Erica Tibbetts

Erica Tibbetts serves as Lecturer in Exercise & Sport Studies and Director of the Exercise & Sport Studies Graduate Program at Smith College, where she advances equitable access to sport and physical activity while leveraging athletics for social transformation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Psychology, Temple University (2015)
• M.S. in Sport Psychology, Ithaca College (2011)

Research Focus: Dr. Tibbetts' scholarship critically examines mental health disparities among collegiate athletes (particularly at women's colleges), trauma-informed coaching frameworks in NCAA settings, and structural barriers faced by marginalized groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and incarcerated women. Her mixed-methods approach integrates feminist and intersectional theories to develop inclusive sport practices that address systemic inequities through community-based interventions.

Publication Trends: Her research trajectory (2015-2025) evolved from correctional health interventions to contemporary analyses of athlete activism and social change, with increasing emphasis on intersectionality and mental health. Recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates methodological sophistication through mixed-methods designs examining trauma prevalence and mentorship efficacy, while consistently centering underserved populations in sport contexts.

Professional Background: Prior to academia, Tibbetts gained five years of practical experience with a Philadelphia bicycle advocacy nonprofit and as a mental skills consultant for elite/amateur athletes across competitive levels.