Jessica Ford

• Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

My research and applied interests stem from my own childhood experiences competing as a three sport athlete (soccer, basketball, track & field) while simultaneously pursuing my passion for music performance (voice lessons, guitar lessons, etc.). I noticed a lot of similarities in the mental skills that I used on stage and on the court/field/track. When I transitioned to only playing one sport in college, I was grateful to have music as another outlet. My recent work explores the application of sport psychology to populations outside of athletics (e.g., musicians). Some of my research also focuses on the psychology of injury and professional practice issues within sport psychology. My future goal is to integrate my kinesiology/sport psychology training and my clinical mental health counseling training to explore ways to better support athlete wellness and optimal performance.