Ford Dyke

Dr. Ford Dyke serves as an Associate Clinical Professor in Auburn University's College of Education, School of Kinesiology, where he directs Mindfulness@Auburn and coaches Auburn Wheelchair Basketball. His multidisciplinary role integrates academic expertise in sport psychology with elite athletic performance coaching and evidence-based mindfulness interventions for campus-wide well-being initiatives.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Performance & Exercise Psychophysiology) from Auburn University (2017)
• M.Ed. in Exercise Science (Sport & Exercise Psychophysiology) from Auburn University (2013)
• B.A. in Psychology (Cum Laude) with Deaf Studies minor from University of North Florida (2011)

Dr. Dyke's research program centers on mindfulness applications for performance optimization across diverse contexts. His work bridges attention restoration theory in natural environments with motor learning neurophysiology, examining how mindfulness moderates cognitive workload during skill acquisition. Through Mindfulness@Auburn, he implements the evidence-based Pillars of Performance & Health framework to enhance psychological resilience in academic, athletic, and clinical populations, with particular focus on adapted physical activity contexts.

His scholarly output from 2014-2017 reveals consistent thematic development across three interconnected domains: campus mental health infrastructure, mindfulness-exercise interactions, and neurocognitive aspects of motor performance. Publications demonstrate methodological diversity spanning psychophysiological EEG measurements, cognitive workload assessments, and program implementation frameworks, all converging on practical applications for optimizing human performance and well-being.

Recognition for his contributions includes:

• 2019 Gerald & Emily Leischuck Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
• 2022 College of Education Outstanding Young Alumni Award
• 2022 Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Faculty Award
• 2023 Auburn Alumni Association '20 Under 40'
• 2024 Silver Medal, IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship
• 2025 Bronze Medal, Euro Hand 4 All

As academic mentor and program director, Dr. Dyke oversees student development through Exercise Science coursework while leading Mindfulness@Auburn's outreach initiatives. His dual roles in adapted athletics and academic instruction create unique cross-disciplinary training opportunities, with institutional support enabling integration of performance psychology principles across campus communities. Current projects focus on scaling evidence-based mindfulness protocols for diverse performance contexts.

Mindfulness@Auburn operates as Dr. Dyke's primary research-practice platform, delivering keynotes, workshops, and retreats through the Pillars of Performance & Health curriculum. Concurrently, he leads national teams as Head Coach of USA Wheelchair Handball and serves Auburn Adapted Athletics, leveraging competitive success to advance research on mindfulness in high-performance adapted sports contexts.