With another school year underway, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is proud to introduce its team of seven student interns for the Fall semester. Including three returning students from previous semesters, this group will help advance the Institute’s mission while preparing for the third annual RECESS Symposium in November. We are excited to see all that this team will contribute!
Kaelyn Gannon Communications Lead
Lucy Hart Events Lead
Ava Ameres Graphic Designer
Kaelyn Gannon joins RHBSSI as the Communications Lead, bringing experience in social media and public relations. Gannon is a fourth-year communication major from South Florida who also serves as a social media intern for Clemson University and a public relations intern with FerebeeLane in Greenville.
Returning for her third semester with the Institute, Lucy Hart will serve as the Events Lead. After graduating from Clemson in December 2025, Hart completed an internship with the Savannah Bananas before returning to Clemson to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. She enjoys spending time outdoors, running and being with her friends and family.
Senior Ava Ameres, a graphic communications major with a minor in brand communications, joins RHBSSI as the Graphic Designer. Ameres recently completed a graphic design internship with the MLB Players Association. Originally from New Jersey, she enjoys cheering on her favorite New York and New Jersey sports teams.
Nathan Inman Motorsports Writer
Aubrey Tarbox Sports ScienceWriter
Shanque Williams Content Developer
Nathan Inman returns to the Institute as a Motorsports Writer for the second semester. A senior double majoring in sports communication and marketing, Inman has been involved with The Tiger since his first year and currently serves as the publication’s associate editor. He spent his summer completing an internship with The Seneca Journal.
Aubrey Tarbox combines her interests in sports and storytelling as RHBSSI’s Sports Science Writer. Tarbox is a junior communication major with a minor in brand communications and spent the summer interning with the San Antonio Missions, a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the San Diego Padres. She currently serves as a senior photographer for The Tiger and is part of the leadership team for Lutheran Campus Ministry.
Shanque Williams brings her experience as a track-and-field student-athlete to help RHBSSI create content this semester. A junior psychology major with a minor in business management, Williams represented Jamaica at the 2025 Pan American U23 Games and helped Clemson’s team win its second consecutive ACC Championship. She hopes to continue competing professionally while exploring a career in real estate.
Jordan Sowell Software Developer
With a passion for programming and emerging technology, junior Jordan Sowell joins as a Software Developer. Jordan is studying computer science with a minor in artificial intelligence and recently built and launched a cloud-based Bible study app using Amazon Web Services. Outside of school and software development, Jordan enjoys cars, video games, and playing basketball.
The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is excited to welcome two new Clemson faculty members to its cohort of Faculty Fellows.
Brook Russell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Applied Statistics, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Dr. Russell is an associate professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (SMSS), with a portion of his research and mentoring activities focusing in sports analytics and human performance. He has collaborated with Paul Hogan, Senior Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning Coach at Clemson University, to understand the extreme athleticism of football players. This collaboration has resulted in the manuscript Analyzing dependence matrices to investigate relationships between National Football League Combine event performances, published in the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports in 2018. In this work, they analyzed National Football League Combine event performances using both extreme-value and non-extremes-based approaches and explored how these approaches can inform the evaluation of NFL prospects. This research was then presented at the New England Symposium on Statistics in Sports in October 2021. Dr. Russell aims to further examine the performance characteristics of elite football prospects and contribute to the growing body of research on sport performance metrics and talent evaluation.
He is also currently partnering with the Institute’s Dan Duncan Professor of Sports Marketing, Dr. Angeline Scheinbaum, to understand how sponsorships of local sporting events impact corporate community involvement.
Divya Srinivasan, Ph.D., CPE
McQueen Quattlebaum Professor of Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering
Dr. Srinivasan is the McQueen Quattlebaum Professor of Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering, and a Faculty Scholar in the Clemson University School of Health Research. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2010. She worked as an EU Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Musculoskeletal Research in Sweden. She joined the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2016 and served as an assistant and associate professor there prior to joining Clemson in 2021. She currently directs the Biomechanics, Ergonomics, Safety and Training laboratories at Clemson University. She is also the director of the Clemson SHERPA Center, which focuses on human performance and worker safety/health. She has over two decades of research experience in human performance assessments, human motion modeling (including digital human modeling), injury prevention, and collaborative and wearable robotics, including exoskeletons to improve performance, health, and safety. Her research program has been funded by multiple grants from the NSF, NIOSH, NIH, and industry sponsors totaling nearly $28 million in the last 10 years, resulting in over 85 peer-reviewed journal publications and almost 200 international conference presentations to date.
This summer, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is excited to welcome back two former interns to the team. Bringing a wide range of experience in communication and event planning, the pair will help lead preparations for the third-annual RECESS symposium while continuing to support the Institute’s mission.
Katie Gerbasich – Communications Lead
Katie Gerbasich graduated this spring from Clemson with a degree in Sports Communication. She has worked with the Institute for the previous three semesters as a writer and editor. Gerbasich hopes to pursue a master’s degree in sports analytics.
“I truly love working with this team,” Gerbasich said. “This new role will be an exciting oppurtunity to continue growing professionally.”
Lucy Hart – Events Lead
Lucy Hart recently graduated from Clemson in December with a degree in Sports Management. Since then, Hart has been working as a People Operations Intern for the Savannah Bananas on the Banana Ball World Tour, gaining hands-on experience in sports operations and event management.
“I can’t wait to come back to RHBSSI as the Events Lead once again,” Hart said. “I am excited to be back in Clemson to complete my master’s in public administration and jump back into my work with the Institute.”
As the Spring semester wraps up, interns from the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute are looking back on their experiences that defined their time with the program. This semester marked the Institute’s largest intern cohort to date, including two Beyond the Game student-athlete interns. From hands-on work in content creation to collaborative storytelling, each intern contributed in unique ways while also beginning to shape their future plans.
Evy Lane – Communications Lead
My favorite moment/memory was interviewing the athletes at the Watt Performance Center and seeing all the different features.
The most valuable thing I’ve learned is that if I am not 100% confident in my skills on a certain task, asking the right people for help and continuing to learn and grow in my proficiency, I can do things I never thought I could.
This summer, I will be interning with The Variable in Winston-Salem, NC!
Sofia Cordi – Events Lead
My favorite memory this semester was seeing everything come together at our RHBSSI events after all of the behind-the-scenes planning. As Events Lead, I spent a lot of time coordinating details, organizing sign-ups, communicating with the team, and helping make sure each event ran smoothly, so it was really rewarding to see people engage with our events in person. I especially enjoyed being able to represent the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute on campus and help create opportunities for students to connect with sports science in a fun and approachable way.
The most valuable thing I learned this semester was how much strong communication and organization matter when working with a team. Event planning involves so many moving parts, and this role helped me become more confident in taking initiative, solving problems, and communicating professionally with different people across campus. I also learned how important it is to stay flexible because plans can change quickly, and being able to adjust while keeping a positive attitude makes a big difference.
After graduation, I will be starting a full-time role with Total Quality Logistics in Greenville, SC. I’m excited to begin my career in recruiting and continue building on the communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills I developed through this internship. Long term, I hope to grow in the HR/recruiting field and use those skills to help create positive workplace experiences for others.
Katie Gerbasich – Writer/Editor
My favorite memory this semester was working the CUPara Soccer game. It was so inspiring to see all the work that went into the event pay off by creating an incredible experience for those kids. The energy was amazing all day. It was truly something I’ll never forget, and I was so grateful to be a part of it.
The most valuable thing I’ve learned this semester is to embrace every opportunity. This semester, I took on tasks I never thought possible, like redesigning our website. Projects like this have truly expanded my professional skill set, making me more confident in myself.
After graduation, I will be staying on with RHBSSI over the summer, then looking to start graduate school at Clemson.
Nathan Inman – Writer/Editor
The whole semester has really been my favorite memory. Getting to take charge and create an entirely new weekly motorsports series has been incredibly fun and rewarding, and it’s something I never even thought I’d be doing when I first came into the position. From interviewing countless students to traveling for hours to shoot photos, it has truly been an amazing journey!
The most valuable thing I’ve learned is you can’t succeed if you don’t try. This semester has taken a ton of effort, but it’s been completely worth it. I’ve gotten to do things I never expected, and it’s all because I had to take the initiative and put in the work.
Post-grad, I hope to work in motorsports in some capacity, whether on the business/marketing side or in journalism/broadcasting. However, that’s still a year away, and in the meantime, I’m doing everything I can to continue gaining experience. This summer I’ll be interning with The Seneca Journal, and next semester I’ll be right back here with the Institute! This semester has been such a blast, and I can’t wait to see what the next one has in store!
Katie Colton – Graphic Designer
My favorite memory of the semester was getting to hang out and meet all of the interns at the tabling event in April.
The most valuable thing I have learned this semester is being able to improve my social media graphic design skills. Also, gaining more practice and experience with Clemson’s branding guidelines for creating graphics was very valuable.
After I graduate in December, I want to work in marketing or graphic design in New York.
To round out this semester’s cohort, RHBSSI also welcomed two Beyond the Game student-athlete interns, who balanced their contributions to the Institute alongside the demands of their sport and academics. Their presence added a valuable perspective to the team and further highlighted the Institute’s commitment to supporting student-athletes in exploring opportunities beyond competition. As the semester comes to a close, the impact of this diverse group of interns will continue to shape the Institute.
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.