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Research and Scholarly Interests

My main research area is examining the mentoring relationship from a phenomenological perspective. Researchers have clearly established the benefits of mentoring for the mentor, the protégé, and the organization in terms of professional advancement, higher compensation, and management of office politics. I examine mentoring by observing the personal life histories of those individuals experiencing the mentoring relationship. These personal life histories ask mentors to examine their mentoring relationship from three perspectives: (a) their protégé experience, (b) their mentor experience, and (c) their conceptualization of the mentoring relationship – how did their protégé experience influence their decision not only to mentor but how to mentor?

I have studied mentoring relationships on an international and national level with a wide variety of populations including chairs, faculty, students, and directors from academia, campus recreation, national sport organizations, and the health and fitness industry. However, I am widely known for my work on mentoring women to advance within leadership positions within sport and physical activity. While the mentoring relationship is important in career development for both genders, it is particularly critical for women, especially those in male-dominated professions such as the sport industry where there are many barriers to overcome.

I am currently working on a meta-ethnography examining the elements of an effective mentoring relationship with women in sport from 1980-2007. The results from the meta-ethnography will provide a mentoring model for women that guide female and male professionals in sport as they reflect on their own mentoring relationships. I am also working on a mentoring project with Dr. Stephanie Bennett in developing mentoring relationships within intercollegiate athletics. We are looking at how the mentoring relationship affects head coaching aspirations of Division I female assistant basketball coaches. In addition to this work, my current position as Vice President for Publications for the Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) has also kept me busy writing, editing, promoting, and marketing many books and journals for this national governing body that represents the sport and physical activity field.

I recently released my first book entitled, Women as Leaders in Sport: Impact and Influence, with Dr. Mary Hums from the University of Louisville and Dr. Heidi Grappendorf from North Carolina State University. This book celebrates women’s contributions to today’s dynamic sport industry. The book provides inspiration to anyone wanting to explore a wide variety of career possibilities in the sport industry. The career development aspect of the book inspired me to begin writing a book entitled, A Guide to Careers in Sport and Physical Activity. The book is in its final stages and should provide a professional development resource for all students pursuing a career in sport and physical activity. A final book proposal is ready for submission which focuses on how highly successful and experience coaches have mentored their student athletes to success on and off the court. This book will highlight some of the highest intercollegiate athletic coaches in the nation and provides hands-on experiences and best practices which can be an insightful, practical, and relied-on resource.

I also have a secondary research area focused on physical activity and sport performance. I am finishing a 12-week SMART Youth Fitness and Nutrition program at Glenwood Middle School. Dr. Stephanie Bennett and I are working on several articles related to this project. I am also finishing two manuscripts focused on plyometric training and body composition with female athletes participating in intercollegiate basketball and soccer.

If there is a single motto that serves as a guide for your career and life, what is it?

Perseverance – The difference between history’s boldest accomplishments, and most staggering failures is often, simply, the diligent will to persevere.

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