معرفی
Jessica L. Ford is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at McDaniel College, a private liberal arts college in Westminster, Maryland. She is affiliated with the Department of Kinesiology and contributes to a program that uniquely offers a Kinesiology major among independent colleges in Maryland. Her work integrates academic teaching, applied performance consulting, and interdisciplinary research bridging psychology and physical performance.
Education:
- B.A. in Psychology, The Catholic University of America (2013)
- M.S. in Exercise and Sport Sciences, Sport Psychology concentration, Ithaca College (2015)
- Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Sport Psychology & Performance Excellence emphasis, cognate minor in Counseling, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2020)
- M.S. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health specialization, McDaniel College (2024)
Her research focuses on the mental aspects of performance across domains, particularly the transfer of mental skills between athletic and musical performance. She investigates mental skills training, the application of sport psychology to non-traditional populations like musicians, and the psychological aspects of sports injuries. Her future research aims to integrate clinical mental health counseling with sport psychology to enhance athlete wellness and performance optimization.
Jessica is actively involved in professional development and community engagement through her membership in the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and as a faculty advisor for the Phi Beta Kappa campus chapter. She emphasizes experiential learning, and under her department, nearly all Kinesiology students complete internships, practica, or independent studies, preparing them for graduate programs in fields like physical therapy, athletic training, and physical education.
Outside of academia, she is a musician who has performed at Summerfest, the largest music festival in the U.S., and an endurance athlete having completed multiple marathons and half-marathons. These personal experiences deeply inform her teaching and research.
