‘Dynamic Duo’ impact exercise science through undergraduate research at Kennesaw State

KENNESAW, Ga. | May 8, 2025

Kaden Buford and Kayla Anderson
Kaden Buford and Kayla Anderson
Kennesaw State University senior Kaden Buford likes being hands-on with exercise science, immersing in a clinical environment and helping people heal from injuries. Her classmate Kayla Anderson, on the other hand, prefers research, delving into the scientific “why” using data, experiments, and observation.

Together, they form a formidable team of exercise science majors studying effective measures of muscle function and supporting each other both in and out of the lab. Recently, they worked together on three research projects, and Anderson presented her findings at the spring Symposium of Student Scholars.

“Kaden and Kayla are a dynamic duo,” said Garrett Hester, associate professor of exercise science and mentor to both Anderson and Buford. “They’ve had such a full experience at KSU, both with research and the exercise science majors club, their Honors capstones, and they truly support each other. It’s been great to see.”

The duo have taken different paths to Commencement before landing in Hester’s lab. Buford originally wanted to study nursing but shifted gears to help people in a healthcare setting in a different way.

“Much like nursing, exercise science is person-based and allows you to make an impact on so many lives,” she said. “Through exercise science I also got into research, which has been a great experience for me.”

Similarly, Anderson arrived at KSU with a biochemistry interest but soon had a change of heart.

“People say to study something that you're passionate about, and yes, I'm passionate about science and math, but I'm also passionate about health and wellness,” she said. “When I was looking at research areas and career paths, exercise science was more catered to what I like to do. There’s still that physiology side of it that I excel in, but it's also practical, it’s related to health and wellness, and I get to work with people."

They worked together in Hester’s lab with 2024 master’s graduate Lacey Harper on her study of the efficacy of strength training among older women. Later, they took on their own projects. For their capstone projects in the KSU Journey Honors College, the duo investigated muscle function from different vantage points. Buford studies non-local muscle fatigue involving hand-grip strength after a brisk walking task, and Anderson’s project is on the effects of mental imagery at different muscle contraction speeds on brain excitability and muscle function. Hester said Anderson is leading the largest undergraduate student-led study to date under his mentorship to date; a four-visit randomized control trial including twenty participants.

Away from the lab, the two head up KSU’s Exercise Science Majors Club – Buford as president, Anderson as vice-president. At the recent Wellstar Research Engagement and Discovery symposium, they presented their research, with Buford winning first place and Anderson finishing second.

“We’ve just kind of been the power duo all year,” Anderson said. “Kaden has been my main supporter for my project. She helped me a lot with pilot testing as well as data collection. She’s been helping with recruitment, so we’ve teamed up between research and the majors club. We work together all the time.”

Buford said the two bring different things to the lab that complement each other and have helped them achieve great heights as students and researchers.

“Even though we're involved in a lot of the same stuff, we think very differently because Kayla's very analytical, and she notices details that I don't,” Buford said. “I'm a very creative person outside of the sciences. We have different traits that come together, and it helps us create good ideas.”

After graduating, Anderson will stay at KSU to pursue her Master of Science in Exercise Science, while Buford will pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Georgia Southern University, which she’ll begin next week.

“Their commitment, their hard work, and their support for each other made a big difference for them at KSU, and those things will serve them well in the future,” Hester said.

— By Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 ɫɫ. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.