Dr. Megan Wenner | Director/Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, University of Delaware, Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology

mwenner@udel.edu

Megan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at the University of Delaware. She received her PhD from the University of Delaware and completed postdoctoral training at The John B. Pierce Laboratory. Her research focuses on women’s health and cardiovascular function. Her most recent work examines the impact of ovarian hormones on vascular signaling mechanisms in women throughout the lifespan, with a particular focus on Endothelin-1 (ET-1). She also investigates mechanisms regulating blood pressure in women, and through collaborations with Drs. William Farquhar and Sean Stocker, examines the effects of salt on blood pressure control.

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Dr. Virginia Nuckols | Postdoctoral Fellow

gnuckols@udel.edu

Ginny completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland and her PhD in Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa. She has previous experience investigating the effects of hypertensive pregnancy disorders on maternal brain health. Her research interests include cardiovascular regulation in pregnancy and the effect of hypertensive pregnancy disorders on maternal vascular health across the lifespan. She is also interested in biobehavioral factors that contribute to cardiovascular health during and after pregnancy.

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Shane McGinty | PhD Student

smcginty@udel.edu

Shane received both his Bachelor and Master of Science in Exercise Science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He has experience in both basic and applied sciences having conducted previous research with both professional sports teams and the National Institutes of Health. Shane’s research interests include the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating cardiovascular function and the areas of the brain responsible for this. He is currently studying autonomic function and central autonomic regulation in women who are transitioning through menopause.

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Angelica DeVecchio | PhD Student

adelvec@udel.edu

Angelica completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at the University of Scranton and her Master of Science in Exercise Science at Montclair State University. She has previous experience researching blood pressure changes throughout different resistance exercise protocols in young women. She is currently interested in studying vascular function in women throughout the lifespan and the effects of estrogen on vascular function. Outside the lab Angelica enjoys distance trail running and volunteers for a local animal shelter.

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Ally Schwab | PhD Student

allyschw@udel.edu

Ally completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Physiology from Plymouth State University and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Delaware. Her research interests focus on cardiovascular physiology, sex differences in disease progression, and intervention treatments for cardiovascular disease. Ally is currently studying the effects of hormone therapy on women’s cardiovascular health. In her free time, Ally enjoys golfing, snowboarding, and cooking.

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Kathy Masso | Lab Coordinator

kcmasso@udel.edu

Kathy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Delaware and later a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She has clinical experience in high risk maternal fetal medicine. She managed the Cardiovascular and Vascular Research labs at UD and advised department undergraduates pursuing careers in health sciences before joining the Women’s Cardiovascular Research Lab. Understanding cardiovascular disease risk as women age is of particular interest. Kathy stays active hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and tiring out her Australian Shepherd.

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Past Lab Coordinator
Joshua Hobson, MS