Faculty and Staff

The H.J. Lutcher Stark Center was founded in 2008 by Drs. Terry and Jan Todd who served as its co-directors. During the Center’s first decade, Terry Todd watched with great pride as The Center grew into a world-renowned research center and library dedicated to the study of strength, fitness and general sports. Following his death in 2018, Dr. Jan Todd now directs the Center’s various initiatives and functions.

Terry Todd, 1938-2018

Founder and Director, 2009-2018

Terry Todd first imagined a library dedicated to the study of exercise and strength during his doctoral work at UT-Austin...

Jan Todd

Stark Center Director

Jan Todd , Ph.D., the Roy J. McLean Fellow in Sport History - is both a sport historian and a well-known expert on strength training.

Our mission-critical tasks of archiving, curation, digitization, exhibit maintenance, and research assistance could not happen without our incredible staff. Cindy Slater – the Head Librarian at the Stark Center – leads our efforts to catalog, sort, and maintain all of our collections.  Our full-time archivists Ryan Blake, Christy Toms, and Geoff Schmalz – along with graduate assistants from the School of Information – help make our collections accessible to researchers from around the world.

Ryan Blake

Digital Archivist

Ryan Blake is a native Austinite and second generation Longhorn with an MSIS and BA in English, both from the University...

Kyle R. Martin

Curatorial Associate

Geoff Schmalz

Archivist

Geoff Schmalz graduated from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1998. He...

Cindy Slater

Associate Director for Library Services

Cindy Slater comes to the Stark Center from the U.S. Olympic Committee, where she was the Manager of Library & Archives...

Christy Toms

Digital Archivist

Christy Toms is a native Marylander making Texas her new home. She holds a Master of Science in Library and Information...

Kim Beckwith

Assistant Professor of Instruction

Kim Beckwith, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Kinesiology Department.  Alongside her teaching responsibilities, she oversees the Weight...

John D. Fair

Adjunct Professor

John D. Fair, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas...

Conor Heffernan

Assistant Professor of Instruction

Conor Heffernan, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at...

Thomas Hunt

Associate Professor & Graduate Advisor

Thomas M. Hunt, J.D., Ph.D. is Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas...

Tolga Ozyurtcu

Assistant Professor of Instruction

Tolga Ozyurtcu, Ph.D. is a Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University...