Betsy Shoenfelt, Immediate Past President

Elizabeth (Betsy) Shoenfelt, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor Emerita, WKU, completed her doctorate in Industrial-Organizational (IO) Psychology, Sport Psychology, and Statistics at LSU. She is a Fellow in AASP, APA, and the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology; CMPC®; licensed IO Psychologist; and a USOPC Sport Psychology Registry member.

She served on the inaugural AASP Certification Council (2017-2021). Betsy embodies the scientist-practitioner, developing and implementing innovative and impactful techniques and practices based on the science of performance excellence. Contributions to SEP science include books, refereed journal articles, professional practice articles, and conference presentations. Her sustained practice with teams includes work with WKU Women’s Basketball Teams (1983 to 1997), with appearances in three NCAA Final Fours and one National Championship; and WKU Volleyball Teams (2002 to 2022), amassing 30 Regular Season and Tournament Conference Championships and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Sweet 16.

Her notable work with individual athletes includes an Olympic gold medalist swimmer (2011-2016) and a Master’s swimmer (2017-2022) who has attained multiple national and world records. Betsy has worked with numerous other teams and individual athletes. She has served as a performance consultant for the US Army, Army ROTC, police, firefighters, and business organizations, working with C-suite leaders from small businesses to Fortune 50 organizations. Recent AASP service includes two terms on the Certification Council, the CSPA Mental Performance Consultant transportability study, Foundation Committee, journal reviewer, conference reviewer, and a data-based study to determine the CMPC® name. Betsy’s vast experience provides expertise and perspective that will serve AASP well.