Dr. Smith is Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology at MSU. His research addresses the link of sport and physical activity involvement with young people's psychological and social functioning. Smith is widely known for his research on peer relationships in the physical activity domain (e.g., sport, physical education) and the motivational implications of these relationships for children and adolescents. Recent work funded by the National Institute of Mental Health examined physical activity as a means of ameliorating symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young children. This work addressed behavioral, cognitive, motor, and social functioning of participants and involved interdisciplinary collaboration with experts in neuroscience, motor control, and biobehavioral and clinical psychology. Smith's recent publications appear in outlets such as Human Movement Science,International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Journal of Adolescent Health, Journal of Attention Disorders, Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, and others. He has served as associate editor of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology and on the editorial boards of Child Development, International Journal of Sport Psychology, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Kinesiology Review, and Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. He is past-president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity and the current president of the American Kinesiology Association. Smith is a Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology and serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board. Contact Dr. Smith at alsmith@msu.edu.

DJ is a third-year Ph.D. student interested in physical activity motivation. Specifically, she studies how peer relationships and individual self-perceptions shape physical activity experiences during adolescence, as well as the implications of these experiences for physical activity in adulthood. Her master’s research examined perceived variety and preference for experience seeking in predicting current motivation for exercise as well as future exercise intentions. She currently serves as a research assistant and teaching assistant in the Department of Kinesiology. Contact DJ at john5235@msu.edu.

Justin is a second-year PhD. student interested in the psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity. Specifically, he is interested in group dynamics and how peer relationships influence social and motivational processes within the sport environment. His master's research explored the mediating role of social identity on the relationship between peer leadership and cohesion in collegiate athletes. Justin serves as a research assistant and teaching assistant in the Department of Kinesiology. Contact Justin at worleyj1@msu.edu.

Liam is a first year Ph.D. student with primary research interests of commitment, motivation, and self-discrepancy beliefs in sport. Specifically, he is interested in how these psychological processes can help explain and understand individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in sport. His master’s thesis focused on the interaction between collegiate student-athletes’ distinct commitments to school and sport. Liam is a research and teaching assistant in the Department of Kinesiology. He also currently serves as Junior Associate Editor of the Journal for Advancing Sport Psychology in Research (JASPR). Contact Liam at oneilli2@msu.edu.