Meredith A. Whitley

Meredith A. Whitley is a Professor at Adelphi University in the School of Health Sciences within the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences. With a distinguished career spanning over a decade, she has established herself as a leading scholar in sport-based youth development and sport for development and peace initiatives. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in community settings globally.

Dr. Whitley's educational background includes a Ph.D. from Michigan State University (2012), an Ed.M. from Boston University (2008), and a B.A. from New York University (2005). Her research focuses on the complex roles of sport in the lives of youth from under-resourced communities, examining how sport programs can foster positive development while addressing systemic challenges.

Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on trauma-informed approaches to sport, social justice through sport for development, and the intersection of behavioral economics with youth development programming. Whitley's work consistently examines how sport can address issues of equity, inclusion, and resilience among marginalized populations, with a particular focus on trauma-affected youth and underserved communities globally.

• Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award, Adelphi University (2024)
• Fellow, Association for Applied Sport Psychology (2022)
• Distinguished Contributions to Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology in the Public Interest Award (2022)
• Gloucester High School Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee (2013)

Dr. Whitley has secured substantial grant funding from organizations including Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Good Sports, Movember, and South Bronx United. Her research partnerships span multiple continents, reflecting her commitment to global sport for development initiatives. She serves as an editor for the Journal of Sport for Development and has extensive experience designing and evaluating sport programs in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and India.

Her international work includes training coaches and practitioners on sport for development concepts, with particular emphasis on teaching life skills through sport, addressing social inclusion issues, and using sport to reduce ethnic tensions. Dr. Whitley's scholarship contributes significantly to advancing both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in the sport for development field.