The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is excited to welcome three new Clemson faculty members to the Institute’s fellows program this fall. Their backgrounds in various areas of the sports sciences are why they have been nominated and chosen to join this cohort of experts and we are excited to have them on the team.
College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences
Felipe Tobar, Ph.D.
Felipe Tobar, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University. An international scholar, he first earned his Bachelor of Law and Social Science and a Master’s in Cultural Heritage and Society from Univille University in Brazil. He later obtained a Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Clemson University.
Tobar’s research interests are centered around sport, tourism, heritage, events and politics. His early academic work has been featured in several international journals including the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Soccer and Society, Journal of Sport and Tourism, and the International Journal of Sport and Society. He also founded the @FootballStudies YouTube channel where academics, professionals, and industry experts debate various aspects of the world of football.
Some of the courses that Tobar has taught at Clemson include:
Profession and Practice in PRTM
Sport Tourism
Heritage Tourism
Recreation Policymaking
Program and Event Planning in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences
Julian Brinkley, Ph.D.
Julian Brinkley, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Computing at Clemson University as well as the director of Design and Research of In-Vehicle Experiences Lab (DRIVE Lab). Brinkley earned his B.A. at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro and his M.Sc. from East Carolina University in Software Engineering. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Human-Centered Computing.
Brinkley’s research focuses on the intersection of user experience, accessibility, and highly and fully automated vehicles. Several notable organizations have funded his research, including the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. His work has made significant contributions in making autonomous vehicles more accessible, more specifically supported by the DRIVE Lab team’s selection as semifinalists in the DOT’s Inclusive Design Challenge.
Here are a few of the classes that Brinkley has taught at Clemson:
Chris Corr, PhD., will be joining the Athletic Leadership program at Clemson University as a Senior Lecturer starting in the fall of 2024. Corr earned his Bachelor’s in Telecommunications Management from the University of Florida followed by his Master’s in Sport Management also from the University of Florida. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Sport and Entertainment from the University of South Carolina. Before coming to Clemson, Corr spent three years as an assistant professor for the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University.
Corr currently studies intercollegiate athletics specializing in organizational development. He has authored or co-authored over 25 referred publications and has been published in some of the top journals in his field, including the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics and Sport Sociology Journal. During his time at Troy, Corr received multiple teaching awards at both the program and university levels and also advised a successful NCAA graduate student grant.
While Corr is new to Clemson, some of the classes he has taught at other schools include Governance & Policy in Sport, Sport Finance, The Student Athlete Experience and more.
As Clemson wraps up another successful semester, we are excited to highlight the experiences and insights of our two interns this summer. These students have spent the past few months gaining valuable skills and contributing to the Institute, and now they are sharing their personal journeys and offering advice for those who will follow in their footsteps.
Taylor Erdman
Taylor was the Marketing and Communications intern for the Institute this summer. She created and posted content for RHBSSI’s social media channels and wrote for the Sports Insight blog. She was also responsible for creating a content calendar from scratch and continuously updating it throughout the summer.
“One of my favorite things about this position is how versatile it is – every day looks different,” Erdman said. “One day I could be creating a graphic about joining our email database and the next I could be writing a blog post about one of our faculty fellows.”
“Being an intern for the Institute has been one of the most rewarding experiences. My advice would to be to make the most of the time you have there and to learn as much as you can: you don’t have to know everything, you just have to be willing to learn. I’d also advise future interns to use it as an opportunity to network with the faculty fellows, as they are doing incredible research and have a lot of great connections.”
Taylor will be continuing with the Institute in the fall as our Communications Lead. She is very excited to further develop her skills and contribute to impactful projects.
Payton Ober
Payton served as the Graphic Design intern for the Institute this Summer. Throughout her time, she was responsible for creating logos, posters, and graphics in preparation for the Institute’s first ever Research & Creative Endeavors Symposium (RECESS).
“This position has felt so beneficial to me this summer, having the opportunity to work with the Sports Science Institute while getting the chance to put my creative skills to work has been so fulfilling.” Ober said. “I’ve always had a soft spot for design so getting to work with people like John, Kayla, and Taylor, who are all so creative and ready to get involved has just been a really great experience.”
“While being a student can definitely be overwhelming, I completely recommend taking advantage of opportunities like this, especially if they have to do with the RHBSSI. Getting involved on campus through jobs like this is so useful and rewarding.”
This fall, Payton will be working as a Graphic Communications Teaching assistant for 3 different labs while participating in a Flexographic Printing competition/Creative Inquiry course called “The Phoenix Challenge” as the Research Lead.”
The Institute is actively seeking candidates for four part-time intern positions this fall. Applications close August 1 so be sure to apply soon. For information on the positions, check out ClemsonJobLink.
As the Summer Olympics grow closer, organizers are putting a focus on mental health and adding new accommodations for athletes to rest more than just their bodies. Skye Arthur-Banning, Ph.D., professor of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson, RHBSSI faculty fellow and co-founder of the U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport, advocates for athletes’ mental well-being and emphasizes that it needs to become a higher priority while they are still competing in the Olympic games.
“We have seen athletes, either upon retirement or after the event, coming out and talking about their challenges,” offered Arthur-Banning when talking about how the end of the games is often the toughest on the athletes’ mental health. “We do have a lot of research that supports the post-Olympic blues, or post-Olympic depression, and for many athletes it is retirement.”
At the Paris Olympic Games starting July 26, there will be several mental health resources for the athletes, including access to quiet spaces next to workout areas where they can decompress. They will also have full-time mental health staff and a 24/7 help line available. In addition, Arthur-Banning recommends athletes improve their mental health by building a community of support with family members and teammates.
More About Skye Arthur-Banning, Ph.D.
In addition to being co-founder of the U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport, Arthur-Banning is also the Director of Research and Development for the organization. The center is focused on making sport environments a place where all involved can experience support for their mental health. They provide resources, training and support to help make the sport environment one that is inclusive and provides a positive experience. Arthur-Banning has co-authored or edited five books, published 50+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, delivered 200+ international, national and state-level presentations, and has secured over $1.8 million in research dollars as a principal investigator.
This fall, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute (RHBSSI) will host Clemson University’s first Sports Science Research & Creative Endeavors Symposium (RECESS). Faculty, staff, students and other Clemson stakeholders interested in the sports sciences are welcome at the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to network, peruse posters, enjoy refreshments and more.
“We are thrilled to welcome you to our inaugural Research & Creative Endeavors Symposium, and hope that all that are engaged in the Sports Sciences, whether that be in Business, Athletics or Engineering can come, share and enjoy,” offered John DesJardins, interim director of RHBSSI. “As the acronym RECESS suggests, we hope to make it fun and engaging.”
The sports science symposium will take place at the Madren Center, Ballroom B on October 24 from 5-8 p.m. EST. Stay tuned for a full agenda of the event.
If you are interested in attending, you can RSVP here. If you are interested in presenting your work at RECESS, email John DesJardins at jdesjar@clemson.edu or fill out the participation form here.
