Rowan hosts largest Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Psychology Conference in four-year history

The Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions’ Department of Health and Exercise Science hosted its fourth annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Psychology Conference on February 21, welcoming a record 155 attendees to campus. The conference was also recognized this year as a regional conference grant recipient from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. 

Attendees included undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, as well as sport and performance psychology professionals, marking the largest conference Rowan has hosted since launching the regional event four years ago. 
 
“This year’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Psychology Conference at Rowan University was especially meaningful,” said JoAnne Bullard, Psy.D., CMPC, CSCS, associate professor of health and exercise science. “It was the largest conference we’ve hosted in the past four years. Seeing that level of energy, engagement, and connection really speaks to how much the field of sport and performance psychology is growing. It was exciting to watch students, practitioners and researchers come together to learn from one another. I’m incredibly grateful that we’re able to provide a space for these conversations and to help support the continued growth of our profession. We are looking to host the conference again next year.” 

The day began with registration and a professional and student networking session in Business Hall, followed by welcome remarks from Peter Rattigan, Ph.D., dean of the Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions. The keynote address was delivered by Michael Sachs, Ph.D., CMPC, titled “Two Roads Diverged…Your Journey Within SEPP,” which focused on professional identity and development in sport and performance psychology.  

Throughout the day, attendees participated in workshops, panels, roundtables and paper sessions addressing a wide range of applied sport psychology topics. Sessions explored themes such as emotional regulation in athletes, executive coaching applications, athlete self-advocacy and team dynamics, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the field.  

A panel discussion on athlete self-advocacy brought together experts from Rowan University, Temple University and private consulting organizations to examine the evolving role of sport psychologists in supporting athlete well-being and performance. Additional workshops covered topics including imposter syndrome in emerging sport psychology professionals, mindfulness and self-compassion for collegiate student-athletes, and digital mental health interventions in Division I athletics.  

The conference also featured lunch and poster sessions showcasing student and professional research from institutions such as Christopher Newport University, Seton Hall University, West Chester University and The Pennsylvania State University, Berks. Research topics ranged from mental imagery in competitive dancers to ethical challenges in sport psychology practice and performance anxiety interventions in adolescent gymnasts.  

One highlight of the program was a session integrating Rowan Women’s Lacrosse student-athletes into a discussion of the Mindful Athlete Program, offering an applied perspective on mindfulness and self-compassion in collegiate athletics. The session emphasized collaboration between practitioners and student-athletes in developing effective mental performance strategies.  

Additional sessions examined topics such as ADHD and emotional regulation in sport, sport psychology principles in military performance settings and championing women athletes, reflecting the conference’s continued emphasis on applied practice and inclusive approaches to athlete mental health and performance.  

Now in its fourth year, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Psychology Conference continues to grow in scope and attendance, providing a collaborative space for networking, professional development and the exchange of research and applied practices in sport and performance psychology.