Dr. Daniel Howell

Associate professor of Biology, Liberty University

Daniel Howell is an Associate Professor of Biology at Liberty University where he teaches Human Anatomy & Physiology, as well as Biochemistry. Prior to joining the faculty at LU, Daniel performed biomedical research at both Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina and McGill University in Montreal. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 1998.

Daniel is an avid barefoot hiker and barefoot runner. Since he started running barefoot in 2007 he’s logged more than two thousands barefoot miles. In the past few years he’s done considerable research on shoes and foot biomechanics and discovered that shoes are more than just uncomfortable, they are literally harmful to our bodies. In fact, virtually every foot ailment in Western society can be traced back to the shoe! Daniel has increasingly spent more time barefoot and will often be found going barefoot for days or weeks at a time; his students call him their Barefoot Professor. In his new book, The Barefoot Book, Daniel reveals the damage done to our bodies by shoes and the benefits of going without them. He also gives tips on how to start living a more shoeless life.

Although Liberty University is a teaching institution, Daniel finds some time for research. He recently devised a new method for determining foot arch heights from footprints and is currently comparing the arches of shoe-wearing people to those who typically go barefoot.

Daniel is a member of the of The Society for Barefoot Living.

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