Dr. Acevedo is an international leader in the study of psychobiological factors impacting human performance and mental health. He is the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies & Strategic Initiatives in the College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously, he was the Professor and Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, with a 30-year career in research and teaching dedicated to understanding the interaction between psychological stress, physical fitness, and cardiovascular diseases. His research supports the proposition that psychological stress can have deleterious effects on cardiovascular health, and improved fitness may ameliorate these effects. Dr. Acevedo has authored or coauthored more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and he has presented over 130 papers at national andinternational conferences. He is the author of several books including the Oxford Handbook of Exercise Psychology, a comprehensive source on how theories and biological mechanisms behind physical activity can guide interventions and public health practices.