معرفی
Dr. Rikishi T. Smith-Rey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Clemson University's College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, with additional affiliation as a Faculty Fellow at the Robert H. Brooks Sport Science Institute. A former Division I soccer athlete and first-generation college graduate, they hold a Ph.D. in Communication from Chapman University (2022), an M.A. in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (2019), and a B.A. in Communication with an English minor from the same institution (2013).
Their research specializes in strategic messaging frameworks applied to health and sport contexts, with interdisciplinary foci including:
- Sport communication dynamics and organizational behavior
- Health promotion campaigns and behavioral interventions
- Digital media engagement and narrative persuasion
- Athlete development and social influence processes
Publication analysis reveals consistent thematic clusters in sport psychology, health behavior change, organizational communication, and social justice advocacy. Recent works demonstrate methodological diversity through experimental designs, scale development, and theory-driven interventions addressing public health challenges.
Honors include:
- Dr. Gerald S. Gurney N4A Research Award (2025)
- Departmental Junior Teaching Award (2025)
- Robert H. Brooks GRIT Award (2024)
- Multiple Top Paper awards from NCA/ECA conferences
They actively mentor graduate researchers, currently advising 5 Clemson doctoral candidates and serving on 3 thesis committees. Secured research funding includes:
- $2.63M NIH grant submission (Student Athlete Wellness Portal)
- $7K ACC grant submission (Student-Athlete Wellbeing)
- $6K Brooks Institute award (concussion intervention)
Founded SportPhD to translate sport research for youth athletes and maintains extensive industry experience in marketing, social media strategy, and athletic coaching.
