Student Delegates
The Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Student Delegate position is a 1-year commitment. Student Delegates must be current AASP members. Delegates are responsible for participating in their assigned Student Initiative(s), providing support at student programming during the Annual Conference, and other duties as assigned by the current Executive Board Student Representatives.
To apply for a Student Delegate position, submit the following to studentrep@appliedsportpsych.org:
- Application form - The Student Delegate application opens on September 1 and will close on December 1, 2024.
-
A resume or CV that highlights educational experience, leadership experiences, and previous or current AASP involvement.
-
A 500-word statement of intent describing your interest in becoming a student delegate, previous AASP service experience, and proposed involvement in an established student initiative or initiatives for the coming year.
Executive Board Student Representatives
Deyanira Enriquez
Flatiron Mental Performance
studentrep@appliedsportpsych.org
Deyanira (Deyja) Enriquez is a doctoral student pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Sport & Performance Psychology at Boston University. Here, she provides mental performance services to BU teams and student-athletes. Prior to BU, Deyja earned her Master’s degree in Sport & Performance Psychology with a specialization in Latinx Psychology from the University of Denver. She completed her undergraduate career in her hometown at the University of Colorado – Boulder, where she majored in psychology and sociology with a minor in business. While at the University of Colorado, Deyja ran with Ralphie, the live buffalo mascot of the university.
Deyja has worked in the mental performance space from the youth to the professional level for a number of sports. She also has experience in eating disorder care and the juvenile justice system, where she has cemented her passion for advocacy and social justice work. Deyja’s research interests include athletes’ racial/ethnic identity and athletic identity and how their intersectionality can affect athletes’ performance and mental health. Additionally, Deyja works within the BU Center for Future Readiness, where she is involved in community-based research exploring career development strategies for underserved populations, particularly Latino youth in the Boston area. Deyja has been an AASP member since 2019 and has served on AASP’s Advocacy Committee since 2020. Within AASP, her work focuses on graduate training and opportunities in hopes of demystifying the field and creating community for students navigating the field.
Katy Johnson
Indiana University
studentrep@appliedsportpsych.org
Katy Johnson, MS, (she/her) is a PhD student in Indiana University (IU)’s Counseling Psychology program. She graduated with an MS in Kinesiology and a concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Georgia Southern University (GSU) and a BA in Elementary Education from Anderson University. Katy is currently an associate instructor at IU, teaching undergraduate courses in Sport Psychology and Athlete Mental Health. She served as graduate research assistant at GSU, assisting in several research projects on topics such as perfectionism, the yips, and other professional issues in sport psychology. Katy has co-authored many research articles and presented at both regional, national, and international conferences. As a consultant, Katy utilizes a humanistic approach to provide mental performance services to both adolescent and collegiate student-athletes.
Furthermore, Katy served as an AASP Student Delegate in 2022 and 2023, volunteering as the chair for Conference Planning Initiative (CPI) and member of the Social Communications Initiative (SCI). Her research interests include perfectionism, the yips, mental health and well-being in sport, and youth and international sport development. Katy is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and AmeriCorps VISTA alumni. Outside of the professional arena, Katy enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Student Delegates
Priyanka Acharya
Krea University (India)
piyu.04.priyanka@gmail.com
Priyanka Acharya is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Biology at Krea University. Her academic journey integrates interdisciplinary learning with hands-on experience in both sports and psychology. As a former elite gymnast, Priyanka has competed at national and international levels, including the Asian Championships, and holds the distinction of being a four-time National Champion. With a deep passion for promoting mental wellness in sports, Priyanka blends her academic foundation in psychology with her lived experience as an athlete. This unique perspective enables her to explore the complex relationship between mental health and athletic performance and to advocate for inclusive and supportive environments for athletes. At university, Priyanka has taken on leadership roles, where she has organized and managed flagship sports events, collaborated with peers and faculty and fostered a culture of inclusivity within the campus community. She has worked on initiatives that celebrate diversity, create team spirit and emphasize the importance of mental wellness in athletic and academic contexts. Through internships and projects, Priyanka has gained skills in content creation, mental health evaluation and fostering dialogue around mental health challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her commitment to inclusivity is further reflected in her work as a peer support volunteer, where she provides first level of mental health support to students and contributes to building accessible and respectful spaces. Growing up in a culturally diverse environment in India, Priyanka has developed a strong appreciation for collaboration and understanding across different perspectives. She brings this mindset into all her endeavors, combining her passion for sports, psychology and community-building. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Priyanka is passionate about sports and enjoys staying active, reading and exploring new perspectives.
Cami Barnes (she/her/hers)
West Virginia University
cab00072@mix.wvu.edu
Cami Barnes (she/her) is a first-year graduate student at West Virginia University pursuing a PhD in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology and an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition to her studies, she teaches undergraduate sport and exercise psychology courses and provides mental performance consulting services to WVU teams and student-athletes. Prior to WVU, she obtained a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona and an MS in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of North Texas. Cami’s previous involvement in research includes studying the effects of concussions on psychological well-being for the military, authoring a book chapter on the recognition, prevention, and treatment of disordered eating in elite athletes, and examining the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on self-efficacy, resilience, and social behavior in athletes. Currently, her research interests are focused on trauma-informed care in sport psychology, mindfulness-based interventions, and psychological flexibility in athletes.
Her involvement with AASP includes presenting posters and workshops at regional and national conferences since 2022. She has also been working toward obtaining her CMPC certification through her work with youth, high school, and collegiate athletes. This will be her first year as a student delegate on both the Science & Practice and Undergraduate Connections initiatives and she is very excited to become more involved with those in the sport psych community! Outside of her work, she enjoys yoga, cooking, being outdoors, watching sports, and traveling with her friends and family.
Cooper Harris (he/him)
University of Rochester
cooperjharris7@gmail.com
Cooper Harris (he/him) is an undergraduate senior at the University of Rochester studying psychology and religion with a minor in cognitive sciences. He is involved with club baseball as well as an independent research thesis on student-athlete religiosity. His passion for sport and performance psychology has led to work with the Rutgers University behavioral health/sport psychology team and local youth soccer and basketball programs in New Jersey and New York City. This academic year, Cooper is working closely with mindfulness initiatives on campus to better understand how their practices can benefit sport performance. He hopes to pursue graduate schooling toward a career in sport psychology or a related field after graduating from Rochester in the Spring. This year, his second as a student delegate, Cooper is working with the Conference Planning Support Initiative as well as the Social Communications Initiative.
Jordyn King
Northern Illinois University
jordynking85@gmail.com
Jordyn King is a first-year doctoral student in the NIU KNPE department, specializing in sport and exercise psychology. She brings a wealth of experience from her collegiate soccer career, having played for five years across Grambling State, Eastern Washington University, and NIU. Jordyn earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from EWU and her master's degree in sport and exercise psychology from NIU. Her research focuses on student-athletes' athletic identity and their transition to life after competitive college sports. Jordyn is passionate about teaching and is committed to fostering an understanding of sport and exercise psychology in her students. As a graduate assistant instructor, she teaches Sport Sociology and a special topics course she created, Athletes’ Transition to Life After Sport (ATLAS). In addition to her academic work, Jordyn coaches youth soccer for a club in DeKalb and is actively working toward meeting the requirements to apply for Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) certification. She has presented her research at the Midwestern Sport and Exercise Symposium (MSEPS) and at the AASP Annual Conference. Originally from Menifee, California, Jordyn is the oldest of four daughters and has a deep passion for helping others, particularly student-athletes, navigate the intersection of sport and life beyond competition.
Patrick Maneval (he/him)
University of Kentucky
Patrick.t.maneval@gmail.com
Patrick Maneval, CSCS is a 2nd-year graduate student in the Sport & Exercise Psychology master’s program and the High Performance Coaching certificate program at the University of Kentucky. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology at Shenandoah University, where he ran Division III cross-country and track. While at Shenandoah, Patrick founded his campus’ chapter for The Hidden Opponent, a student-athlete mental health advocacy organization. He has served as a compassionate listener for the Concern Hotline, led psychoeducational groups with MoodLifters, and has gained experience working as a High-Performance Coaching Intern with the Washington Spirit and a Mental Performance Consultant for the Lexington Sporting Club.
Patrick has engaged in multiple research projects, including a publication on the implementation of a first time Psyching Team, the application of the think-aloud protocol for horse jockeys (under the supervision of Dr. Ashley Samson, PhD, CMPC) and is currently investigating the perspectives of student-athlete mental health advocacy programs on the advocates leading for change. Patrick’s experiences in sport and school have enhanced his appreciation for the academic process and application of mental performance and health-related strategies/protective factors contributing to social justice measures. In pursuit of obtaining CMPC certification, Patrick has gained a variety of experiences in youth, collegiate, and professional sport. In his free time, Patrick enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, cheering on Philadelphia sports teams, and listening to Taylor Swift. Patrick is looking forward to contributing to AASP’s Student Delegate role during the 2025-26 term!
Mikaili Robertson (he/him)
University of North Texas
mikailirobertson@my.unt.edu
Mikaili Robertson is a second-year graduate student in the Counseling PhD program at the University of North Texas specializing in sport psychology. Prior to UNT, he received his B.A. in Psychology from Hood College and M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Springfield College. Outside of being a student, he provides mental health and performance services to collegiate teams and athletes, and conducts therapy and psychological assessments in a low-cost community mental health clinic. He has led and presented research on the experience of Black student-athletes across the Power Four conferences with the goal of better understanding the systemic factors contributing to their mental health, well-being, and performance. His research interests also include resilience and belonging among athletes.
Mikaili’s involvement in AASP goes back to 2022 when he was on the planning committee for the New England Regional Conference hosted by Springfield College. He was also a member of the planning committee for the 2024 Southwest Regional Conference at University of North Texas. Mikaili is entering his first year as a Student Delegate for AASP and is excited to assist in the Social Justice Initiative to help promote diversity and inclusion in the field of sport psychology. In his leisure time, he enjoys spending time with his fiancée, hanging out with friends and family, exercising, and watching a good movie.
Tenleigh Smith (she/her/hers)
University of North Carolina - Greensboro
tjsmith11@uncg.edu
Tenleigh Smith is a 1st-year graduate student in the Applied Sport Psychology master’s program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-G). She earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Idaho State University, where she competed as a student-athlete for both the women’s basketball team and track and field team. During her undergraduate career, Tenleigh served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative on the Big Sky Conference Executive Board, where she gained valuable leadership experience and advocated for athlete well-being. She also worked as a residential group home supervisor for youth in the foster care system, which deepened her passion for social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At UNC-G, Tenleigh is gaining hands-on experience through research and applied mental performance consulting. Under the direction of Dr. Alan Chu, she assists with research focused on self-compassion, mindfulness, and resilience in athletes. Additionally, she works with high school and collegiate athletes to fulfill the requirements for her CMPC certification. Tenleigh is also an active volunteer with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, further showcasing her dedication to mental health advocacy and community engagement. Beyond her academic and professional endeavors, Tenleigh enjoys staying active through fitness, discovering new destinations, diving into a good book, watching sports, and embracing new experiences. She values time spent with friends and family and seeks out opportunities to learn, grow, and explore.
