Tanya Prewitt, Student Representative

Tanya first learned of sport psychology as a sophomore in high school.  It was during a summer basketball camp that she began using mantras for positive self-talk and pre-game visualization techniques to enhance her performance on the court. It was at this time that her curiosity and passion for sport psychology was sparked.  Graduating Summa Cum Laude from Carthage College, Kenosha, WI  (B.A. in Psychology, Exercise Science and Physical Education) and working in sales after completing her undergraduate degree, Tanya became adamant about pursuing a graduate degree and career in sport psychology.  Tanya pursued her master’s degree in Sport Studies (with an Emphasis in Sport Psychology) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Under the guidance of Dr. Leslee Fisher and others, Tanya realized her interest in the role of the family in developing athletes, particularly the dynamic of the father-daughter relationship in sport.  She earned her master’s degree in May 2007 after completing her thesis titled, “Dads Matter: A Phenomenological Exploration of Father’s Influence on Collegiate Female Athletes’ Sport Experience.”

Currently, Tanya is in her 1st year as a doctoral student at the University of Tennessee where she continues to pursue her research interests on family dynamics in sport. She is also interested in women in sport, body image, and performance enhancement.  Tanya teaches a variety of undergraduate courses in the Physical Education Activity Program and also works as a compliance intern in the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center at UT.  She also consults adolescent female athletes within the local community and serves on the Graduate Student Advisory Board for the College of Education at the University of Tennessee, assisting in the coordination of the Annual Graduate Student Colloquium for the college. 
 
In the summer of 2006, Tanya served as a volunteer for the Sport for Life Peace Camp in Netanya, Israel.  The week long camp was an opportunity for Tanya to work with Israeli and Palestinian girls, using her teambuilding skills and the girls’ common interest in sport as a bridge for peace.  While challenging, the experience led Tanya to become increasingly interested in utilizing her consulting skills in non-traditional sport performance enhancement environments.  More recently, Tanya has become a member of the Peacebuilding Institute of East Tennessee (PIET).  PIET is a local organization whose initiative is to gather peacebuilders from around the world for the purpose of deepening an understanding of the work of peace, and developing mutually supportive relationships.  Her responsibilities for the organization include the planning and facilitation of the team and trust building activities for the international attendees at the quarterly workshops and seminars held in East Tennessee. 

Tanya became a student member of AASP three years ago during her first year as a master’s student at the University of Tennessee. In 2005, she attended her first conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Since joining AASP, Tanya has become very involved as a student member. Currently, she is serving as a Southwest Regional Representative. She is also involved in coordinating the Graduate Program Fair, has helped to established the Hopitality Committee, and is a mentor for PPUMP.