In its sixth year, the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)’s Diversity in Sport Regional Conference is a student-driven event targeting traditionally underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students (e.g. students of color, LGBTIQ students, students with disabilities) and early career professionals interested in careers in applied sport, exercise, and performance psychology. Through a variety of discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities, the conference provides a space for open dialogue around diversity and social justice issues in applied sport and exercise settings. The event is held annually at a historically black college and university (HBCU) or minority and Hispanic serving institution (MSIs and HSIs).
The 2022 Diversity in Sport Regional Conference will be held virtually April 29th-30th, 2022. The conference provides a space for open dialogue around diversity and social justice issues in applied sport, exercise, and performance settings. DISC is sponsored by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and is being hosted by Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
Keynote speakers
Shameema Yousuf
Shameema has a diverse transnational background as a sport and performance psychologist, and clinical mental health counselor. She was a former elite Zimbabwean athlete. She operates a practice from the UK with former engagement with Zimbabwean Olympic Committee, English professional football club Brighton Hove Albion FC and several school, University and club programs in performance and wellbeing. She currently supports coaching initiatives with Valor Performance-USA and PlanetK2-UK in corporate and health domains, and leads psychology for UK Motorsport. Her work extends to advocacy, and diversity and inclusion transnationally, being a speaker and author in this space. She has featured on world media channels, and was recognized on the Muslim Women’s in Sport Powerlist (2020) for her esteemed contribution to sport. Shameema is a scholarly reviewer for Women Sport International, and has served on several international organization committees including AASP’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, International Relations Committee and is the current Chair of Distinguished Professional Practice Award Committee.
Chaska Gomez
Dr. Chaska L. Gomez is an active-duty, Army Clinical Health Psychologist. She has served in several clinical and performance enhancement positions throughout her 14-year Army career, to include being assigned as an infantry Brigade Psychologist where she worked with scouts and snipers on how to remain focused while performing sharp shooting and reconnaissance duties; and as the Deputy Command Psychologist for the United States Army Recruiting Command where she developed a training curriculum founded in mental toughness and tactical awareness skills. Dr. Gomez currently works at a regional military treatment facility where she incorporates physical conditioning, cognitive behavioral techniques, imagery, goal setting and activity pacing with service members diagnosed with chronic pain conditions and other medical diagnoses.
Dr. Gomez’s current area of research involves working with service members diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction and utilizing biofeedback and behavioral techniques to assist with symptom management. Dr. Gomez serves as a co-coordinator for the Military Special Interest Group for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is on several military committees focused on gender and ethnic disparities in healthcare and transgender care support.
Dr. Gomez is from New Jersey and graduated from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She received her Doctorate of Psychology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia and holds Masters Degrees in Clinical Psychology, Sport Psychology/Kinesiology and Psychopharmacology from LaSalle University, Temple University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, respectively. During her military career Dr. Gomez has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Multinational Force and Observers (Sinai, Egypt). Her areas of interest include Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Disorders; biofeedback; performance enhancement; health promotion and wellness/healthy lifestyle changes; gender and ethnic healthcare disparities, transgender health psychology and pain management.
Submissions
We invite proposals for symposia, workshops, lectures/papers, panels, and poster presentations that focus on diversity, inclusion, and social justice issues within the area of sport, exercise, and performance psychology. As this conference is interdisciplinary in nature and informed by sport, exercise, and performance psychology, sport history, sport sociology, and sport management, we will also consider proposals incorporating these related topics and fields. Submissions may be research-based, practice-based, or in the form of case studies.
Lecture/paper (15 minutes)
An oral presentation reporting research, a novel project, case study, or conceptual idea related to the conference’s focus. Lectures should be formatted for 12 minutes of discussion and 3 minutes for Q&A.
Poster presentation
A report on an academic/research project or case study in poster form.
Symposium or panel (60 minutes)
Two or more presenters discussing a related topic with an assigned discussant. Presentations are structured as individual lectures with time for Q&A. Abstracts must include a minimum of one abstract for the overall topic and additional abstracts for each designated discussant.
Workshop (60 minutes)
An interactive, skill-building discussion on a topic related to the conference. Abstracts should clearly outline the goals and learning objectives for the workshop. Workshops are 60 minutes and must include time for Q&A.
Submission guidelines
Email your submissions to AASPDISC2022@gmail.com. When submitting your abstract please follow these guidelines:
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- Word or pdf document
- Place the title on the top line
- On the next line please indicate the type of submission (lecture, poster, symposium/panel, or workshop) and your preferred delivery format (live or pre-recorded/asynchronous).
- On the next line list the lead authors’ name, affiliation, and email address
- On separate lines below that, list each additional author by name and affiliation
- Format abstract consistent with APA Publication Manual 7th edition.
- Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words
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Important dates
Last day to submit abstracts – March 3,2022
Notification of abstract acceptance – March 18, 2022
Click here to visit the conference website for more information!
