Sport and Exercise Psychology

Hometown:
San Diego, California

Previous Education:
B.S. Psychological Sciences, Minor in Sociology, Purdue University (2018)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

Internship Site:
Asbury University Athletics

About Me:
I am a second year graduate student in the SEP program. I’ve always held an interest for physical activity and sport, but never found an avenue to pursue that interest until I took my first Sport and Exercise Psychology course at Purdue in 2016.  Having competed in cheerleading and gymnastics since I was young, I connected pretty strongly with the need for mental performance training and began my search for the perfect program. I attended the Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium hosted by UK in 2019 and fell in love with their program. In the summer of 2019, I got married and moved to Lexington to pursue my master’s degree. In addition to my studies here at UK, I have been a teaching assistant within the Department of Psychology and will be completing my internship with Asbury University Athletics. Upon completion of this program, I intend to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and enter the field. As a performance consultant, I hope to either provide mental skills training to soldiers in the U.S. military or start my own practice here in Lexington. Outside of academia, I enjoy spending time outside, attending sporting events, and hanging out with my husband and dog.

Hometown:
Purcellville, VA

Previous Education:
B.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Minors in Psychology & Scholastic Coaching, Presidential Honors, West Virginia University (2020)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
This is my first year in the graduate program here at the University of Kentucky. I came from WVU, and had many professors there that helped convince me that UK was the next place for me. I visited the campus for the first time in early 2020 and completely fell in love with the city of Lexington. I have spent my entire life around sports: I played softball for 9 years, I rode horses for roughly 13 years, I was a Varsity Cross Country, Track, and Gymnastics in high school. I find the role of psychology within sports to be important and in some cases overlooked. Upon the completion of my graduate program at UK, I hope to earn my CMPC and possibly go on to a PhD program for Sport and Exercise Psychology. The sports that I hope to work with in the near future include Professional Bull Riding, Rodeo, and Supercross & Motocross. In addition to my commitment to my studies: I help train and handle Thoroughbred racehorses; and I enjoy running, hunting, and being with my family and pets.

Hometown:
Cleveland, Ohio

Previous Education:
B.S. Psychology, University of Kentucky (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track

Internship Site:
Morehead State University Athletics

About Me:
I graduated from the University of Kentucky with my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology in May, 2019. During my time in undergrad, I was fortunate enough to work with UK Athletics as a tutor, which is where I discovered my desire to work with the collegiate athletic population. Having attended the Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium hosted by UK in 2019 solidified my desire to remain at UK to pursue my masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology. During my time in the program I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for the EdLife Living Learning Program. I also am an intern at the University of Kentucky’s Sports Medicine Research Institute where I work on the Active Women’s Health Initiative. In my spare time, I enjoy running and playing intramural sports with my fellow SEP program members. Following the completion of my degree I plan to pursue my MD and eventually practice as a team physician.

Hometown:
Waldorf, MD

Previous Education:
B.S. in Sports and Exercise Psychology, West Virginia University

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

Internship Site
Kentucky State University Athletics

About Me:
I am a second year student from Waldorf, MD.  In 2019, I graduated from West Virginia University with my BS in Sports and Exercise Psychology. During my time at WVU I was selected to be a peer mentor for those within my major, studied abroad in Costa Rica, and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc among other things. In my free time you can find me watching or reading anything sports related. I have a huge passion for sports which has driven me to sport psychology and more. My desired career path is to become a sports journalist at the local or national level for a college or professional sports team. Thus, after the completion of this degree I plan on obtaining another masters degree in journalism. Although sports journalism does not align directly with sports psych, I would still like to establish myself in the sport psych world by having a private practice where I specialize in mental performance and performance enhancement. If all goes well I will be an established sports journalist who also has a good reputation in the sport psychology world.

Hometown:
Perth/Australia

Previous Education:
B.A. Psychology, University of Kentucky (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

Internship Site:
TBD

About Me:
I’m in my second year of this program after graduating from UK with a degree in psychology. I am also a member of the football team and in 2019 I made the All-American team as a punter along with winning the Ray Guy Award given to the best judged punter nationally in the college system. Prior to UK I played professional Australian Rules Football (AFL) for the Fremantle Dockers for three years. After completing the program, I hope to pursue CMPC certification and become a head coach of an AFL team. I believe that successful coaching occurs when there is a strong understanding of how and why athletes do certain things. Thus, the knowledge gained from this program will help me continue to craft my coaching philosophy and put me in a position where I am able to maximize athlete performance, both on and off the field.

Hometown:
Rome, Georgia

Previous Education:
B.S. Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Creighton University (2016)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track

Thesis Topic:
Self-efficacy in ACL-R recovering patients Smith

About Me:
I am a second year student in the SEP program. I played soccer at Creighton University for all four years of my undergrad. After I finished at Creighton, I signed to play professionally in the Philadelphia Union organization. I stayed in Philadelphia for two years and now I’m pursuing my degree at UK. While playing, I spent a lot of time working with sport psychologists and thought it would be something I could really see myself doing at the culmination of my playing career. My research interest is the psychology of injury. My goal is to obtain my PhD in sport and exercise psychology with an emphasis on the psychology of injury once I’ve finished my master’s. I love getting to use my experiences to help athletes manage situations that might arise in their careers on and off the field, court, etc. I aspire to become a CMPC and work with college and professional athletes. Outside of academics, I enjoy going for a run, going hiking, or enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

Hometown:
Rochester, NY

Previous Education:
B.S. Psychology, University of Kentucky (2020)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
As a former elite gymnast, my love for sports was cultivated at a very young age. I struggled with countless injuries and mental toughness, and these experiences inspired me to pursue a Master’s in Sport Psychology. I believe I offer a unique perspective in the world of sport and am beyond excited to continue my education at the University of Kentucky.

My desired field of study is to focus on the psychology of injuries and the effects they have on an athlete’s recovery and performance. Injuries are inevitable in sports, and I believe it’s important to provide athletes with the skills and tools to overcome the challenges injuries may pose. I intend on taking the CMPC exam upon the completion of my Master’s Degree, with hopes of working with collegiate and/or professional athletes.

I am so excited to be a part of the SEP program, and am honored to continue my education at the University of Kentucky.

Go Cats!!

Hometown:
Nicholasville, KY

Previous Education:
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies – Organization and Communication of Ideas, Western Kentucky University (2009);  B.S. Kinesiology – Exercise Science, University of Kentucky (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track

Thesis Topic:
Undecided

About Me:
I am a first-year graduate student at U.K.  Unlike most of my classmates, I came back to school as a non-traditional student after I became interested in fitness and exercise.  I originally planned on working as a personal trainer after graduation and working my way up as a gym manager.  I became interested in sport and exercise psychology during my first semester as a KHP undergrad student taking a class with Dr. Cormier.  Since then, I have decided to take a different career path.

I got my start in sports at a young age in soccer.  I played recreational soccer, and then high school soccer.  As an adult, I coached recreational soccer for my children as well as refereed both recreational and competitive soccer.  I was also a dancer, including competitively and on a dance team in high school.  I met my husband in college and took some time off from school when we got married and had children.  I ended up graduating with my first Bachelor’s in 2009.  It wasn’t until 2014 until I began my current journey.

During my undergrad at U.K., I completed my practicum hours at the Y, where I was then hired on as a Personal Trainer, Membership and Wellness Coach, and Group Exercise Coordinator during school and after graduation.  I graduated Magna Cum Laude from U.K. in May 2019, and took a year to work and gain experience before coming back for my Master’s degree.  I am looking forward to focusing my research more on the exercise side of SEP, and possibly continuing on to get my Doctorate.  I will be a Teaching Assistant this school year for the Life Fitness courses in the KHP department, and I am excited about working with younger students and sharing my passion for what I do with them.

Hometown:
Westerville, OH

Previous Education:
B.A. and B.S. in Psychology, University of Cincinnati (2020)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
I am a first year graduate student originally from Westerville, Ohio. I completed my undergrad at the University of Cincinnati studying psychology. Before that, I was an athlete in high school and a true competitor. For much of my time in high school I was a one sport athlete in golf and competed against the best in the state of Ohio. Golf is a perfect sport to showcase the power of strong mental skills and how psychology influences success in competition. As I tried to excel in the game, I met with a sport psychologist and found a real passion for the field as I experienced it from the client side. As I began my undergrad career, I decided to focus on how to find my way into the sport psychology field. That has led me here, pursuing a master’s degree at UK, for which I am thrilled. My aspirations are to work in applied settings, by getting my CMPC certification and pursuing a PhD in Sport Psychology to become a practicing Sport Psychologist. I hope to work with athletes of all ages and at all levels of sport, but I am most specifically interested in working with those in High School and College. Beyond academics, I love playing and watching sports, golfing frequently, seeing movies, going out to eat, and spending time with friends.

Hometown:
Knoxville, TN

Previous Education:
B.S. in Athletic Training, Emory & Henry College (2018)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

Internship Site:
University of Kentucky Athletics

About Me:
I am a second-year graduate student, originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. I completed my undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Emory and Henry College. I am currently a strength and conditioning coach working directly with Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Cheer, and Dive while also assisting with Baseball, Volleyball, and Women’s Basketball. While at Emory & Henry College I played football and baseball which taught me to appreciate the roles that both the mind and body have on performance. Upon completion of this program, I plan to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant to better enhance the mental and physical skills training of college athletes. Outside of the classroom I enjoy going to UK sporting events, working out, eating, and spending time with my family and friends.

Hometown:
North York, Ontario

Previous Education:
B.A. in Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University (2018), Certificate in Solution-Focused Therapy, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

Internship Site:
Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL Hockey)

About Me:
I am a second-year graduate student, originally from a suburb just north of Toronto, Ontario. Being from Canada, I was raised on hockey. Whether I was playing, coaching, watching, or just talking hockey, I was constantly developing a deeper love and passion for the game. That love and passion for sport, along with my studies in Psychology and Solution-Focused Therapy, led me to the field of Sport Psychology. Following this master’s program, I plan to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), working with professional athletes to enhance and optimize performance through mental skills training. My experience playing roller hockey for Team Canada, in combination with my academic background, gives me a unique perspective of the mental side of sport, which I intend to use to help athletes unlock their performance potential to the fullest extent. Outside of academia, I enjoy yoga, cooking, playing guitar and singing, watching sports, and playing roller hockey.

Hometown:
Brighton, Michigan

Previous Education:
B.S. in Kinesiology, Michigan State University (2020)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
I am a first-year graduate student, from southeast Michigan. I have taken part in all star cheerleading, track and field, and basketball. My main sport was softball, which I played for almost 10 years and have been a high school coach for the past two years. During my time playing softball, I realized how the mental aspect of the game can impact overall performance. However, it wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I found sport psychology. From this, I became a research assistant in the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports. In my last semester, I worked with MSU’s ROTC program to get a better understanding of cadets’ thoughts and behaviors pertaining to their training. I hope to continue working with the military in some capacity. Once I finish my masters, I plan to become a CMPC and work with the Army as a performance expert.

Hometown:
Lexington, KY

Previous Education:
B.S. Sport Management, University of Florida (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
I am a first-year graduate student, born and raised in Lexington, but completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. I was recruited to run XC and Track for the University of Florida after winning 7 individual state titles throughout my middle and high school career. During my running career at UF, I was able to fully understand the toll D1 college athletics can have on the mental health of students-athletes. My education and work experience in sport management taught me about the business of sports, but my passion lies in wanting to help student-athletes reach their full potential within their sport and everyday life through the practice of psychology. After completing the SEP Masters degree, my goal is to move into a Sport Psychology PhD program, as well as become a CMPC, so I can ultimately counsel and work with student-athletes. In my free time, I enjoy cycling and running, watching sporting events, and spending time with friends and family.

Hometown:
Weston, Massachusetts

Previous Education:
A.B. in Psychology – Cognitive Neuroscience track, Harvard University (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track

About Me:
I am a first-year graduate student originally from a town just outside of Boston, Massachusets. Sports have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was a gymnast for 11 years before switching to diving in high school, and dabbled in soccer, lacrosse, and track and field along the way. I continued my diving career in college, competing all four years as a member of Harvard’s Women’s Swimming and Diving team. Throughout college I found that all of my extracurricular activities revolved around working with athletes, so I decided to combine my love of sports, working with athletes, and psychology by pursuing my master’s in Sports Psychology at UK. Upon completion of my degree I plan on attending medical school to become a physician, with an interest in pursuing sports medicine. In my spare time I enjoy photography, cooking, watching sports, working out, and spending time with friends and family.

Hometown:
Louisville, Kentucky

Previous Education:
B.A. Integrated Strategic Communications, University of Kentucky (2019)

Current Degree:
M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track

About Me:
I am a second-year graduate student, originally from Louisville, Kentucky. I completed my undergraduate degree in Integrated Strategic Communications with a minor in Family Sciences. During Undergrad, I was on the University of Kentucky volleyball team and won 2 SEC Championships as a student-athlete. After graduation, I began interning inside of the UK Athletic Department’s Student-Athlete Experience Division, with my focus being Community Engagement. This internship blossomed into a graduate assistant position that I now hold. Upon completion of the SEP program, I plan to further my career inside of the realm of Student-Athlete Experience in a Division I Athletic Department. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy hanging out time with my friends and family, travelling, and most importantly, my wiener dog, Wallace.

Hometown:
Winchester, MA

Previous Education:
B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Mississippi, M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology (2017), and M.S. in Counseling Psychology (2019), University of Kentucky

Current Degree:
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology

Internship Site:
Lexington VA Hospital

About Me:
I am a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky. I have a wide variety of research interests including student athlete help-seeking behavior, therapeutic process and outcomes, multicultural competence in sport psychology, and the intersection of sport psychology and psychotherapy. I am the founder and director of the UKY Sport and Counseling Psychology Research Team. Currently we are working on a study examining multicultural awareness of sport psychology practitioners in the United States, in addition to other research projects. As a therapist I am particularly interested in depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, identity development, life transitions, interpersonal issues, career counseling, and sport performance. I have completed practicum placements at the UK Graham Office of Career Management, UK Alumni Association Career Services, and UK’s Counseling Center.

Hometown:
Marion, Indiana

Previous Education:
B.S. in Psychology, Indiana University (2018), M.S. in Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky (2020)

Current Degree:
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology

Internship Site:
University of Kentucky Counseling Center

About Me:
I am a third-year doctoral student in UK’s Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. I completed my undergraduate degree with a B.S. in Psychology at Indiana University in 2018. During my time there, I was an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Joel Wong’s lab where I primarily focused on positive psychology, as well as having worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Linda Smith’s Cognitive Development Lab. Additionally, I was a TA for Dr. Jeff Huber’s class, The Psychology of Coaching and Motor Performance. While at Kentucky, I have continued my passion for teaching by being a teaching assistant for Intro to Psychology during the 2018-2019 year and as a teaching assistant for Social Psychology during the 2019-2020 year. Regarding clinical work, I was the Transylvania University sport psychology consultant for the 2019-2020 year and I have spent the past four years working for Dr. Alison Arnold, a leading sport psychology consultant for USA Gymnastics. I am currently part of Dr. Joseph Hammer’s research lab, looking at the integration of counseling into sport and performance psychology with my recent work looking at different aspects of identity in sport contexts. I also serve as the Professional Development Officer for the Sport and Exercise Graduate Psychology Club and am happy to answer any questions via email! e.murphy@nulluky.edu.

Hometown:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Current Degree:
B.A. Psychology with a Certificate in Social Sciences Research (in progress)

About Me:

I am an undergraduate senior at the University of Kentucky pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I hope to further my education with a Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology. During my sophomore year, I began my research experience in the P20 Motivation and Learning Lab. I ended up presenting at the Midwestern Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS) and at the UK Spring Research Conference. My study focused on academic self-efficacy in first year student-athletes compared to non-athletes. At MSEPS, I learned about the various topics that are studied within Sport Psychology. As a member of the Swimming and Diving team here at the University of Kentucky, I have found that I love helping my teammates achieve their goals. As a team, we have achieved 3rd at the SEC Championships twice and consistently finish in the top 15 teams at the NCAA Championships. Also, we routinely earn the highest average team GPA in UK’s athletic department. That being said, I find it fascinating to know all the factors that contribute to the success of a team. In the future, I hope to be able to help teams and individuals reach their full potential inside or outside of their sport or exercise. In my free time, I love to go to the horse parks, cook, and practice yoga.

Hometown:
Louisville, Kentucky

Previous Education:
B.A. in Psychology (2017) and M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology (2020), University of Kentucky

Current Degree:
M.S. Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky

Internship Site:
Transylvania University Athletics

About Me:

I am a second-year master’s student in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Kentucky. I previously graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2017 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Business, where I also went on to receive my M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2020. As an undergraduate, I studied creativity in virtual worlds as part of Dr. Philipp Kraemer’s research lab. More recently, my research interests include mindfulness, athlete mental health, the integration of sport and counseling psychology, and the use of outcome measurement in sport psychology. I previously worked for UK athletics in an academic support role for members of the men’s and women’s basketball, rifle, and tennis teams, and am currently an academic coach with Transformative Learning at UK. In the fall of 2020, I will begin completing my practicum as a sport psychology consultant for Transylvania University Athletics. Outside of work and school I enjoy staying active, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.