Justine J. Reel

Dr. Justine J. Reel is a Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), where she serves as the Interim Associate Provost for Research & Innovation and President of the UNCW Research Foundation. She previously held leadership roles at UNCW, including Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), and brings 19 years of administrative experience from prior positions at the University of Utah.

• Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science (Sport and Exercise Psychology), University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• M.S. in Counselor Education (Community Counseling), UNC Greensboro
• M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science (Sport and Exercise Psychology), UNC Greensboro
• B.A. in Sociology, North Carolina State University

Dr. Reel’s research focuses on body image, eating disorders, and intuitive exercise in athletic and clinical populations. Her work spans psychosocial risk factors, cultural adaptations of health scales, and preventive health programs, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and $2.3 million in extramural funding. She has authored nine books and 22 book chapters, and developed validated tools like the Weight Pressures in Sport Scale and Intuitive Exercise Scale.

Recent publications highlight trends in cross-cultural ED research, gender-specific health pressures in sports, and interprofessional healthcare simulation design. Dr. Reel’s team has explored pandemic impacts on exercise behaviors, interventions for COPD, and DEI strategies in sport psychology.

As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, she champions inclusive research practices. Her career merges academic leadership, applied research, and health promotion across diverse populations, including athletes, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities.