Sport and Exercise Psychology

Master of Science, with a Concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology

The field of sport and exercise psychology is an interdisciplinary science that explores the relationship between various psychological factors and participation in sport and/or physical activity. The two-year program in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion offers students the choice to pursue a graduate education in the field of sport and exercise psychology by either following an applied or research track. Each option integrates theory-based research and the application of key concepts associated with performance enhancement and life skill development. In this context, successful completion of this program will result in a strong understanding of the various psychosocial factors that influence sport participation and performance.

Upon admission to the program, students will be assigned a faculty advisor who will assist in course selection and planning. The exact program of study specified in an individual program plan will depend on previous coursework and/or individual goals.

Applied Track Curriculum (Core courses)

Total Hours (minimum): 39

The applied curriculum aims to prepare students for professional certifications (e.g., CMPC) and careers (e.g., sport and performance consultant, coaching, master resilience trainer, strength and conditioning coach, academic advisor, etc.) in applied sport and exercise psychology. In addition to a 300 (minimum) hour supervised internship, students in the applied track will complete graduate coursework in various professional fields related to sport and exercise psychology, including counseling psychology, sport leadership, and exercise science. Students in the applied curriculum will be required to sit for written and oral comprehensive examinations.

View the Applied Track Curriculum

Students in the applied track will have the opportunity to choose from various approved internship sites and settings, allowing them to build a foundation in applied sport and exercise psychology/mental skills training. A certified consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (CMPC) will supervise all internships, preparing students for CMPC designation post-graduation.

Possible internship opportunities include:

Performance Psychology Consultant:
- NCAA Division I, II, III schools
- NAIA schools
- Collegiate Club Sports
- Kentucky High School Athletics Association
Life Skills Coordinator positions at major NCAA institutions
Performance enhancement specialist at a Military Performance Enhancement Center
Local community organizations (e.g., YMCA)
Behavioral Health Consultant – Student rec center/Wellness Program
Performance Enhancement Specialist at major sports facilities (e.g., IMG Academies)
Local coaching workshops
Local marathons or athletic events

Research Track

Research Track Curriculum (Core courses)

Total Hours (minimum): 39

The research curriculum is recommended for students who intend to continue their education at the doctoral level and/or pursue a career in academia. Students in the research track are encouraged to register for an upper-level research and statistics course and will complete a master’s thesis on an original topic related to the psychological aspects of sport and/or physical activity. Students following the research curriculum will be required to sit for an oral defense of their thesis project. In some cases, students in the research track may pursue limited applied experiences (e.g., co-consulting, shadowing, etc.) at the discretion of the program faculty.

View the Research Track Curriculum

Students entering the research track will complete an empirically-based thesis project that will allow students to further their knowledge in a research topic that interests them. Each thesis is expected to explore an original research idea to be submitted for conference presentation, publication in an empirical journal, and/or lead to future dissertation research topics

An undergraduate degree in a field closely related to sport and exercise psychology (e.g., psychology, exercise science, health and/or wellness, health sciences, etc.).
A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (on 4.0 scale)
Personal interview (for those invited)

Required documents to include with application:

A current CV or professional resume.
Three letters of recommendation. At least two must be from a person with direct knowledge of applicants academic capabilities (e.g., instructor, research supervisor, advisor, etc.).
A professional goal statement describing the applicants professional background, motivations for seeking a graduate education in SEP, why the current program and desired “track” are an ideal fit, and career/research aspirations.

The priority application deadline is January 15. We encourage all application materials to be submitted by then to ensure a full review.

Ready to Apply?

Are you ready to take the next step? There's no better time to explore your future in this growing program! Click the Apply Here button below to begin the admissions process.

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Questions?

Contact:

	Dr. Marc Cormier, CMPC Associate Professor and Program Director marc.cormier@uky.edu
	Dr. Ashley Samson, CMPC Professor ashley.samson@uky.edu

More About the Program

Watch an introduction of the program by Dr. Marc Cormier, Program Director!

The mission of the Sport and Exercise Psychology program at the University of Kentucky is to build a community of future practitioners and leaders in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Consistent with our profession, we are committed to justice and equity, through diversity and inclusion. We strive to foster a culture of respect, belonging, and empowerment among our students. As a program, we find value in diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and ideas, and we intentionally seek to embrace and celebrate the unique qualities and identities of our community and beyond. These are the pillars of ethical and successful Sport and Exercise Psychology professionals and are the baseline expectation for our program.

Milestones: Celebrating Five Years!

APA Division 47 Thesis Award – 2017 – Rena Curvey
AASP Dissertation Award – 2019 – Shelby Baez
AASP Early Career Practitioner Award – 2021 – Marc Cormier
UK Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Award – 2021 – Marc Cormier
American Volleyball Coaches Association – AVCA – Diversity Award – 2021 – Sara Parson
AASP Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Advocacy and Social Justice (IDEAS) Award – 2022 – Rena Curvey
AASP Teaching Excellence Award – 2022 – Marc Cormier
Elected to AASP Executive Board as Student Representative – 2022 – Emily Murphy
Lyman T. Johnson Scholar – University of Kentucky 2021-2023 – Kaylee Palomino
Named to inaugural Graduate Program Accreditation Council with AASP – Marc Cormier
100% of graduates enter desired workforce or further graduate programs/medical schools
100% pass rate on first-attempt on the CMPC exam

Meet the Students

Click the photos to learn more about the students in our program.

Photo of Claire Bailey — Claire Bailey

**Hometown:** Fairfax, VA
**Educational Background:** B.S. in Psychology & Minor in Marketing, College of William & Mary (2022)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track
**Funding:** Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Fitness
**Internship Site:** UK Swim & Dive, Henry Clay High School
**Thesis Topic:** Body Image and Eating Behaviors in Collegiate Heptathletes
**About Me:** I am a second-year graduate student originally from the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area. I attended the College of William & Mary where I studied psychology while competing as a Division I heptathlete on the track and field team.
Prior to coming to Kentucky, my research background was in adolescent mental health, health-risk behaviors in college student populations, and military veteran mental health. Once entering the field of sport and exercise psychology, my research foci have shifted to look at body image and disordered eating behaviors in athlete populations and I hope to continue in a similar line of research in a future Ph.D. program.
My draw towards working in a mental health field, mixed with my life-long exposure to many different types of athletes is what inspired me to pursue a masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology. I aspire to become a CMPC and licensed psychologist that specializes in athlete mental health. Helping athletes better their craft through the incorporation of both mental performance and counseling techniques is my dream. I’m grateful to be a part of the SEP family here at the University of Kentucky and I look forward to continuing to pursue my passions here in Lexington and in the experiences that will follow!

Tyler Balfour

**Hometown:** Austin, TX
**Educational Background:**
B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Sport & Exercise Psychology, Philosophy - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Research Track
**Funding:** Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Health Equity Transformation
**About Me:**
I’m a first year graduate student originally from Austin, Texas. I attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville majoring in Psychology and spending a significant portion of that time focused on research. While attending SIUE, I also started working as a freelance/professional coach in esports in my free time, primarily focused on Overwatch. While pursuing my degree in Psychology, I first learned about sports psychology during my classes and quickly fell enamored with the idea of understanding how sports psychology may affect the quickly developing world of esports.
At SIUE, my research focused on skill attainment and the correlations between athletic identity and competitive anxiety in esports athletes. For my Master’s thesis, I hope to expand on these ideas to continue the ongoing effort to understand sports psychology from an esports perspective. For my funding, I currently work as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Health Equity Transformation, working on AppalTRusT and CRST as a part of a team of researchers. The goal of these grants are to conduct rapid surveillance of the tobacco market and studying the impacts in both Kentucky and the greater Appalachian region. As of right now, I’m not completely sure what I am aiming to do post-graduation, but I hope to continue my education and pursue a PhD program. Whether it is research, teaching, or working in an applied setting, I hope to use the skills that I learn here at UK to better support athletes from all different backgrounds.

Bailey Devin

**Hometown:** Austin, TX
**Educational Background:** B.A. Psychology, Baylor University (2023)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**About Me:** I am a first-year graduate student from Austin, Texas. In 2023, I received my Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University where I majored in Psychology with minors in Corporate Communication and Forensic Science. While at Baylor, I was involved in research examining the relationship between stress and cardiovascular health and completed my thesis on media representations of female collegiate athletes and gender inequities in college athletics. Working on these projects and learning more about the impacts of psychological stress and exercise on mental health led me to the field of sport psychology. I played basketball for 12 years and am excited to have found my way back to sport as well as to continue exploring these areas as I work with athletes in the future.
Now at UK, I have been able to grow my passion and knowledge of the field and am excited to continue learning and exploring new opportunities. Currently, I serve as a student delegate for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) within the Social Communications and Undergraduate Connections initiatives. After graduation, I want to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and ultimately hope to be an advocate for athletes dealing with mental struggles, working collaboratively with them to enhance their performance through mental skills training.

Kelly Dorn

**Hometown:** Trophy Club, TX
**Educational Background:** B.S. Psychology with concentration in
Pre-Medicine, Georgia State University (2022)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**Funding:** Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Fitness
**About Me:** I am a first-year graduate student originally from Trophy Club, Texas, a small suburban city in the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) area. I attended Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta
where I studied psychology while competing on the Division I Beach Volleyball team. During my time as a Division I athlete I worked, alongside my team, with numerous sports psychologists. I went from being skeptical of the importance of mental performance as a freshman to realizing that developing a strong mental attitude through mental performance skills could drastically improve my game. This is the discovery that has drawn me to the field of sports psychology.
Now that I am pursuing my M.S. in sports psychology I am extremely excited to utilize my own personal experiences along with what I learn in my course work to help athletes in a similar way that I was helped. My next academic steps are to obtain my Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) upon the completion of this degree. I am not fully sure what specific field I want to work in within mental performance but am excited to continue learning about the vast variety of job opportunities within the sports psychology field and discovering what is the best fit for me!

Morgan Findley, MS, CES

**Hometown:** North Baltimore, OH
**Educational Background:**
BS in Kinesiology, Minor in Psychology – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
MS in Exercise Physiology, Concentration in Strength & Conditioning – University of Louisville
**Current Degree:**
MS in Sport & Exercise Psychology, Research Track
**Funding:** Integrated Success Coach in the Transformative Learning Department
**Internship Site:** University of Kentucky STUNT team
**Thesis Topic:** Psychosocial Aspects of Rest in Athletes
**About Me:**
I am a second-year graduate student at the University of Kentucky pursuing the Master’s in Sport & Exercise Psychology. I am also an Integrated Success Coach in the Transformative Learning Dept. where I collaborate with students on promoting growth and wellbeing, creating opportunities to capitalize on their strengths, and building strategies for success in college and beyond. In past internships, I worked with the athletes at the University of Tennessee and Central High School in the area of strength & conditioning and with the Director of Mental Performance at the University of Louisville. My current research projects are on the psychosocial aspects of rest in athletes and on body image dissatisfaction as it relates to team culture in STUNT athletes. Outside of academics, I consider myself a dedicated cinephile and I find joy in hiking, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and (most of all) eating donuts.
I was a collegiate cheerleader throughout my undergraduate and graduate career. In 2021, my team received first place in The Cheerleading Worlds Competition (my 10+ year dream finally coming true). During my time as a competitive athlete, I realized the crucial importance of mental performance skills. I believe Sport & Exercise Psychology is the missing puzzle piece that can take good athletes/performers and turn them into great ones, all while building skills for life beyond their sport. After graduation, I will be pursuing my PhD in Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior from the University of Tennessee. In the future, I hope to work in academia and be a mental performance coach in athletics, business, and exercise settings.

Kathryn Gallenstein

**Hometown:** Winchester, Kentucky
**Educational Background:** B.S. Psychology, Morehead State University (2021)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**Funding:** Graduate Assistant in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Center for Student Success
**Internship Site:** Lexington Sporting Club, UK Women's Golf, Asbury Women's Soccer
**About Me:** I am a Kentuckian through and through, so the chance to pursue an advanced degree at UK is overwhelmingly exciting. I played soccer for 12 years recreationally, on travel select teams, and with school. Throughout my college experience, while being an Honors Program student, completing undergraduate research and practicum, and being socially involved, I genuinely missed being in the sports world and interacting with team dynamics. After taking a Sport Psychology course as an undergrad, I realized I had a passion for studying confidence, leadership, efficiency, decision making, and performance in all areas as it relates to the human experience.
Over the last two years, my interests have changed. The reason I love performance psychology is because of the interaction between human beings. I love the idea of helping people figure out how to make the best decision and what may happen because of it. My next academic steps are to obtain my Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) upon the completion of this degree with the possibility of pursuing another masters degree in organizational psychology. I want my career to be consulting with people to organize their thoughts and feelings whether that be in sports or a business setting. Although my next steps may seem unconventional, the things I have learned in sport psychology have shown me a lot about the different career paths that exist relating to the topics I’m most interested in.

Graysen Jennings

**Hometown:** Ankeny, IA
**Educational Background:** B.A in Psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) 2022
**Current Degree:** M.S in Sport and Exercise Psychology / Applied Track
**Internship Site:** Kentucky State University Baseball, The Yard Youth Sports Facility
**Funding:** Graduate TA in Transformative Learning Department
**About Me:** I’m a second-year graduate student from Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb right outside of Des Moines. From a very early age, I played competitive baseball up until my sophomore year of college at a private Division III university in the Chicago metropolitan area. Afterward, I transferred to UMKC where I found a love for studying psychology in the many interdisciplinary practices it has to offer. One of these practices I gained a greater attraction for was the field of sport psychology; I can thank prominent sport psychologist, Dr. Jacobs, who came to speak at my junior undergrad psychology course for this. Ever since then, I’ve done my research and am grateful to say that this career path is something I’d take great pride in.
The areas of focus within sport psychology that grab my attention are mental health, team cohesion, reflection, meditation, concentration, mental coping skills, confidence, motivation, social facilitation, and a few others. Every one of these principles take me back to a time when I was once that athlete hurdling through successes and struggles. I’m certain that UK will do me justice in bringing to light new ideas and teaching strategies I never knew before. It’s one thing for a field of study to be relatable (which sport psychology definitely is), but it’s another thing to be able to correct, reflect and instruct it long-term.
Here at UK, I intend to broaden my knowledge on semantic information that’ll help me excel for the coming future. I want to happily look back and say this is where I was, and this is how far I’ve come. My dream career is to become a CMPC and director of mental psychology working with collegiate athletes at a division I or division II university.

Padyn Kesselring

**Hometown:** Romeo, MI
**Educational Background:** B.S in Integrative Physiology and Health Sciences - Pre-Medicine, Minor in Chemistry from Alma College 2023
**Current Degree:** M.S in Sport and Exercise Psychology - Applied Track
**Funding:** Graduate Manager for Kentucky Baseball
**About Me:** I am a first-year graduate student originally from the Metro Detroit area. I completed my undergraduate education at Alma College where I majored in Integrative Physiology and Health Sciences while competing as a Division III Baseball player, and captain, of the baseball team. I am currently a Graduate Manager for the UK Baseball team.
Before coming to Lexington, I served as an Assistant Coach under the Hall of Fame Coach Mike Roberts for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where I had to privilege to coach 15 players selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft and a league-best record.
I found my drawing to Sport and Exercise Psychology while competing in college, and plan to obtain my CMPC and remain in baseball while advocating for athlete’s mental health.

Emily Magnone

**Hometown:** Los Angeles, CA
**Educational Background:** B.S. Athletic Training - School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan (2022)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport & Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**Internship Site:** UK Healthcare Sports Medicine Clinic
**Funding:** Athletic Trainer in UK Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Dept. - Musculoskeletal Injury Management Graduate Certificate Program
**About Me:** I grew up in a very active and sport-oriented family. Having the privilege of the (almost) 24/7 perfect Southern California weather, my parents encouraged my twin brother and I to try out basically every sport we could. Throughout my life, I’ve played soccer, indoor volleyball, sand volleyball, track, basketball, field hockey, and gymnastics. My love for sports continued to grow as did my love for anatomy and physiology! That inspired me to pursue further education in the field of kinesiology and more specifically, athletic training.
I made the trek out to the Midwest and received my Bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the great University of Michigan (forever Go Blue!), where I had the opportunity and privilege of working with some amazing D1 athletes during my clinical experiences. I got to work with a multitude of athletes and teams, ranging from Big Ten Champs to gold-medal Olympians! During those four years, I had a wide range of clinical experiences; I worked with the teams’ athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports nutrition department, and sport psychology department. Having the opportunity to be on the “inside” and see the inner workings of these D1 teams and athletes, I discovered my interest and passion to care for these athletes in every way possible, and that led me to sport psychology.
These adventures eventually brought me down here to the University of Kentucky, where I’m now getting my Master’s degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology while simultaneously working as an Athletic Trainer through UK, working with Henry Clay High School, Morton Middle School, and E.J. Hayes Middle School. I’m not 100% sure what I want to do when I grow up, but I’m excited to see where life will take me these next few months as I finish up at UK and beyond! Go Cats!

Patrick Maneval

**Hometown:** Waynesboro, VA
**Educational Background:** B.S. Exercise Science, Psychology, Minors in Biology, Physiology, & Coaching - Shenandoah University
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport & Exercise Psychology, Applied Track; Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching
**Funding:** Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Fitness
**About Me:** I am a first-year graduate student from Virginia. I attended Shenandoah University, where I double majored in Exercise Science and Psychology while competing as a Division III Cross Country and Track athlete at SU. During my time at SU, I served as the Founder and President of Shenandoah University’s chapter of The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit advocacy group for student-athlete mental health. I am currently a member of the UK Cheerleading team.
Before moving to Kentucky, I participated in research pertaining to the perception of Psyching Teams in endurance sport, and am excited to explore more areas of sport, exercise, and performance psychology research.
Throughout my athletic career, I realized how important mental fitness and wellness were for my performance. After originally going to college to become a physical therapist, I found my passion integrating the mental health and performance spheres within athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic. I plan to obtain my CMPC and explore future opportunities, whether that be going into the workforce, obtaining a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, or taking the doctoral route to become a licensed psychologist. The athlete experience is very layered and complex, so enhancing a person’s experience in sport, whether rooted in performance or well-being, is a key element of my drive. My email is patrick.maneval@uky.edu. Feel free to reach out if you have questions!

Ashley Norman

**Hometown:** Mount Olive, NJ
**Educational Background:** B.S. in Psychology & Minor in Education, Florida State University (2022)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**About Me:** I am a first-year graduate student originally from New Jersey. I attended Florida State University where I studied psychology and education while a member of the Marching Chiefs Majorette line. During my time as both a student and performer, I took sport and performance psychology classes while also being expected to perform at a high-level to entertain thousands of people every weekend. After having this unique experience, I was able to realize how beneficial mental performance skills can be in all aspects of life, not just within traditional sport.
One of my biggest goals in the field is to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and focus on making sport psychology more readily available. I hope to specifically work in female dominated sports and with performing arts populations to better support underrepresented areas in the field. While at the University of Kentucky, I have been working with the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services (CATS) as an Academic Services Assistant for Women’s Basketball and Men’s and Women’s Swim & Dive. After working in this role, I would also love to work as an academic counselor within athletics to help student-athletes achieve success both in the classroom and on the field.

Tori Orcutt

**Hometown:** Fort Walton Beach, FL
**Educational Background:** B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky, 2022
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**Funding:** Air Force Reserve Officer Training School (ROTC) scholarship
**About Me:** I grew up in a military family that moved frequently. One of the only constants in our lives was each other and passion for sports. With three siblings, my competitive nature and love for sports only grew with age. My siblings and I played as many sports as we could. Eventually, I was blessed with the opportunity to commit to the Swim Team at the University of Kentucky to compete at the highest level. I also joined the Air Force ROTC program intending to serve my country upon graduation.
I graduated early in 2.5 years with my undergraduate degree in Psychology. Then I entered into the Master’s Program for Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Spring of 2023. I am now in my second year in the Program and will be (hopefully) graduating this Spring 2024. Balancing competing at the Division 1 SEC level, while maintaining my academics, and being involved in ROTC has been quite the demanding challenge. However, this experience and opportunity have been the privilege of a lifetime. I have learned the importance of proactive mental wellness and how pivotal mental training is to performance.
As this last semester comes to a close, I will be finishing up my final season as a collegiate athlete and wrapping up my academic career. Upon graduation, I will be commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and attend pilot training. However, I will apply what I have learned to my career and my community. After my Air Force career, I hope to utilize my degree to help military members with their mental performance.

Lauren Poole

**Hometown:** Crofton, MD
**Educational Background:** B.A. in Sociology, minor in Psychology - University of Kentucky (2022)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology - Applied Track
**Funding:** Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Fitness
**Internship Site:** Transylvania University ; University of Kentucky - Cheerleading
**About Me:** I have been interested in sports for as long as I can remember! Both of my parents are huge sports fans, which has influenced my involvement in athletics. Fun fact in relation to this: my older brother and I both have middle names that are basketball references! My mother swam collegiately for the University of Maryland, which eventually led me here as I was a 4 year member of the Women’s Swim and Dive team. Here, I had the amazing opportunity to compete with my teammates/best friends and along the way I achieved 6x All American status, an individual SEC title, and a team SEC title. My experience competing for Kentucky is what led to my interest in sport psychology. Participating in sessions with the university’s sport psychology staff allowed me to fully understand how important this field is for athletes. I learned how important it is for an athlete to take care of their mental health and how performance does not only improve from the physical training sessions. With this new understanding, I aspire to work with collegiate or professional athletes in relation to sport psychology and their mental health. I feel that having personal experience in elite sports performance as well as a formal education in this field will allow me to be an effective resource for athletes looking for assistance.

Ashlyn Rasberry

**Current Track**: M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology / Applied Track
**Hometown**: Maumelle, Arkansas
**Education**: B.S. - Recreation and Sport Management - University of Arkansas
**Funding:** Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship
**About Me**: Hi! I am a first-year graduate student at the University of Kentucky, pursuing a masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology! In all honesty, I have never been much of an athlete. However, my competitiveness and love for sports environments outshine my lack of athletic ability. My past experiences have been in offering academic support and mentorship to student-athletes, undergraduate students, and elementary students. I also have interned in community outreach with an NFL team! I fell in love with my major during my years of undergrad at the University of Arkansas, and I took great advantage of the abundance of support and opportunities in this field! I am so grateful for this opportunity to extend my education in SEP, and I am extremely excited to take on this endeavor!
My ambition for pursuing this program is to one day excel working in Division-1 college athletics as an Assistant Athletic Director of Student Athlete Development. During my time in SEP, I hope to extend my knowledge more about the impact that social issues have on student athletes, mental health support and management topics that specifically affect minority athletes, shared behaviors of athletes that affect their overall development, and mental health counseling strategies to optimize athlete success both inside and outside their sport. Currently, I also serve as the Marketing TA for Transformative Learning!

Kelley Renner

**Hometown:** El Dorado Hills, CA
**Educational Background:** B.S. Psychology, Minor in Philosophy - University of California, San Diego (2023)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology
**Funding:** Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Fitness
**About Me:** I am a first-year Master’s student in the Sport and Exercise Psychology program, originally hailing from Northern California. I was a student athlete at UC San Diego, earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, minoring in Philosophy, and playing NCAA Division 1 Softball. During my years playing collegiate softball, I was plagued by significant injuries that resulted in mental, emotional, and physical turmoil. My career became commanded by rehab and pain, but, most of all, by the mental struggles and challenges of fighting my way back to my previous level of sport performance both on and off the field. The battle of returning to play the game I love is what introduced me to the field of Sport Psychology, and I have vowed to be a valuable resource for future athletes, someone to whom I wish I had during my comeback journeys.
Following my degree from the University of Kentucky, I aspire to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and be an advocate for athletes in the mental health field. Additionally, I am passionate about spreading awareness to coaches and sport medicine professionals regarding various potential psychological topics that may affect the well-being of athletes. Although I am not sure what my future holds, I may hope to obtain additional research and clinical experience by obtaining my PhD or PsyD. Psychological topics that peak my interest include returning from injury, confidence, fear, trauma, stress, anxiety, and coach-athlete relationships. Ideally, I want to become well rounded in the field of sport and exercise psychology while playing an integral role in the mental and physical rehabilitation of athletes battling injury and other challenges. I am eager to see where my journey takes me and am passionate about the impact I can have on the lives of athletes and coaches, and contributing to overall team success.

Lexi Shacklett

**Hometown:** Owensboro, Kentucky
**Educational Background:** Bachelor of Art Psychology:
Clinical and Counseling Bellarmine University (2020)
**Current Degree:** M.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Track
**Internship Site:** University of Kentucky, Morehead State University
**About Me:** I am a first year graduate student originally from Owensboro, Ky. I completed a B.A. in Psychology with a focus in Clinical and Counseling at Bellarmine University. While attending Bellarmine I was the President of the Women’s Club Soccer team, Vice President of the Club Sports Council, and an Intramural Referee.
I played competitive soccer for 10 years and recreationally for another 4 years at Bellarmine. I made the decision to quit playing competitively at the end of my senior year of high school. I knew I had wanted to pursue something that would allow me to continue being involved in sports. My academic advisor introduced me to Sport and Exercise Psychology and I knew it was the field I wanted to go into. Once I am finished with the program I want to receive my CMPC and work with athletes.

Affiliated Members

Click the photos to learn more about affiliated members, who are involved in research meetings and internship meetings, but may not be enrolled in the SEP program.

Emily Murphy

**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:** Robley Rex VA Medical Center
**About Me:** I am a Ph.D. student in the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Psychology program. Clinically, I have worked within Transylvania University Athletics, the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Center, and for Dr. Alison Arnold — a leading sport psychology consultant for USA Gymnastics. During the upcoming year, I’ll complete my practicum rotation at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center within the Substance Use Disorders Treatment Program to supplement the generalist training I received at the Lexington VA Health Care System Outpatient Clinic.

I have experience instructing several undergraduate psychology courses, including The Psychology of Coaching and Motor Performance and Social Psychology and Cultural Processes. I will be working for the Lexington VA Health Care System during the upcoming academic year and am currently a member of the Help-Seeking and Multicultural Measurement Evaluation Research (HAMMER) Lab and the UKY Sport and Counseling Psychology Research Lab. My research primarily focuses on the integration of sport psychology and psychotherapy, athlete activism, and multicultural training of sport psychology practitioners. Additionally, I serve as one of two Student Representatives within the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), a member of AASP’s Web Presence Committee, and am happy to answer any questions via email at e.murphy@uky.edu.

Master of Science, with a Concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Applied Track

Research Track

Research Track

Admissions Criteria

Ready to Apply?

Questions?

More About the Program

Milestones: Celebrating Five Years!

Meet the Students

Claire Bailey

Tyler Balfour

Bailey Devin

Kelly Dorn

Morgan Findley, MS, CES

Kathryn Gallenstein

Graysen Jennings

Padyn Kesselring

Emily Magnone

Patrick Maneval

Ashley Norman

Tori Orcutt

Lauren Poole

Ashlyn Rasberry

Kelley Renner

Lexi Shacklett

Affiliated Members

Emily Murphy