The 2025 GRIT awardees (left to right) Chris Corr, Sarah Stokowski, Felipe Tobar, and Reed Gurchiek, stand with RHBSSI interim director, John DesJardins (center), at the RECESS Friday Finale.
By Katie Gerbasich
At the conclusion of Clemson University’s Research and Creative Endeavors in the Sports Sciences (RECESS) Symposium, hosted by the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute the week of November 10, 2025, four Clemson faculty were honored with 2025 GRIT Awards. These awards recognize nominated individuals or groups who distinguish themselves in various areas of sports science. A trophy was presented to the following winners.
Community and Outreach in the Sports Sciences
Felipe Tobar, Ph.D. – Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Tobar studies the intersection of sport, tourism and heritage. He also serves as the head coach of Clemson’s Paralympic Soccer Program and co-founded the Football Tourism Institute, which aims to understand football tourism at the local and global levels.
Over the summer of 2025, Tobar travelled internationally conducting sports research. In early May, he took a group of students to Germany to study the Culture of Remembrance and Political Activism in German Football. While abroad, he conducted two research studies: one examining stickers in and around stadiums as a form of fan expression and political activism, and another exploring how German soccer clubs suppress or communicate Holocaust history.
Tobar’s inclusive and critical teaching practices earned him the 2025 Junior Tenure-Track Outstanding Teaching Award from Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. His commitment to experiential learning includes organizing class field trips to venues such as the Bank of America Stadium and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, facilitating networking opportunities with more than 41 sports industry professionals, and supporting undergraduate students as they participate in local sporting events.
For his dedication to both the Clemson and global community, the Institute has awarded Felipe Tobar with the GRIT Award for Community and Outreach in the Sports Sciences for the 2025-26 academic year.
“He is richly deserving of this award,” commended Greg Ramshaw, Ph.D., Tobar’s colleague in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.
Research in the Sports Sciences
Chris Corr, Ph.D. – Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development, Athletic Leadership Program
Corr’s scholarly research examines the institutional and organizational settings of collegiate athletics, with attention to the impact and outcomes of participation on various stakeholders. He serves as the executive director of the College Sport Research Institute and is the program manager for the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation.
“Dr. Chris Corr exemplifies the spirit of the GRIT Award in Research in Sports Sciences through his exceptional productivity, interdisciplinary collaboration and measurable impact on the study and practice of sport,” Sarah Stokowski, Corr’s colleague in the College of Education, said.
Over the past three years, Corr has produced an extraordinary body of scholarship, authoring or co-authoring more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, multiple book chapters, and numerous presentations at national and international conferences.
Corr’s work has consistently been supported by competitive funding sources, including RHBSSI, the NCAA, the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), and USA Ultimate, demonstrating the quality and applicability of his research.
“Equally important, Dr. Corr’s collaborative spirit enriches Clemson’s research environment,” Stokowski said. “He actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students, co-authors with emerging scholars, and engages in applied projects that extend Clemson’s land-grant mission.”
Student Engagement in the Sports Sciences
Sarah Stokowski, Ph.D. – Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development, Athletic Leadership Program
Recognized for her unwavering commitment to student success, Sarah Stokowski, Ph.D., has made an impact on graduate education and student engagement within the Athletic Leadership program. She has supervised more than 75 doctoral students across both the Higher Education and P12 concentrations.
“Dr. Stokowski is unbelievably passionate and committed to student learning and success,” noted her colleague from the College of Education, Chris Corr, Ph.D. “She is tremendously caring and committed to students’ scholarly achievement, and students walk away from her research methods course with a tangible academic publication and, more importantly for their professional development, an in-depth understanding of the research process.
Her commitment to publishing with students has led many graduate students to continue their education by pursuing terminal degrees.
“While Dr. Stokowski is an all-around tremendous scholar and influential member of the campus community, her commitment to student excellence and achievement is to be marveled at,” Corr said.In addition to her mentorship efforts, Stokowski was awarded a 2025 ESPN Research Fellowship by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute (IGI). Through this fellowship, she will research how student-athletes perceive and engage with online sports betting content. To learn more about her work, click here.
Friend of the Institute
Reed Gurchiek, Ph.D. – Department of Bioengineering
Gurchiek is the principal investigator in the Human Movement Biomechanics Lab (HuMBL), where his team uses standard motion capture technologies for human movement analysis and biomechanics.
A recent project, funded by RHBSSI, involved developing a passive assistive hamstring device to support muscle recovery. Read more about the work here.
Gurchiek has also been integral in collaborating with the Institute on plans for the University’s new human performance center on the ground floor of the student wellness center, which has recently broken ground.
“The Institute is very appreciative to Dr. Gurchiek for his continued leadership in the development of this new facility that will bring human performance research at Clemson to national prominence,” said John DesJardins, Ph.D., director of the Institute.
Happy New Year, from the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. For the Spring 2026 semester, RHBSSI welcomed three new and two returning student interns. Additionally, through the UPIC Beyond the Game program, two student-athlete interns will join the group. These students bring a multitude of experiences that will help drive new ideas that support the Institute’s mission.
Evy Lane, Communications Lead
Evy Lane is a senior Marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina. In her fourth semester with the Institute, she will serve as the Communications Lead, which entails creating a content calendar and editing or posting blogs across RHBSSI social media handles. Lane has two cats, Otto and Lottie, whom she adores dearly.
Katie Gerbasich, Writer/Editor
Katie Gerbasich is a senior Sports Communication major and Women’s Leadership minor from Houston, Texas. In her third semester with the Institute, she will be assisting the team in detailing the stories of sports science endeavors. Gerbasich has prior experience with Clemson Baseball’s Sports Analytics team and has written sports articles for Tiger View Media.
Nathan Inman, Writer/Editor
Nathan Inman is a junior double majoring in Sports Communication and Marketing from Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has been involved with The Tiger student newspaper for three years and was recently appointed Assistant Sports Editor. This semester, Inman looks forward to continuing to grow as a writer and collaborating with the rest of the team.
Sofia Cordi, Events Lead
Sofia Cordi is a senior at Clemson University pursuing a B.S. in Management with an emphasis in Human Resources, a concentration in Entrepreneurship, and a Global Leadership Certificate. She serves as the Events Lead intern for The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute, where she supports the planning and execution of events that foster collaboration, innovation, and community engagement across sports science and performance disciplines.
Previously, Sofia worked with Incora Health, a women’s health startup developing patented smart earrings that capture real-time biodata, where she supported community engagement, content strategy, and cross-functional initiatives. Her experience also includes work with Kognitos, a generative AI company in healthcare automation, and Clemson’s Brook T. Smith Launchpad. Sofia is passionate about innovation, strategic planning, and building meaningful connections through events and community-focused initiatives.
Katie Colton, Graphic Designer
Katie Colton is a Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications from York, South Carolina. This past year, she worked with Clemson Creative Inquiry and Undergraduate Research’s Decipher Magazine. Colton traveled to Italy over winter break.
Shanque Williams, Beyond the Game Intern
Shanque Williams is a sophomore Psychology major with a minor in Business Management. Williams is a track and field athlete from Jamaica. She’s excited to meet the team and begin working.
Kevin Collins, Beyond the Game Intern
Kevin Collins is a senior Economics major with a Minor in Business Administration from Waldorf, Maryland. He competes in shorts sprints with track and field.
With the Fall semester coming to an end, we are sad to say goodbye to two valuable interns, Griffin Barfield and Lucy Hard, who will be graduating this December, but luckily, interns Katie Gerbasich and Evy Lane have signed on for another semester with the Institute. From writing articles and designing graphics to testing grip strength and hosting lab tours, these interns have impacted every corner of the Institute.
GRIFFIN BARFIELD
Griffin Barfield is a senior Sports Communication major and Spanish minor from Oceanport, New Jersey, and was the Institute’s Co-Writing and Editing Lead this semester.
“My experience with RHBSSI has helped me grow as an intern,” Barfield said. “Professionally, the Institute helped me understand my role in group work, assisted with my confidence when interviewing faculty and students, and allowed me to form positive relationships with all of the people that I worked closely with over the course of the last two semesters. It’s been an honor to represent them, and I’m excited to see the work that is presented with the next group in the spring!”
After graduating, Griffin plans to work with the Clemson Tigers on Sports Illustrated, where he will transition into a full-time beat writer role, assisting and managing their website and social media platforms to drive engagement. Moving forward, Griffin intends to interview and apply for positions at various sports clubs and franchises nationwide. The Institute wishes Griffin the best of luck!
LUCY HART
Lucy Hart is a senior Sports Management major with a double minor in Youth Development and Business Administration from Rock Hill, South Carolina , and was the Institute’s Events Lead this semester.
“Interning for the Institute has been an incredibly valuable experience for me,” Hart mentions. “Being able to plan and execute events like the RECESS symposium will go a long way in my professional development skills, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a supportive team!”
Post-graduation, Lucy has secured an internship in Savannah, Georgia, managing part-time employees for an exhibition baseball team. She plans to return to Clemson to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration after her internship. Although we are sad to see her leave the RHBSSI, we are excited to have her back on campus in the future!
KATIE GERBASICH
Katie Gerbasich is a senior Sports Communication major and Women’s Leadership minor from Houston, Texas, and was the Institute’s Co-Writing and Editing Lead.
“I think this semester has truly expanded my skillset. While I loved the research writing I did, I also worked with new design programs, video, and other social media aspects that I had never used before.”
Katie will continue to stay with the Institute next semester as a writer. “I plan to graduate in May, so I’m so excited to finish out my Clemson journey with the amazing people here.”
EVELYN LANE
Evelyn Lane is a senior Marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina, and she was the Institute’s Communication Lead this semester.
“My experience with the RHBSSI has shaped me in so many ways,” she says. “As this is my third semester, I have had the opportunity to work with numerous interns from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, which has taught me how to grow and adapt in my teamwork skills depending on what each person needs from me.” She also notes, “I am thrilled to continue with the Institute and look forward to learning from future interns and further developing myself.”
Evelyn will also be staying on with the Institute for her fourth semester, making her the longest-serving intern in recent RHBSSI history!
The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is thrilled to welcome several new Clemson faculty members to its cohort of Faculty Fellows.
SUSAN LIMBER, Ph.D., MLS
Dan Olweus Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr. Limber is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychology. Prior to her retirement in 2025, she was named the Dan Olweus Professor, highlighting her significant contributions to furthering the work of the late Dan Olweus, a pioneer in bullying prevention work. Dr. Limber is a developmental psychologist who also holds a Master’s of Legal Studies. Her nearly 25 years of research focus on psychological and legal issues related to bullying among children, as well as youth civic engagement, and children’s rights. She co-authored the book, Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age, in 2008. Awarded by the American Psychological Association (APA), she is a recipient of the Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest. Before coming to Clemson, Dr. Limber was the Associate Director at the Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina. She also provided consultation to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on bullying prevention efforts from 2001-2016. Now, she serves as the Graduate Program Director for a PhD in International Family & Community Studies.
KATHRYN KISSKA-SCHULZE, JD, LL.M.
Associate Professor, School of Accountancy
Kisska-Schulze is the Elliott Davis Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Powers College of Business, School of Accountancy. She launched the School of Accountancy’s first Sports Law course in 2024. Her research focuses on the amateur and collegiate sports arena, with particular emphasis given to various tax consequences that could impact the amateur sports industry as it continues to evolve. Kisska-Schulze has published 13 sports-related research articles to date, including one titled “Brute Force (Anti) Federalism,” which won the Holmes-Cardozo Award in 2022. This premier research award is granted by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. She has been invited to present her research or speak on sports law issues at Oklahoma Law School, UC Irvine Law, and various other schools across the country. Previously, she served for three years as Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the internationally recognized Academy of Legal Studies in Business. Additionally, Kisska-Schulze now sits on Clemson’s Faculty Athletic Council.
ETHAN KUNG, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering
Kung is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering. His interdisciplinary research on aspects of cardiovascular biomechanics intersects with athletic performance and human physiology. Kung was awarded the National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop an experimental-computational hybrid modeling framework of the cardiovascular system. This framework can be applied to better understand the complex relationship between exercise and body mechanics. His research has gained supportive funding from the American Heart Association, the Children’s Heart Foundation, and Saving Tiny Hearts Society. Additionally, he is an associate editor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Journal of Biomechanical Engineering and serves on the Executive Committee of the ASME’s Bioengineering Division.
ALEX CHISHOLM, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
Chisholm is as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning. He brings over fifteen years of experience teaching various social sciences in K-12, as well as mentorship experience at the University of Georgia. Chisholm’s research primarily focuses on black social studies, race in education, and civic education. His work explores the relationship between sports and societal development. A top journal in his field, The Social Studies Journal, recently published his article titled “Beyond the Standard: Teaching Civic Engagement Through Black Athlete Activism and Resistance.” At Clemson, Chisholm is also the Secondary Social Studies Student-Teaching Coordinator.
Clemson faculty and staff making contributions to the sports field, broadly defined, are invited to apply to become members of the Institute. Fellows meet twice annually, collaborate on multi-disciplinary projects and are eligible to receive additional funding from RHBSSI for their work. Click here to view the full list of fellows and click here to learn more about becoming a Brooks Fellow.
To kick off the fall 2025 semester, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute welcomes three returning and two new interns. These students enter with impressive skills gained from a variety of experiences to offer innovative ideas that will advance the mission of the Institute.
EVY LANE
Evy Lane is a senior Marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina. In her third semester with the Institute, she will serve as the Communications Lead, which entails creating a content calendar and editing or posting blogs across RHBSSI social media handles.
This past summer, she got the opportunity to write blog posts for the Institute, allowing her to interview faculty and alumni and further explore writing.
“For this semester, I am so excited to be back on campus and create content with our team that will promote the RHBSSI mission, and to learn new skills to help grow our social media,” Lane said.
LUCY HART
Lucy Hart is a senior graduating in December 2025, studying Sports Management with a double minor in Youth Development and Business Administration. From Piedmont, South Carolina, Hart joins the Institute as the Events Lead intern. Her responsibilities will include coordinating the second annual RECESS Symposium and other campus promotional events.
Most recently, she worked as a Destination Experiences Intern with VisitGreenvilleSC, the Destination Marketing Organization for Greenville, South Carolina. In this role, her main project was managing all the volunteers for the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament hosted in Greenville.
On campus, Hart also serves as the Vice President of CHANGE, Clemson’s student ethics organization. CHANGE creates ethical programming at the University-wide and college-wide levels while exposing students to real-life applications of ethical decision-making and ethical leadership.
“I am an enthusiastic leader who brings positivity and motivation to any team I work with, and I am very passionate about serving my community and working with people,” Hart said. “I hope to encourage others to help bring the community together.”
GRIFFIN BARFIELD
Returning as Writing and Editing Lead Intern, Griffin Barfield is a senior Sports Communication major and Spanish minor from Oceanport, New Jersey. Barfield will work throughout the semester to produce articles highlighting research outcomes from faculty fellows and other important members of the sports science community.
Barfield is also Sports Editor of The Tiger, Clemson’s Student Newspaper. This role involves managing a team of student reporters to cover a variety of Clemson athletics. Additionally, he will be writing for Clemson Tigers on Sports Illustrated, mainly focusing on Clemson football and recruiting.
“I’m so excited to be returning to the Institute for my final semester at Clemson,” Barfield said. “I was able to learn more about our Brooks Faculty Fellows, and I’m looking forward to telling more stories about the advances that happen around campus.”
KATIE GERBASICH
Katie Gerbasich is a senior Sports Communication major and Women’s Leadership minor from Houston, Texas. She will be the Institute’s co-writer for the fall semester, assisting the team in detailing the stories of sports science endavors.
Gerbasich previously worked with the Institute in the fall of 2024 as an Events & Writing Assistant. Here, she helped organize the first-ever RECESS Symposium and curated posts on faculty members for the Sports Insight Blog.
In the spring, Gerbasich worked with Clemson Baseball’s Sports Analytics team and wrote sports articles for Tiger View Media. These experiences allowed her to explore different avenues of college athletics while expanding her communication skills.
“I’ve loved watching the Institute grow so much in the last year,” Gerbasich said. “I’m so excited to be back, joining this amazing team and further promoting the development of sports sciences.”
KATHERINE MANN
Katherine Mann is a junior Graphic Communications major and a Business Administration minor from Fort Mill, South Carolina. As Graphic Design lead, she will assist the Institute in creating visual elements for social media and branding purposes.
Mann is heavily involved in her sorority, Delta Gamma, on campus. Previously, Mann served as Director of Social Media putting her in charge of their Instagram and TikTok accounts. Now, she is Vice President of Programming where she helps plan the calendar, sisterhood events, alumnae relations, and DEI events.
“I am so excited to put my design skills to test and see them featured on the socials,” Mann said. “I am also hoping I can help with growing the social media and gain more engagement.”
RHBSSI team (from left to right) Dr. John DesJardins, Evelyn Lane, Maria Pocorobba, and Kayla Rogers
By Evelyn Lane
As the Summer semester comes to an end, the interns of the Robert H. Brooks Sport Science Institute share the opportunities and projects they had, as well as giving us a peek as to what they will be doing in the Fall semester. As the summer team was small and spread across the country for much of the semester, these interns were thrust into new and exciting roles and successfully tackled new challenges and tasks in order to uphold the RHBSSI mission and goals.
Maria Pocorobba
Maria Pocorobba is a senior communications major and business and brand communication minor from Albany, New York, who was the Institute’s content creator this summer. She assisted enhancing Institute manuals, designing content, and creating logos for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute to help communicate effectively with their audience and future interns.
“Working with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute this summer has been an incredible learning experience. One of my favorite projects was designing the new logo and branding materials for the Institute’s fall research symposium – RECESS. I also had the opportunity to contribute to social media content and assist with the Institute’s promotional video,” Pocorobba said. “Each project challenged me to think creatively, adapt quickly, and sharpen my design skills. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a supportive team, and I’m excited to watch the Institute continue to grow and thrive this year.”
In the Fall semester, Pocorobba will be working with Clemson Athletics as both a Graphic Design Intern and a Marketing/Fan Experience Intern. These positions will help her further develop her creative design skills, gain hands-on experience in the sports industry, and play a meaningful role in enhancing the Clemson fan experience, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a passionate and talented athletic department!”
Evelyn Lane
Evelyn Lane is a senior marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina, and was the Institute’s communications lead this summer. She helped format, create and enhance the Insitute’s sports science content through their social channels, along with analyzing analytics to help grow their online presence. She also partook in interviewing RHBSSI faculty fellows and alumni to develop the Sports Insight blog posts highlighiting their research, travels, and career endeavors.
“Getting to continue to work with the Institute this summer has helped me grow in so many different facets of my life and develop new skillsets. Having to take on the role of writing blog posts was so scary at first but I am so thankful now that I tackled it head on,” Lane said. “I got to speak to various members of RHBSSI Faculty Fellows and learn more about their travels around the world which was such an enriching experience for me. I was so lucky to get to learn and write about their stories, because along with learning new things about sports research around the world, I also was able to develop my writing skills and learn how to turn a messy blurb of notes into a cohesive and engaging story for the audience. I am so grateful for the new opportunities I got this summer and will take the skills I learned with me in the future.”
In the Fall semester, Lane will continue with the Institue for a third semester as the communications lead. She is excited to continue growing her communication skills along with learning from her future peers and working with them to enhance and uphold the Institute’s mission.
As summer begins, the Robert H. Brooks Sport Science Institute is excited to introduce the two interns who will be assisting the Institute throughout the summer. Meet Evelyn Lane and Maria Pocorobba, who bring a mix of returning knowledge and new ideas to the summer team.
Evelyn Lane
Evelyn Lane, senior marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina, is the Institute’s communications lead this summer. She will format and enhance sports science content, promoting the RHBSSI mission through social channels. She will also help develop and write content for the Institute’s Sports Insight blog.
“I am so happy to be returning to the Institute to continue to promote the sports research and newest developments of Clemson faculty, staff and students,” Lane said. “I am also so excited to improve my writing and communication skills through creating articles for the Sports Insight blog.”
Evelyn has previously worked as an account manager and brand strategist with Cadency, Clemson’s student-led agency, and is a returning intern with the RHBSSI from the Spring 2025 semester. She is excited to take her experience from the past semester and continue to help grow the Institute’s social media presence, and is eager to work with her fellow intern and see what they can accomplish.
Maria Pocorobba
Maria Pocorobba, senior communications major and minor in business and brand communication from Albany, New York, is the Institute’s content creator this summer. She will be assisting with strategizing, writing and designing content for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute to help communicate effectively with their audiences and promote upcoming events and initiatives.
“I am excited to continue combining my passion for design with sports, and gain more hands-on experience creating engaging visuals that bring RHBSSI’s mission to life and connect with the campus community,” Pocorobba said.”I am excited to bring my creative background and skills to RHBSSI this summer!”
She interned with the Brooke T Smith Launchpad as an Analyst in Residence, was a Creative Designer for Cadency, and is a Graphic Design intern for Clemson Athletics. In these roles, she creates social media content, branding elements, and promotional materials.
The end of the Spring semester means saying goodbye to five RHBSSI interns. These interns helped uphold and spread the RHBSSI mission in various ways, such as through our social media and student-oriented events. They have left a lasting impression on the Institute and shared their insight about their time here.
Griffin Barfield, Writer/Editor
Griffin Barfield is a junior Communication major and Spanish minor. Alongside interning for the Institute, he is the sports editor of The Tiger, Clemson’s student newspaper. He utilized his skills from this position to highlight Clemson University faculty, staff, students and events that align with the Institute. He skillfully translated the work and stories of the Clemson community into captivating sports science pieces for all audiences to enjoy.
“I’m so happy with how my time with the Institute ended up this semester,” Barfield said. “From forming great connections to connecting with Clemson’s campus more, I’m proud of the work I accomplished here this spring.”
Barfield will be graduating from Clemson in December of 2025. This summer, he plans to go back home and continue improving his writing and editorial skills in New Jersey.
“I hope to come back to the Institute next fall as a writing intern again, and as for this summer, I’ll be looking at freelance writing for my local publications in New Jersey.”
Evelyn Lane, Communications Lead
Evelyn Lane is a junior Marketing major and Spanish minor. Before interning at RHBSSI, she was a brand strategist and account manager for Cadency, Clemson’s student-led brand agency. She used her knowledge of social media strategies and analytics to aid the Institute in growing its social media presence and maintaining a cohesive brand image.
“My time with RHBSSI has helped me grow in many different aspects of my life,” Lane said. “I was able to collaborate with people from all different majors and backgrounds; I learned how to be confident in my ideas, and incorporate the ideas of others into the social media plan, and allow everyone to feel heard.”
Lane will stay in Clemson and continue her internship with the Institute this summer.
“I am so excited to continue working with RHBSSI, watching our media presence grow, and figuring out how to utilize each platform to the best of our abilities.”
Natalie Bell, Graphic Designer
Natalie Bell is a graduating senior Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications. While interning with RHBSSI, she was also Cadency’s creative director. This semester marks the end of her two semesters with the Institute, where she has been able to showcase her creative talent.
“I have loved my past two semesters with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. Since I am a Graphic Communications major and Brand Communications minor, I am not in the sports realm. This internship allowed me to participate in the athletics and research side of Clemson University,” Bell said. “I have gotten to be a part of some fantastic opportunities, such as photographing Clemson’s first Paralympic soccer match and designing mini golf scorecards for our Research Symposium. RHBSSI has made me a more well-rounded graphic designer!”
Bell is graduating this May, and her future endeavors are bright.
“Upon graduation on May 8, I will be starting my full-time position as a Graphic Designer for FerebeeLane in Greenville, SC.”
Nicole Souza, Technical Communications Specialist
Nicole Souza is a graduating senior Bioengineering major. During her time with RHBSSI, she conducted research surrounding Real Madrid NEXT technology partners and utilized her scientific skillset to write blog posts about Clemson’s STEM impacts and CHIP (Clemson Headgear Impact Performance) Lab outcomes.
“It’s been amazing getting to see all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into not just sports science, but also supporting the University and its students,” Souza said. “My time at RHBSSI taught me a lot about the side of science I had not seen in my classes, like marketing, communication and outreach, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Although Souza is graduating this May, she plans to continue her path as a Tiger through Clemson’s Master’s program.
“After graduation this May, I’ll be interning at Arthrex as a product management intern, working with orthopedic medical devices and instruments. Even better, I’ll be coming back to Clemson in the fall to start my Master’s of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. Go Tigers!”
Keeleigh Bush, Events Lead
Keeleigh Bush is a graduating senior Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management major with an emphasis in Tourism and Event Management. She is also the public relations chair for the Clemson Events Planners Association. With this background, she has excelled in planning, coordinating and executing speaker events and campus activations.
“I had such a great time serving as the Events Intern this semester,” Bush said. “It was incredibly fun and inspiring to work alongside such a talented group of fellow interns.”
Bush is graduating alongside Souza and Bell this May, and it ecstatic about future opportunities.
“I’m graduating this spring and currently exploring opportunities—excited for what’s ahead and staying open to new possibilities!”
Whether they are staying in Tiger Town or taking their talents elsewhere, we know our interns will thrive in the face of any challenge and we thank them for their hard work this semester!
Coming into the new year of 2025, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute welcomes four new and one returning student intern for the spring 2025 semester. The five come with outstanding backgrounds, looking to bring new ideas and advances to the Institute.
Griffin Barfield
Griffin Barfield is a junior Communication major and Spanish minor from Oceanport, NJ. He is the lead writer and editing intern for the Institute for the spring semester. This role involves providing the University with content about breakthroughs in the sports science community that are occurring at Clemson, interviewing students and faculty about the endeavors.
“I’m excited to get going with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute,” Barfield said. “I’m looking forward to writing about unique advances that are occurring right here on campus and the people behind them.”
In addition to writing with RHBSSI this semester, Barfield is the current sports editor of The Tiger, Clemson student newspaper. While managing a newsroom of over 23 reporters, his experience in this role will help look deeper into the people behind the advances in the sport science world, hoping to tell a one-of-a-kind story.
Evelyn Lane
Evelyn Lane is from Piedmont, SC and is a junior Marketing major with a minor in Spanish. She is the Institute’s communications lead, creating content for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute’s social media handles.
“I am so excited to work with RHBSSI to help promote the Institute and all of the amazing things they do for the faculty, students, and university as a whole,” Lane said. “I am looking forward to continuing to improve my skills in marketing communications and social media strategy, as well as work with my fellow interns and see all the things we will be able to accomplish together.”
Lane previously worked with Cadency, Clemson University’s student-led brand agency, for the last two years. While working with the agency’s social media account and brand strategy, she will look to bring that experience to the Institute in the spring semester.
Natalie Bell
Natalie Bell is a senior Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications from Greenville, SC. Returning from the fall semester, she will continue her work as the lead graphic design intern in the spring with the Institute, creating visual media to benefit sports science efforts at Clemson.
“I am excited to return as the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute graphic design lead!” Bell said. “I loved my experience as a RHBSSI intern last fall. I look forward to seeing how I can further apply my graphic design skills to our events and promotional materials.”
Bell returns with the skills gained from the Institute a semester ago, where she will build off of her work from the fall. She is also currently the creative director in Cadency, looking to continue to use experience from her work there to enhance the Institute.
Nicole Souza
Nicole Souza is a senior Bioengineering major from Duxbury, MA. She will serve as the technical communications specialist, acting as the technical knowledge base for concepts and technologies related to the events in sports science. She will also help with getting a firsthand look at the hard work that happens behind the scenes of these endeavors.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute,” Souza said. “It’s just a unique opportunity to collaborate with students from across campus and help share the Institute’s mission.”
Previously, Souza spent time in the industry through valuable internship experiences, working with medical devices and pharmaceutical companies. It has allowed her to receive a strong, technical foundation in science and engineering, which will help recognize the actions that are being done in the field of sports science.
Keeleigh Bush
Keeleigh Bush is from Rutherfordton, NC and is a senior Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management major with an emphasis in Tourism and Event Management. She is the events lead intern for the spring semester, arranging events over the course of the upcoming months.
“I am extremely excited to get started this semester as the Events lead for the RHBSSI!” Bush said. “This is such an incredible opportunity to expand my network, and apply the skills and experience I have learned over the past three years. I’m looking forward to working with the team and being hands-on this semester.”
Bush also serves as the public relations chair for the Clemson Event Planners Association. With this role, she will use her experience to help plan exciting events for RHBSSI to hold over the course of the spring semester.
The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is thrilled to welcome six new Clemson faculty and staff members to its cohort of fellows beginning Spring 2025.
Marissa Shuffler
Associate Professor, Psychology
Shuffler has over a decade of experience conducting basic and applied research in the areas of team development, leadership and organizational effectiveness. Shuffler is director of Clemson’s DIGITAL (Deriving Innovative & riGorous scIence for Teaming And Leading) Research Lab, supervising a team of graduate and undergraduate students. Her research focuses on the study of scientifically derived, innovative interventions needed to develop, sustain and maximize inter- and intra-team functioning and wellbeing. Shuffler’s work also addresses the challenges of leading and leadership development in high risk and complex environments, including healthcare systems, the military and spaceflight. To date, Shuffler has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator for more than two dozen research projects totaling over $23 million in funding from federal and private entities. In 2017, Shuffler was awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER grant for her research exploring team development interventions and the use of latent profile analysis as a mechanism for better designing interventions for team effectiveness.
Jessica Aviles
Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering
Avilés specializes in understanding how people move, why they move the way they move and how to help them move better. Her passions lie in improving mobility by applying innovative training interventions and assistive devices. Her research interests cover industrial athlete rehabilitation, fall prevention and human factors and ergonomics in healthcare. At Clemson, her work revolves are exoskeletal research. With a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering, Avilés has taught senior-level occupational biomechanics and also the design and analysis of work systems. Avilés is a Brooks grant awardee and principal investigator in the PHASE (Pursuing Health through Adaptation, Sports and Ergonomics) Lab at Clemson.
Tyler Harvey
Senior Lecturer, Bioengineering
Harvey received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Clemson in 2018. Since then, he has taught undergraduate courses in sports engineering, bioengineering design theory, applied biomedical design, bioengineering ethics and entrepreneurship and more. His research interests involve cognitive impacts of virtual reality sports training, sports biomechanics, computational modeling of living systems and more. Harvey is passionate about increasing access to STEM for underserved and underrepresented groups.
Amy Pope
Principal Lecturer, Physics and Astronomy
Pope combines her passion for physics and sports to create engaging learning experiences for students. She teaches Physics of Sports, a course that uses real-world athletic scenarios to illustrate core physics principles. Her contributions to The Conversation on the physics of breakdancing and ski jumping highlight the physical processes behind these Olympic sports, making complex concepts relatable to a broader audience. As a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Pope leverages the universal appeal of sports to make physics more accessible, relevant and engaging for all learners.
Leona Ransdell
4-H Equine Program Leader
Ransdell received her B.S. in Animal Science with an Equine Business concentration from Clemson in 2012. She has served as a 4-H Agent with both the Clemson Cooperative Extension and Virginia Cooperative Extension as the 4-H Equine Program Director. In Virginia, Leona led educational teams to multiple wins at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Championships and managed one of the largest youth-only horse shows on the East Coast. She also coached the Virginia Tech Western and Horse Judging teams and taught equine science and biomechanics courses. Additionally, she earned her AQHA Level 1 Judging Card. Returning to Clemson in 2024, Leona hopes to build on the past successes of the 4-H program in South Carolina with a special focus on the educational events and programs to help mitigate the lack of large animal veterinarians. She is excited to further the interests of the equine industry and bring together stakeholders to address and build a strong future for the equine industry in South Carolina.
Christopher Chouinard
Assistant Professor, Chemistry
After briefly working as a project manager for a contract research lab in Massachusetts, Chouinard received Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida. There, he worked under world-renowned mass spectrometrist Rick Yost and was responsible for integrating drift tube-ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS) into the Yost lab. Chris’ interests at UF involved IM-MS studies of clinical molecules (steroids, Vitamin D metabolites) and he received grant funding through the Partnership for Clean Competition to develop novel IM-MS methods for improved identification of anabolic androgenic steroids in athletes. Chouinard then engaged in a prestigious post-doctoral position at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA where he worked with Dick Smith, another world leader in mass spectrometry, designing and developing a Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations (SLIM) platform that enabled the first integration of LC into the SLIM IM-MS pipeline for improved analysis in phosphoproteomics. Chouinard joined Clemson in 2022 and continues his work in ion mobility-mass spectrometry.
Any Clemson faculty or staff making contributions to the sports field, broadly defined, are invited to apply to become members of the Institute. Fellows meet twice annually, collaborate on multi-disciplinary projects and are eligible to receive additional funding from RHBSSI for their work. Click here to view the full list of fellows and click here to learn more about becoming a Brooks Fellow.
