Courses Taught

  • KNH 382 Physical Activity and Fitness Assessment
  • KNH 442/542 Strength Training and Conditioning
  • KNH 468/568 Physiology of Exercise and Physical Activity
  • KNH 482 Exercise Prescription
  • KNH 621 Research Foundations in Kinesiology and Health
  • KNH 668 Advanced Physiology and Biophysics of Human Activity

Research Interests

My research program investigates the interplay among physical activity, vascular function, and glucose control in both healthy and clinical populations. To support this scholarly agenda, I direct a well-equipped cardiometabolic laboratory within the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health.

Current studies utilize accelerometers to track changes in daily physical activity and examine their impact on key measures of cardiometabolic disease risk, including body composition, vascular endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and glucose control (using continuous glucose monitors).

This research actively engages both undergraduate and graduate students, who gain extensive experience across all phases of the research process, including laboratory techniques, study design, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.

Certifications and Honors

  • Member, ACSM Research Review Committee (2022 - present)
  • Editorial Board member, Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (2024 - present)
  • President, Midwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (elected 2022 for three three-year term)
  • Faculty Learning Community Member, Alumni Teaching Scholars (2019-2020)
  • Nominated for E. Phillips Knox Distinguished Teaching Award (2020)
  • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine
  • ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist

Recent Grants

  • PI: Interactive roles of cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity on recovery of impaired glucose and vascular control after reduced physical activity. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 1R15HL177798 ($422,894). 2025.
  • Effects of Diurnal Variation and Acute Exercise on Indices of Vascular Endothelial Function in Young Adults. Miami University College of Education, Health, and Society Research Seed Grant ($5,000). 2019.
  • Effect of Excess Body Mass and Different Exercise Modalities on Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels in Young Adults. Miami University Undergraduate Research Award ($1,000). 2018.
  • Non-Invasive Technology to Assess Cardiovascular and Cerebral Health and Function. Miami University Student Technology Fee Proposal ($27,000). 2018.
  • Non-Invasive Technology to Measure Cardiovascular Responses and Adaptations to Exercise. Miami University Student Technology Fee Proposal ($9,452). 2017.
  • Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Postprandial Vascular Endothelial Function in Overweight and Obese Adults. College of Education, Health, & Society Research Seed Grant ($4,500) and Committee for Faculty Research ($3,000). 2017.
  • Prior Aerobic Exercise to Attenuate Vascular Dysfunction Induced by Prolonged Sitting in Healthy Men. College of Education, Health, & Society Research Seed Grant ($4,500). 2016.

Select Publications

Articles

  • Ballard, K.D., Timmerman, K.L. Editorial: Responses and adaptations to novel exercise modalities. Front Physiol. 2026 Jan 14;17:1782245.
  • Alessio, H.M., Ballard, K.D., Reidy, P.T., Hayward, K.M., Bagg, A.M., Cooley, R.A., O’Connell, M.J., Montoye, A.H.K., Timmerman, K.L. Short term e-bicycle riding results in favorable cardiometabolic shifts in moderately active adults. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2024. 124(7):1969-1977.
  • Alessio, H.M., Timmerman, K.L., Ballard, K.D., Reidy, P.T., Bagg, A.M., Montoye, A.H.K. Health and Environmental Benefits of Riding an Electric Bicycle. ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal. 2024. 28(2):19-25.
  • Ballard, K.D., Timsina, R., Timmerman, K.L. Influence of Time of Day and Intermittent Aerobic Exercise on Vascular Function and Plasma Endothelin-1 in Healthy Adults. Chronobiology International. 2021 Jul;38(7):1064-1071.
  • Timmerman, K.L., Ballard, K.D., Deal, M.A., Tagariello, L.C., Karrow, J.M., Volk, G.A., Meisler, A., Connors, I.D., Mott, R.E. Associations Among Physical Activity Level and Skeletal Muscle Antioxidants in Older Adults. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2020 Aug 12;17(9):895-901.
  • Ballard, K.D., Berry, C.W., Varty, C.J., Arslain, K.B., Timmerman, K.L. Aerobic or Resistance Exercise Performed the Previous Day Does Not Attenuate Postprandial Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Overweight/Obese Adults. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2019;119(8):1855-63.
  • Zaleski, A.L., Panza, G.A., Ballard, K.D., Adams, W., Hosokawa, Y., Pescatello, L.S., Thompson, P.D., Taylor, B.A. The Influence of Compression Socks During a Marathon on Exercise-Associated Muscle Damage. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2019;29(7):724-28.
  • Timmerman, K.L.#, Ballard, K.D.#, Volk, G.A., Deal, M.A., Meisler, A.J., Karrow, J.M., Good, A.P., Reynolds, S.T. (#Equal contribution). Altering Physical Activity Influences Insulin Responses to Glucose Ingestion. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 39(13):972-977, 2018.
  • Fernandez, A.B., Ballard, K.D., Guo, M., Wong, T.Y., Klein, R., Thompson, P.D., Cotch, M.F., McClelland, R.L., Klein, B., Allison, M., Burke, G. Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. PLoS One. 2018 Jul 18;13(7):e0201000.
  • Zhong, F., Mengyang, X., Bruno, R.S., Ballard, K.D., Zhang, J., Zhu, J. Comparative Metabolomics Elucidates Postprandial Metabolic Modifications in Plasma of Obese Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome. Journal of Proteome Research. 17(8):2850-2860, 2018.
  • Taylor, B.A., Panza, G.A., Ballard, K.D., White, C.W., Thompson, P.D. Creatine Supplementation Does Not Alter the Creatine Kinase Response to Eccentric Exercise in Healthy Adults on Atorvastatin. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2018;12:51305-1312.
  • Bhanpuri, N., Hallberg, S., McKenzie, A.L., Ballard, K.D., Campbell, W.W., Phinney, S.D., Volek, J.S. Lipid and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Response to a Type 2 Diabetes Care Model Including Nutritional Ketosis at One Year. Cardiovascular Diabetology. 17(1):56, 2018.
  • McDonald, J.D., Chitchumroonchokchai, C., Jinhui, L., Mah, E., Labyk, A., Reverri, E., Ballard, K.D., Volek, J.S., Bruno, R.S. Replacing Carbohydrate During a Glucose Challenge with the Egg White Portion of Whole Eggs Protects Against Postprandial Impairments in Vascular Endothelial Function in Prediabetic Men by Limiting Increase in Glycemia and Lipid Peroxidation. British Journal of Nutrition. 119(3):259-270, 2018.
  • Taylor, B.A., Zaleski, A.L., Ballard, K.D., Panza, G.A., Fernandez, A.B., Corso, L., Pescatello, L.S., Baggish, A.L., Troyanos, C., and Thompson, P.D. Compression Socks Worn During Flight and Hemostatic Balance in Boston Marathon Runners on Oral Contraceptives. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. 2018;28(3):278-283.
  • Ballard, K.D., Duguid, R.M., Berry, C.W., Dey, P., Bruno, R.S., Ward, R.M., Timmerman, K.L. Effects of Prior Aerobic Exercise on Sitting-Induced Vascular Dysfunction in Healthy Men. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 117(2):2509-2518, 2017.
  • Taylor, B.A., Zaleski, A.L., Ballard, K.D., Panza, G.A., Fernandez, A.B., Corso, L., Pescatello, L.S., Baggish, A.L., Troyanos, C., and Thompson, P.D. Compression Socks Worn During Flight and Hemostatic Balance in Boston Marathon Runners on Oral Contraceptives. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017 Jul 21 [Epub ahead of print].
  • Zhong, F., Xu, M., Bruno, R.S., Ballard, K.D., and Zhu, J. Targeted HPLC-MS/MS Metabolomics Differentiates Metabolic Syndrome from Obesity. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 242(7):773-780, 2017.
  • Ballard, K.D., Gregory, S.M., Taylor, B.A., Thompson, P.D. Short-Term Cessation of Statin Therapy Does Not Alter Aerobic Exercise Performance in Physically Active Older Adults. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 44(1):63-7, 2016.
  • Ballard, K.D. and Bruno R.S. Protective Role of Dairy and its Constituents on Vascular Function Independent of Blood Pressure-Lowering Activities. Nutrition Reviews. 73(1):36-50, 2015.
  • Zaleski, A.L., Ballard, K.D., Panza, G.P., Kupchak, B.R., Dada, M.R., Roman W., Thompson, P.D., Taylor, B.A. The Effect of Compression Socks on Deep Vein Thrombosis Risk in Marathon Runners. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 43(4):336-41, 2015.
  • Sanders, K., Maresh, C.M., Ballard, K.D., Creighton, B.C., Pryor, J.L., Kraemer, W.J., Volek, J.S., Anderson, J.M. Habitual Exercise May Maintain Endothelium-Dependent Dilation in Overweight Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 23(1):40-46, 2015.
  • Taylor, B.A., Zaleski, A.L., Capizzi, J.A., Ballard, K.D., Troyanos, C., Baggish, A.L., D’Hemecourt, P.A., Dada, M., Thompson, P.D. Influence of Chronic Exercise on Carotid Atherosclerosis in Marathon Runners. BMJ Open. 4(2):e004498, 2014.
  • Ballard, K.D., Quann, E.E., Kupchak, B.R., Volk, B.M., Kawiecki, D.M., Fernandez, M.L., Seip, R.L., Kraemer, W.J., Maresh, C.M., Volek, J.S. Dietary Carbohydrate Restriction Improves Blood Pressure, Microvascular Function, and Cellular Adhesion Molecules in Individuals Taking Statins. Nutrition Research. 33(11):905-912, 2013.
  • Ballard, K.D., Mah, E., Guo, Y., Pei, R., Volek, J.S., Bruno, R.S. Low-Fat Milk Ingestion Prevents Postprandial Hyperglycemia-Mediated Impairments in Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome. Journal of Nutrition. 143(10):1602-1610, 2013.

Book Chapters

  • Ganio, M.S. and Ballard, K.D. Considerations for Exercise in Stressful Environments: Hot, Cold, High Altitude and Polluted Air. In: ACSM’s Clinical Exercise Physiology, 2nd edition. 2024. Thompson, W.R. (Ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD. 2024.
  • Armstrong, L.E., Ganio, M.S., and Ballard, K.D. Considerations for Exercise in Stressful Environments: Hot, Cold, High Altitude and Polluted Air. In: American College of Sports Medicine’s Clinical Exercise Physiology, 1st edition. Thompson, W.R. (Ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 2019.
  • Volek, J.S., Ballard, K.D., and Forsythe, C.E. An Overview of Creatine Metabolism. In: Essentials of Creatine in Sports and Health. Stout, J.R., Antonio, J., Kalman, D. (Eds.) Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 2007.

In the News

Exercise Science. Move More. Live Longer - with Kyle Timmerman and Kevin Ballard

Everybody knows that exercise is good. But that is not the whole story. It’s not just that exercise is good. It’s also that not exercising is actually so much worse. A general lack of physical activity can lead to many diseases and even cancer.

So in this podcast episode, we speak with Kyle Timmerman and Kevin Ballard. Two accomplished exercise science researchers who have just been named Fellows in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Their work explores the mechanisms behind exercise science and how living a much healthier life might not actually be that hard for most people.