Zachary (Zacko) Rightmire
Clinical Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Kinesiology
EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Kinesiology | Auburn University |
| M.S. | Exercise Science | Auburn University |
| B.A. | Exercise Science | Bellarmine University |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Esports and Exercise
Lactate Metabolism
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The Role of Lactate in Cellular Metabolism
The Effect of Endurance Training on Esports Performance
The Effect of Resistance Training on Esports Performance
HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS
- Rightmire, Z. B., Agostinelli, P. J., Murrah, W. M., Roper, J. A., Roberts, M. D., & Sefton, J. M. (2024). Acute High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Esport Performance in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Competitors. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 2(1).
- Rightmire, Z. B. (2022). The Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise on eSport Performance (Doctoral dissertation, Auburn University).
- Ferguson, B. S., Rogatzki, M. J., Goodwin, M. L., Kane, D. A., Rightmire, Z., & Gladden, L. B. (2018). Lactate metabolism: historical context, prior misinterpretations, and current understanding. European journal of applied physiology, 118, 691-728.
- Mota, G. R., Rightmire, Z. B., Martin, J. S., McDonald, J. R., Kavazis, A. N., Pascoe, D. D., & Gladden, L. B. (2020). Ischemic preconditioning has no effect on maximal arm cycling exercise in women. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120, 369-380.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Rightmire believes in an active, question and answer environment with a strong focus on student growth and success in future courses. Students are rewarded for attending class daily, actively engaging with the material both in and outside of the classroom, and retaining basic information from prerequisites so the knowledge can be applied. To be able to succeed in their courses, students must understand the material well enough to teach it to someone without an exercise science background. Each semester Dr. Rightmire holds nearly 20 office hours per week, and students are encouraged to attend as often as possible.
“Many of my students have graduated from The University of Alabama and gone on to be more successful than I am. I consider this to be my life’s greatest accomplishment.”
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Zachary “Zacko” Rightmire graduated with their M.S. and Ph.D. from Auburn University with a strong focus in metabolism and exercise cognition. While they occasionally publish on the effects of exercise on Esports Performance, they are first and foremost an educator. To be successful in Dr. Rightmire’s classes, students must understand the material well enough to teach it to their friends and family. Dr. Rightmire’s classes place a heavy focus on the application of cardiovascular and metabolic mechanisms to explain how the human body improves due to chronic exercise. Students can expect to take at least one of the following classes with Dr. Rightmire before they graduate: KIN 300, KIN 303, KIN 366, KIN 367, KIN 392, KIN 493, and KIN 494.