How We Started

Founder Jack Kelly The Human Performance Laboratory was founded by Dr. John M. Kelly, a gentleman and a scholar known to his friends as Jack.

He joined St. Cloud State University in 1969 to develop and strengthen sport science courses within the Health, Recreation, and Physical Education Department. During his time at St. Cloud State University, he:

  • Developed high-quality undergraduate courses in anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, and exercise physiology. He was known as a master teacher, and his exercise physiology course was a favorite among students from many departments.
  • Collaborated with several St. Cloud physicians on a 10-year study examining the benefits of physical activity on cardiovascular health, involving 160 community members.
  • Created an Adult Fitness Program that continues to thrive today. It remains a valuable resource for both the community and students. His goal was to help people develop healthier lifestyles.
  • Launched an Exercise Science graduate program in the late 1970s as a "special studies" master's degree. In 1993, it became a formal Exercise Science degree with emphases in biomechanics and exercise physiology.
  • Was joined by faculty members Glenn Street, a biomechanist; Dave Bacharach, an exercise physiologist; and John Seifert, also an exercise physiologist.
  • In 1980, oversaw the relocation of the lab from a small room in Halenbeck Hall to a new 2,600-square-foot facility in the same building. This is the same lab space still in use today.

Dr. Kelly retired in 1997.

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