Allyson Gillard

Allyson Gillard serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education at Laval University's Faculty of Education and is an Affiliated Researcher with the Research Chair in Safety and Integrity in Sport. Her work targets systemic improvements in Quebec's sport ecosystem through evidence-based interventions.

Her research program spans three interconnected domains:

• Safety and integrity in sport (particularly interpersonal/sexual violence prevention)
• Mental health and well-being outcomes for athletes
• Evaluation of intervention effectiveness in sports training contexts

Employing mixed-methods approaches, she investigates adolescent athlete victim profiles, coach training efficacy, and policy implementation mechanisms.

Professor Gillard's 2022-2025 publications reveal a strategic evolution from foundational case studies (e.g., child sexual abuse survivor reconstruction) toward scalable prevention tools (e.g., violence effect scales) and coach-focused interventions. Her work consistently emphasizes practical application within Quebec's sport system.

As an educator, she delivers undergraduate courses in Mental Skills Training (EPS-2202) and Coaching Practicum (EPS-3200), integrating her seven years of pre-academic experience as coach wellness advisor and sports director. Her research leadership operates through the Research Chair in Safety and Integrity in Sport, which functions as Quebec's hub for sport safety policy development and implementation.