Gina Besenyi

Dr. Gina Besenyi is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Kansas State University and Director of the Physical Activity Research in Community Settings (PARCS) Laboratory. Her research focuses on the intersection of physical activity, mental health, and the built and natural environments, with a particular emphasis on leveraging parks and green spaces as scalable, community-based platforms for health promotion. Dr. Besenyi's work centers on developing, implementing, and evaluating nature-based physical activity interventions across clinical and community settings, including populations that experience health disparities such as individuals with serious mental illness, cancer survivors, and rural communities. She has led and collaborated on multiple federally and foundation-funded projects, including an NIMH-funded clinical trial integrating park-based physical activity into mental health services and innovative programs such as Walking in Nature (WIN) for cancer survivors. Her research is characterized by strong community partnerships and a translational approach that bridges public health, healthcare systems, and community organizations to enhance reach, engagement, and sustainability of interventions. Dr. Besenyi also integrates technology (e.g., wearable devices and digital platforms) to support measurement, intervention delivery, and real-world scalability. In addition to her research, Dr. Besenyi is a dedicated educator and mentor, having guided over 55 undergraduate and graduate trainees and contributed to numerous student-led publications and presentations. Her work has been supported by agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has been recognized for its impact on advancing equitable access to nature-based health promotion.