Leeja Carter

Leeja Carter, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology within the Division of Athletic Training, Health and Exercise Science at Long Island University's School of Health Professions. Her work centers on transforming communities through sport and exercise psychology with culturally responsive frameworks.

Dr. Carter's academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Psychology of Human Movement), Temple University
• M.A. in Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• B.A. in Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Her research program critically examines gendered racism in sport, feminist sport psychology applications, and culturally sensitive approaches for communities of color. She investigates historical representations of Black women's strength and develops interventions addressing systemic barriers to wellness for women of color, emphasizing sport's transformative potential for families and communities.

Recent publications reveal consistent focus on intersectional identities in sport contexts, with recurring themes of microaggressions against Black professionals, exercise barriers for women of color, and multicultural competence development. These works demonstrate methodological diversity spanning systematic reviews, qualitative analyses, and applied intervention studies.

Recognition for her contributions includes:

• U.S. Fulbright Scholar Fellowship
• Black History Maker Award (Barclays Center)
• First Summers Research Initiative Fellowship

Dr. Carter has secured significant research funding including the $3,900 LIU allocation for the College Life Study (U.S. Department of Justice), Superwoman Project ($4,000 from AASP), and Racial Microaggressions Study ($1,000 from Adler School), demonstrating sustained grant acquisition capacity across institutional and professional funding sources.

She founded the PEAK Program at LIU-Brooklyn (2015), integrating research, applied practice, and community training. As coordinator of AASP's Women in Sports SIG and active committee member across multiple diversity-focused SIGs, she shapes national discourse on inclusion in sport psychology.