Janis Beaird joined the faculty at UWA in 1994. She received her B.S. from Illinois State University with a major in physical education. She then obtained an M.S. in health education from the University of Illinois. Dr. Beaird received an Ed.D. from the University of Alabama, with her work focusing on exercise physiology. She worked for six years as a teacher and coach at junior and senior high schools, and spent three years as a Health Educator III at the Nebraska State Health Department. She is now a vital member of the UWA faculty, teaching a variety of courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Applied Nutrition and Medical Terminology. According to Dr. Beaird, her interest lies in "human physiology, how the body works." Dr. Beaird is active in research into heat stress.