Sara Powell

Sara Powell is an active Assistant Professor in Kinesiology specializing in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Her work bridges psychological theory with practical interventions to address physical activity disparities and mental health in diverse populations.

Dr. Powell earned her PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her academic foundation combines rigorous research training with applied mental performance expertise.

Her research program centers on three interconnected domains:

• Developing psychological skills interventions to increase physical activity accessibility across marginalized communities
• Analyzing self-perceptions and identity formation among distance runners
• Investigating body image issues within sport and exercise contexts through critical feminist lenses

Recent publications reveal evolving research trajectories: pandemic-era studies on self-efficacy in outdoor recreation (2023), longitudinal weight management research (2023), and groundbreaking work on social justice in kinesiology education (2023). Her scholarship increasingly integrates public health frameworks with critical pedagogy, particularly evident in her curriculum reform advocacy and intuitive eating program research.

As a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology, Dr. Powell maintains strong practitioner-scholar integration. Her publications demonstrate consistent methodological diversity across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches within sport psychology and public health contexts.