From Clinical Physiology to Higher Education
Dr. Langston’s early aspirations of becoming a physical therapist shifted during an undergraduate internship with a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, where she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of lifestyle changes.
“As someone who spent countless hours in hospitals as a patient during my high school and early college years, I was fascinated by the healing effects lifestyle modifications can have on the human body,” she shares. “I was able to witness the transformative power of exercise, diet, and psychosocial skills on patients’ health and quality of life.”
Dr. Candace Langston at the 2024 ACSM annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
That experience led her to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, earning certifications from both the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). After working for several years as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, she came to a pivotal realization that her greatest joy came from teaching.
“Teaching provides me an everyday opportunity to invest in the lives of others,” says Dr. Candace Langston.
After stepping away from clinical work, Dr. Langston joined St. Andrews University in 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Sports Performance, Health, and Fitness, a role that confirmed her love for education.
Dr. Candace Langston (center) with four seniors presenting on their senior internships in December 2024 at St. Andrews University (Laurinburg, North Carolina).
Why the Online EdD in Kinesiology?
A year after beginning her teaching career, she enrolled in CSP’s program. When researching doctoral options, “CSP stood out.” She admired the breadth of classes that would expose her to a variety of topics within the exercise science field.
“When I inquired about the program, I was impressed with the warm welcome I received from the admissions team,” she recalls. “They allowed me to make the decision that was best for me and never pressured me into a decision.”
For working professionals asking how to balance a career and a doctorate, Dr. Langston points to the format as a deciding factor. The online flexibility enabled her to continue working and stay involved in the lives of her loved ones.
“The biggest benefit of completing this program online was the ability to fit it into my schedule.”
Researching Body Image in Female Athletes
During her time at CSP, Dr. Langston’s research combined her academic background with a deep personal passion. Her dissertation was titled “The unique relationship between perceived body image, measured body composition, and self-efficacy in female collegiate athletes.”
Through her interactions with college students, she witnessed the impact that perceived body image had on their moods, perspectives, and self-respect. She worked with her dissertation chair to further develop this topic, ultimately making the decision to include self-efficacy as an additional variable.
“This topic helps us go beyond the surface and fully understand how unnecessary pressures affect the whole person,” Dr. Langston explains.
“This allows us to shift the focus away from the external and towards the person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health.”
Her study, which engaged 75 participants across two universities, is now being prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Contributing to National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines
Demonstrating the high-level industry impact of CSP graduates, Dr. Langston was selected as a contributing chapter author for the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation’s (AACVPR) Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines (6th Edition).
She collaborated with two colleagues on this noteworthy project earlier this year and hopes to continue contributing impactful research to the field on top of her teaching responsibilities.
Dr. Candace Langston presenting on her dissertation topic at the College Sport Research Institute in Columbia, South Carolina, in March 2025.
Advice for Future Doctoral Students
Reflecting on her experiences with CSP faculty, Dr. Langston shares, “In my CSP classes, I learned most about the impact that a caring professor can have on you. Each class that I took, the professors regularly engaged in our classes, something that I’ve carried forward in the online classes that I teach.”
She applies these learnings to her own work right now, as she teaches across multiple institutions with the goal of securing a tenure-track position.
Her advice for future students is to lean into their community and celebrate every win. “There are going to be days when you feel like the program will never end or that you won’t make it through a class. (Spoiler alert: you will!). When you get to the end of those milestones, celebrate in a way that’s meaningful to you, but don’t skip it!”
In addition to celebrating each win with a sweet treat or a nice dinner with family and friends, Dr. Langston’s biggest celebration was when she attended the CSP Commencement Ceremony on campus in December 2025, meeting some of her classmates for the first time in person!
Ready to Move from the Clinic to the Classroom?
Dr. Langston used CSP Global’s 100% online EdD in Kinesiology to transition from clinical physiology to a faculty role. Whether you want to teach, lead, or research, discover how our 100% online kinesiology doctorate fits your life.