College of Education and Human Development

School of Kinesiology

People

Brianna N. Leitzelar

  • Assistant Professor, Physical Activity and Health Promotion

Brianna Leitzelar, PhD, uses community-engaged and mixed methods to develop accessible and effective movement-based interventions to improve quality of life and reduce long-term symptoms for cancer survivors.

    DEGREES
    • PhD, Kinesiology-Exercise Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • MS, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Ball State University
    • MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Ball State University
      AREAS OF INTEREST
      • Physical activity and sedentary behavior
      • Cancer survivorship
      • Health equity
      • Chronic pain
        BIOGRAPHY

        Brianna Leitzelar, PhD, uses community-engaged and mixed methods (observational, qualitative, quantitative) to develop accessible and effective movement-based interventions to improve quality of life and reduce long-term symptoms for cancer survivors, particularly in communities that experience disproportionate effects of cancer and its treatment. Leitzelar aims to (1) partner with underserved communities to ensure movement-related interventions are accessible, (2) understand how to effectively promote movement among cancer survivors with chronic pain, and (3) determine if exercise can effectively manage cancer-related pain. Leitzelar is also the director of the Lifestyle Activity to Advance Cancer Equity (LACE) Lab.

        Leitzelar is accepting graduate students for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

        Honors and awards

        • American Cancer Society 12th Annual Calle and Rodriguez Minority Travel Award for a Top-Ranked Abstract, American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2024
        • Edith Peterson Mitchell Health Equity Travel Scholarship, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, 2022

        Teaching

        • KIN 5125: Advances in Physical Activity and Health
        • KIN 5365: Health Promotion Program Design and Implementation
           
          PUBLICATIONS

          Google Scholar
          UMN Experts
          Orcid ID

          1. Leitzelar B.N., Almassi N.E., Crombie K.M., Andreae S., Winkle-Wagner R, Cadmus-Bertram L., Columna L., Koltyn K.F. (2024). Intervening to reduce sedentary behavior in African American elders: the “Stand Up and Move More” intervention. Health Promotion Perspectives, 14(2), 149.
          2. Leitzelar, B.N., Perna, F., Bluethmann S.M. (2024). Feasibility of a physical activity index in clinical practice: Perspectives of providers and cancer patients. Oncology Issues, 39(2), 39-44.
          3. Leitzelar, B.N. & Koltyn, K.F. (2021). Exercise and neuropathic pain: Current impact and mechanisms. Sports Medicine-Open, 7(1), 1-16
          4. Crombie, K.M., Leitzelar, B.N., Almassi, N.E., Mahoney, J., and Koltyn, K.F. (2021). The feasibility and effectiveness of a community-based intervention to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 0733464820987919.
          5. Leitzelar, B. N., Blom, L. C., Guilkey, J., Bolin, J., & Mahon, A. (2020). Regulatory fit: Impact on anxiety, arousal, and performance in college-level soccer players. International Journal of Exercise Science, 13(5), 1430. 
          Headshot of Brianna Leitzelar