Sports Insight

RHBSSI Faculty Fellow founds research service to provide athletes with cutting-edge sports knowledge

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

Rikishi Smith-Rey, faculty fellow of the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute and assistant professor in Clemson University’s Department of Communication, recently founded Sport PhD, a service that seeks to make academic research centered around sports more accessible for athletes.

Smith-Rey is a former Division I athlete and youth soccer coach with extensive research experience in the sports communication and health communication fields. During her coaching years, she was able to apply her academic research to her youth athletes in a very tangible way.

“To me, translational research is so important,” Smith-Rey said. “If our research is just sitting in journals, it’s not helping those that we mean it for. I get a lot of worth out of seeing my research help.”

Rikishi Smith-Rey, a former Division I athlete, is seeking to connect athletes with research about sports to help them succeed in all walks of life.

Smith-Rey was inspired by a former athlete she coached to form Sport PhD, saying, “I still have not seen something that breaks down the knowledge that’s out there for athletes.”

Despite the extensive research on sports, Smith-Rey feels that this research is not accessible enough to athletes, especially those at the youth level. Areas of sport such as recruiting, sleep, nutrition, psychology and mental health are all topics that Smith-Rey seeks to promote to athletes in an accessible way.

Smith-Rey’s founding of Sport PhD was inspired in part by conversations with Brandon Boatwright, Ph.D., another assistant professor in the communication department at Clemson. Clemson women’s soccer student-athlete Ally Lynch has also worked as an intern with Rey this semester, and the pair have done extensive work on starting Sport PhD from the ground up.

Sport PhD has a primary mission to transform athletes into well-rounded individuals and athletes by equipping them with the knowledge and understanding they need to excel in every facet of their game.

Smith-Rey is excited to continue the work of Sport PhD as she works to widen the reach of the company.  

“Sports gave me everything,” Smith-Rey added. “If I can give a little bit back to athletes so that they can understand their sport a little better, that would be super meaningful to me.”

 Those interested in following the development of Sport PhD can find them on LinkedIn and Instagram.  

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RHBSSI College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences faculty spearhead automotive sciences

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is proud to have as part of its cohort of faculty members two College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences representatives, both from the Department of Automotive Engineering. 

Johnell Brooks, Ph.D.

Brooks is an associate professor in the Department of Automotive Engineering with a master’s in applied psychology – human factors engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology. 

A Clemson University alumnus, Brooks has been at Clemson for over two decades and has been at the forefront of the University’s automotive vehicle research, primarily focusing on the interface of humans and automobiles. 

Brooks has led Clemson’s Deep Orange vehicle designs and research, working with a research team and automotive manufacturers to enable aging drivers, wounded warriors and youth with autism to maximize their independence. 

Click here to learn more about Brooks.

Qilun Zhu, Ph.D.

Zhu is a research associate professor in the Department of Automotive Engineering with a master’s in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in Automotive Engineering. 

Zhu’s research is focused on the optimal control and estimation of automotive powertrain components and systems. He is a member of the Automotive and Transportation Systems Technical Committee and Automotive Controls Technical Committee. 

An Institute Faculty Fellow since 2017, Zhu has taught several courses at Clemson, including Advanced and Electrified Powertrains (AUE 402) and Automotive Control Systems (AUE 827). 

Click here to learn more about Zhu.

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United Row captivates audience at 2024 Robert H. Brooks Lecture in Sports Sciences

Posted on by Kayla Rogers
Anna McLean and Jenny D'Anthony speak to the crowd during the sports science lecture in Freeman Hall on March 26, 2024.
Anna McLean and Jenny D’Anthony speak to the crowd during the sports science lecture in Freeman Hall on March 26, 2024.

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute was thrilled to host United Row on March 26 for a sports science lecture in Freeman Hall, where two Clemson alumnae spoke to students, faculty and community members about their upcoming 2,800-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. 

At the lecture, Jenny D’Anthony and Anna McLean, former members of the Clemson rowing team, previewed their row across the Pacific. Attendees of the lecture were able to hear what exactly goes into the estimated 60-day trip and the challenges and thrills that come with it.

Competing in the World’s Toughest Row competition in June, D’Anthony and McLean discussed the equipment they use on their boat, their food and water systems and the mental fortitude it takes to complete the challenge. 

“We felt so welcomed and taken care of during our stay and really appreciate everything the Institute did to make it a success,” D’Anthony said. “Everything was well organized and done professionally, really speaking to the nature of work the Institute does.”

Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute Interim Director John DesJardins (left) presents a $5,000 check to Anna McLean (middle) and Jenny D'Anthony (right) during the Institute's sports science lecture on March 26.
Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute Interim Director John DesJardins (left) presents a $5,000 check to Anna McLean (middle) and Jenny D’Anthony (right) during the Institute’s sports science lecture on March 26.

At the end of the lecture, RHBSSI Interim Director John DesJardins presented United Row with a $5,000 check to sponsor the team. D’Anthony and McLean have already said that the money will go toward SAT phones and a BGAN device for the June expedition. In return, the Institute will have a sticker on United Row’s boat during the journey across the Pacific. 

“The institute was excited to bring to campus two remarkable young alumni, to share their Clemson journey, and engage us in their remarkable challenge to row across the Pacific,”  DesJardins said. “Anna and Jenny define the Clemson spirit in their pursuit of excellence, and we are proud to support their cause.”

“We hope to continue to promote and share the great work at the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute,” D’Anthony added. “We are incredibly excited to see where it goes and thrilled to be a part of it.”

Jenny D'Anthony and Anna McLean give audience members the chance to try out the bagged meals they will be eating during the 60-day row across the Pacific Ocean.
Jenny D’Anthony and Anna McLean give audience members the chance to try out the bagged meals they will be eating during the 60-day row across the Pacific Ocean.

Along with students and faculty in attendance, Clemson rowing head coach Stephen Frazier Wong and IPTAY Assistant Director of IPTAY Major Gifts Jordan Roper were also present. Partnered with IPTAY and the Hear Her Roar Campaign, United Row has worked closely with Roper to raise awareness and financial support for Clemson’s women student-athletes.

“As a fund raiser, who’s also a former student-athlete, being able to work with Anna and Jenny and United Row, and them deciding to choose Hear Her Hoar as the campaign that they want to fundraise for, is special,” Roper said at the lecture.

Anna McLean (left) and Jenny D'Anthony (right) join the Clemson Rowing team for practice on Lake Hartwell the morning of March 26.
Anna McLean (left) and Jenny D’Anthony (right) join the Clemson Rowing team for practice on Lake Hartwell the morning of March 26.

The morning of the lecture, D’Anthony and McLean visited Clemson rowing practice as the sun rose earlier that day and later partnered with the Clemson Department of Bioengineering for a lunch and learn. 

McLean and D’Anthony were members of Clemson’s rowing team beginning in 2014 until they graduated from Clemson in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2022, McLean, from the United Kingdom, and D’Anthony, from the United States, formed United Row.

Those interested in supporting United Row may visit the team’s website. Any sponsorship or donation will go directly to supplies for the boat or fundraising efforts for the Hear Her Roar Campaign. D’Anthony and McLean will begin their journey across the Pacific on June 8.

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RHBSSI College of Business faculty members engage students and industry

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is proud to have as part of its cohort of faculty members three College of Business representatives: two from the Department of Marketing and one from the Department of Graphic Communications.

Angeline Close Scheinbaum serves as RHBSSI’s Dan Duncan Legacy Professor of Sports Marketing, while Amanda Cooper Fine and Erica Walker are active members of the Brooks Faculty Fellows.

Department of Marketing

Angeline Scheinbaum, Ph.D.

Scheinbaum is an associate professor of sports marketing at Clemson, with a master’s in advertising and a doctorate in marketing from the University of Georgia. Her research interests include consumer behavior and psychology, integrated brand promotion, experiential sponsorship marketing and sports in social media.

Besides teaching sports marketing and services marketing at Clemson, Scheinbaum serves on the editorial review boards for Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Advertising, Journal of Advertising Research, and Journal of Business Research and as a reviewer for Journal of Marketing and Journal of Consumer Research.

Scheinbaum recently presented at the 2024 Clemson Marketing Research Symposium where she delved into the exploration of online consumer behavior in the alcoholic beverages industry. Her current research focuses on hedonic retail purchases, incorporating both quantitative clickstream data and qualitative online customer reviews.

Click here to learn more about Scheinbaum.

Amanda Cooper Fine

Fine is a principal lecturer in sports marketing at Clemson, with both an MBA and master’s in marketing from Clemson University. While completing her graduate degrees, Fine worked for the Clemson Spiro Institute as a business opportunity analyst as well as for Clemson Tiger Sports Properties as a marketing assistant. Before graduate school, she worked in the Corporate Partner Services department for four years at Atlanta Spirit, LLC, parent company of the Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Hawks, and operating rights owner of Philips Arena. Her internship experience includes spending one year in the Corporate Sales department of the Atlanta Braves. 

Fine has taught a variety of courses at Clemson, including:

  • Principles of Marketing
  • Sports Marketing
  • Sports Marketing Strategy
  • Creative Inquiry
  • Who Decides What’s Cool?

Fine hosts an annual speaker series in her Sports Marketing Strategy class that brings in notable figures from the sports marketing industry. Recent guests have attended from EA Sports, CCL and the Sports BusinessJournal. Fine takes pride in being able to connect students directly to the sports industry through these interactions. 

Amanda Fine's marketing strategy class spring 2024

Fine also hosts the Tiger Paw Classic, an annual golf tournament and honors-level creative inquiry program at Clemson put on by marketing students, from sponsorship through event day setup. 

Click here to learn more about Fine.

Department of Graphic Communications

Erica Walker, Ph.D.

Walker is an associate professor in graphic communications with degrees in film production (BFA), graphic communications (MS) and curriculum/instruction (Ph.D.). Her current research areas include historic photographic processes, project-based learning, color management for print and video, and the intersection of print/art. With a diverse background in visual communications spanning feature film production, photography, web design and development, marketing, and visual machine learning, Walker has taught courses in the following areas at Clemson:

  • Graphic Communications 1040, Graphic Communications I
  • Graphic Communications 2400, Intermediate Web Design & Development
  • Graphic Communications 3400, Digital Imaging & eMedia
  • Graphic Communications 3450, Video Campaigns || Role: Instructional Designer
  • Graphic Communications 3600, All Things Front End: UX || Role: Instructional Designer
  • Graphic Communications 4900, Brand Design & Creative Direction || Role: Instructional Designer
  • Graphic Communications 4510, Advanced Web Design & Development
  • Graphic Communications 4510, Entrepreneurship in the Graphic Communications Industries
  • Graphic Communications 4900, The Design and Entrepreneurship Network (The DEN)
  • Graphic Communications 4900, Digital Media Design || Role: Instructional Designer
  • Graphic Communications 4900, Film and Video in the Digital Age || Role: Instructional Designer
  • Graphic Communications 4900, Science Documentary Filmmaking
  • Graphic Communications 4900, Analog Photography at the Intersection of Printing & Research

RHBSSI is proud to support Walker’s innovative ColorNet AI solution, which you can learn more about on the CURF website.

Click here to learn more about Walker.

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How the Clemson rowing team inspired two alumnae to row the Pacific

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

With March marking Women’s History Month, the Clemson Athletics and sports science communities have plenty to celebrate, including several women’s varsity programs at the University, one of which is the rowing team.

Competing in its first-ever season in 1999, the Clemson women’s rowing team has an enriched history and has been a staple of Clemson Athletics for two-and-a-half decades.

After Clemson announced it was adding a varsity women’s program in 1997, two years later, the Tigers were on Lake Hartwell practicing and competing. Since then, the team has accomplished great feats and has even climbed all the way to the mountain top in NCAA competition. 

One decade after being established as a program, Clemson’s Varsity 4+ team captured Clemson’s first-ever national championship at the NCAA Rowing Championships in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in 2009.

That championship helped pave the way for future rowing athletes to attend and compete at Clemson University, two of whom are set to speak at the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute’s (RHBSSI) annual lecture series later this month.

An attempt at a world record

In honor of Women’s History Month, RHBSSI is proud to be hosting Jenny D’Anthony and Anna McLean on March 26 in Freeman Hall for its annual lecture series.

The duo will speak about their ongoing preparation for the estimated 60-day trip from Monterey Bay, Calif., to Kauai, Hawaii, as a part of the World’s Toughest Row competition. From taking two-hour sleeping shifts to burning 10,000 calories a day to desalinating ocean water, D’Anthony and McLean will begin their journey across the Pacific on June 8.

Jenny D’Anthony (left) and Anna McLean (right) are set to row the Pacific Ocean in June but will speak on Clemson University’s campus beforehand in March.

For months, the pair has been training to be the youngest and fastest female athletes to row across the Pacific Ocean. As a part of their mission, D’Anthony and McLean are raising money for the Hear Her Roar campaign, which brings awareness and financial support to Clemson’s female student-athletes.

McLean and D’Anthony were members of Clemson’s rowing team beginning in 2014 until they graduated from Clemson in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2022, McLean, from the United Kingdom, and D’Anthony, from the United States, formed United Row.

D’Anthony credits her time at Clemson for the person she is today and her motivation to complete the upcoming row across the Pacific. 

“My Clemson experience was nothing short of incredible,” D’Anthony told Iptay. “It transformed me in ways well beyond athletics. Opening my eyes and mind to things I never thought possible. I wear the paw with pride and am grateful for the opportunity to represent and give back to my alma-mater. I am incredibly excited to immerse myself in an all-consuming challenge, where I will test my limits both physically and mentally. There are few, if any, times in life you can entirely devote your attention to one goal. This is one incredible exception.”

As for McLean, her experience as a Tiger already inspired her to row the Atlantic Ocean with her brother in 43 days, 15 hours and 22 minutes in 2019. Now, she’s onto an even bigger challenge with her best friend. 

“As a student-athlete at Clemson I was able to meld my love for rowing alongside my passion for business,” McLean told Iptay. “Surrounded by such driven and highly successful students empowered me to ‘never settle’ (but) rather continue striving for more. From mornings on Lake Hartwell to months in the Atlantic Ocean, and now with dreams even bigger, conquering the Pacific, I am beyond grateful for the foundation Clemson laid and humbled to be giving back to my alma mater and supporting future generations to pursue their dreams too.”

Clemson students, faculty, alumni and community members are invited to hear D’Anthony and McLean discuss their upcoming 2,800 nautical-mile rowing competition. The talk with RHBSSI will begin at 6 p.m. EST on March 26 in the Freeman Hall auditorium, followed by a reception with food and refreshments in the Freeman Hall gallery from 7-8 p.m.

Those interested should RSVP for the event at clemsonsportslecture.rsvpify.com.

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From adaptive sport enhancement to concussion symptom reporting, six Institute fellows from Clemson’s CBSHS make an impact

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute is proud to have six faculty fellows from the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences as part of its cohort. These faculty members have played an instrumental role in the Institute and have been at the forefront of sports science research at Clemson University.

Skye Arthur-Banning, Jasmine Townsend and Ashlyn Hardie are active faculty members in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM). Gregory Cranmer, Virginia Harrison and Rikishi Rey serve in the Department of Communication.

PRTM

Skye Arthur-Banning, Ph.D.

Arthur-Banning is an associate professor in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management whose research is primarily focused on amateur sports, sport development, para/adaptive sport programs and mental health and sport. He actively serves on the Head of Officials for the International Federation of Cerebal Palsy Football, on the Board of Directors for the United States Association for Blind Athletes, and as an International Paralympic Committee NPC Development Mentor for the country of Mexico. Along with his participation in the Institute, he is the co-founder of the U.S. Center for Mental Health and Sport where he currently serves as the director of research and development.

Arthur-Banning has taught a variety of courses through his years at Clemson, including: 

  • Group Process in PRTM
  • The Power of Sport
  • Trends and Issues in Sport Management
  • Amateur Sport Management
  • Introduction to Sport Management
  • Tanzania Service-Learning Study Abroad (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
  • Paralympic Mega Sport Events Study Abroad (2010 Vancouver, 2012 London, 2014 Sochi. Pyeongchang)

Click here to learn more about Arthur-Banning. 

Jasmine Townsend, Ph.D.

Townsend is an associate professor in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management whose research focuses on the outcomes of participation in recreational therapy and the transformative nature of adaptive sports. 
She is program coordinator for the PRTM Recreational Therapy concentration, director of the Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation Lab (learn more below), and chair of the Clemson University Athletic Council.

Here are some of the courses Townsend has taught at Clemson: 

  • Implementation & Evaluation in Recreational Therapy: Physical Health Conditions
  • Adaptive Sports and Recreation
  • Applied Research Methods in Recreational Therapy
  • Program Development and Consulting in Recreational Therapy
  • Doctoral Residencies I, II, III and IV
  • Higher Education in PRTM
  • Teaching Pedagogy in Recreational Therapy Education
  • Research Practicum
  • Public Data Analysis

Click here to learn more about Townsend.

Ashlyn Hardie, Ph.D.

Hardie is a tenure-track assistant professor in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management and the newest member of the Institute’s faculty fellows. She has a multidisciplinary background in sport management, business administration, kinesiology and international nonprofit management. Her research focuses primarily on cross-cultural and cross-sectoral exchanges in the sport sector, building sustainable programs and partnerships, using sport for positive social change, and empowering women in and through sport. She coached collegiate men’s and women’s soccer (a former collegiate athlete herself) before pursuing a career in the international sport for development and peace sector. She is currently on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Sport for Development.

During her short time at Clemson, she has helped build the Sport and Recreation Management emphasis area for undergraduate students in PRTM, and has played a key role in jumpstarting graduate-level courses in sport management. To date, she has taught Trends in Sport Management, Introduction to Sport Management and a graduate seminar on Contemporary Issues in Sport. She is in the processes of creating a new graduate course, Organizations & Administration in Sport, for the Fall 2024 semester.

Click here to get to know Hardie.

Communication

Gregory Cranmer, Ph.D.

Cranmer is an associate professor in Sports Communication who has been at Clemson since 2016 and the Institute since 2017. He has three primary research areas, examining how sports groups can function more efficiently, how concussion symptom reporting can impact intervention, and how external stakeholders can make sense of the policies and procedures of sports organizations. Cranmer conducts professional consulting focused on fostering practical communication skills and assisting individuals in adjusting to new social groups and roles.

Cranmer has taught the following courses at Clemson: 

  • Advanced Sports Communication
  • Interpersonal and Family Communication & Sport
  • Sport, Communication, and Society
  • Communication & Sport Socialization
  • Survey of Sports Communication
  • Quantitative Research Methods
  • Communication Theory

Learn more about Cranmer here.

Virginia Harrison, Ph.D.

Harrison is an assistant professor in Communication and researches the concept of stewardship in donor/supporter communications and relationship building. She has worked closely with the Greenville Triumph and also researches how corporate social responsibility in sports impacts stakeholder relationships. 

Harrison has taught the following courses: 

  • Communication in Sports Organizations
  • Survey of Sports Communication
  • Public Relations for Nonprofits
  • Public Relations Writing
  • Public Relations Campaigns
  • Mass Media and Society

Click here to learn more about Harrison.

Rikishi Rey, Ph.D.

A former Divison I soccer player, Rey is an assistant professor in Health and Sport Communication and recently earned her Ph.D. in Communication from Chapman University in 2022. Her research is focused on strategic communication, sports marketing, athlete-coach communication, and health and sport communication. Most recently, she has worked closely with Cranmer and Arthur-Banning as a Co-PI investigating the efficacy of Concussion Legacy Foundation’s Team Up Against Concussions intervention in high school student-athletes and The U.S. Center for Mental Health and Sport, and is actively working with Power of Patients founder Lynne Beckner to further develop an app called Sallie for TBI patient symptom reporting. 

Here are some of the courses Rey has taught: 

  • Advanced Sport Communication
  • Communication and Health
  • Communication Theory
  • Effective Sport/Org Communication
  • Health and Sport Communication
  • Introduction to Communication
  • Social Media and Sport Communication
  • Strategic Communication in Sport
  • Survey of Sports Communication

Learn more about Rey here.

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Faculty fellows from Clemson Athletic Leadership program support athlete growth

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute (RHBSSI) is proud to have as part of its cohort of faculty fellows three members from the Clemson University College of Education who serve within the Athletic Leadership program. Michael Godfrey, Sarah Stokowski and Deborah Cadorette participate in the program in different capacities and are passionate about athlete growth and development.

College of EDUCATION

Michael Godfrey, Ph.D.

Michael Godfrey

Godfrey is a senior lecturer and graduate program coordinator in Athletic Leadership who has worked at Clemson for over two decades. His research interests include athletic culture and leadership, athletics in higher education and student athlete development.

Godfrey has taught many courses at Clemson over the years, including:

  • AL 350 Exercise Physiology
  • AL 353 Theory and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
  • AL 352 Kinesiology
  • AL 362 Psychology of Coaching
  • AL 361 Organization and Administration of Athletic Programs
  • AL 862 Psychological Issues in College Athletics
  • AL 849 Principles of Athletic Leadership Development
  • AL 8500 Strength and Conditioning
  • AL 8440 Research methods of Intercollegiate Athletic Programs
  • AL 8630 Social Dynamics of Intercollegiate Athletics
  • AL 8710 Governance and Policy of Intercollegiate Athletics

Click here to get to know more about Michael Godfrey.

Sarah Stokowski, Ph.D.

Stokowski is an associate professor in Athletic Leadership and a proud Clemson graduate. Her research interests include career maturity, athlete identity and athlete transition in the area of collegiate athlete personal development literacies.

Stokowski’s career highlights include:

  • AERA Early-Career Award in Education and Sport
  • College Sport Research Institute (CSRI) Research Fellow
  • Robert H. Brooks Sport Science Institute Fellow
  • United States Center for Mental Health and Sport Renowned Research Fellow
  • Founding Editor-in-chief Journal of Athlete Development and Experience
  • 2018-2021 NCAA CHOICES grant recipient
  • United States Department of Veteran Affairs grant recipient
  • NASSM executive committee, member-at-large (2019-2021)

Click here to get to know more about Sarah Stokowski.

Deborah Cadorette

Cadorette is a principal lecturer and undergraduate program coordinator in Athletic Leadership, who has taught courses at Clemson in coaching, organization and administration of athletic programs. Her research interests include cognitive and learning style influences of teaching/coaching, and positive psychology and learning environments. Cadorette has a bachelor’s in physical education, a master’s in sports administration and a postgraduate degree in educational leadership.

Click here to get to know more about Deborah Cadorette.

Athletic Leadership opportunities at Clemson

The athletic leadership program in the Clemson University College of Education addresses the need of leadership development and ethical decision making in the intercollegiate athletic coaching and administrative community. The program offers an undergraduate minor, an online and blended master’s degree, and a master’s certificate.

Through the Athletic Leadership minor, students bring to the classroom a wealth of life experiences in athletics. Coaching philosophies are shared and discussed. Students learn various styles of coaching and reflect on the coaching they witnessed as athletes. Students determine personal philosophies based on their beliefs and principles, and develop these philosophies through discussion and interaction. Click here to learn more about the minor.

The Athletic Leadership master’s degree provides current and aspiring coaches and administrators – especially those at the intercollegiate level – an opportunity to obtain a graduate degree that focuses on leadership, ethics and coaching development within the current landscape of athletics in educational settings. This program promotes personal and professional growth in leadership, coaching integrity and community influence. Click here to learn more about the graduate degree. Click here to learn more about the master’s certificate.

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Clemson faculty invited to submit sports science grant proposals for upcoming academic year

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

Clemson faculty from any department and discipline are invited to apply for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute’s seed grant program for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Due in InfoEd by March 29, proposals should aim to accelerate Clemson faculty members’ ability to address significant scientific and societal problems associated with and improve the human condition through sports, broadly defined. The ideal outcome is to achieve nationally and internationally recognized research programs with external funding, significant awards, or scientific products. These efforts should support key areas that align with the Clemson Elevate strategic plan.

RHBSSI seed grant funding is intended to serve as a catalyst to move selected projects to a point that makes them highly competitive submissions for future external funding and impact. By the nature of the targeted funding, successful proposals will likely include multiple faculty members and/or students, multiple disciplines, and perhaps researchers and participants from other institutions, as long as the principal investigator is from Clemson.

Faculty must work with their college-sponsored programs support center to submit their proposals of $30,000 or less through the InfoEd portal in accordance with college-sponsored programs support center procedures. Click here to learn more about the requirements and application process.

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Meet our student interns for spring 2024

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

After launching the inaugural internship program at the start of the fall 2023 semester, the Robert H. Brooks Science Institute is excited to introduce its two new student interns for the spring 2024 semester. 

The institute had a competitive application process for the internship positions, but these two candidates stuck out based on their experience, work ethic and abilities. 

Justin Robertson

Justin Robertson, a senior sports communication major from Dayton, Maryland, is the institute’s marketing and communications intern this semester. He will monitor sports-related content on campus, interview students and faculty for content and help oversee the institute’s social media presence and Sports Insights blog. 

“I am thrilled to begin this new position and help the institute grow,” Robertson said. “The research and work that the institute’s legacy professors and fellows carry out on a daily basis is nothing short of exceptional. I can’t wait to help share their work with the public and inform people about the impact that the institute has in the sports science landscape.”

Robertson currently serves as the Associate Editor of Clemson University’s student newspaper, The Tiger, where he has gained extensive experience writing and reporting on sports-related content that he hopes will contribute to the institute’s mission. 

Lauren Crumley

Lauren Crumley, a senior sports communication major from Haddonfield, New Jersey, is the institute’s events intern this semester. She will aid in event planning and setup, coordinate event operations for the institute’s lecture series and work with faculty on special projects. 

“I’m super excited to be working as the events intern for the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute this semester,” Crumley said. “I’ve learned a lot from my previous experiences in the areas of event planning and operations and am looking forward to continuing that with the institute. I look forward to displaying the mission of the institute through the lecture series and more!”

Crumley is a member of Clemson’s rowing team and recently accepted a postgraduate internship in championships operations at the NCAA. 

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Faculty fellow named legacy professor of sports management

Posted on by Kayla Rogers

One of the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute’s dedicated faculty fellows has been named as the Mark Brooks Legacy Professor in Sports Management.

Professor Greg Ramshaw, Ph.D., PRTM

Following the retirement of Sheila Backman from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, the department named Gregory Ramshaw, Ph.D., to the legacy professor position this month. Ramshaw has been a valued member of the institute since 2017 and now takes on a legacy role in the name of Robert H. Brooks’ son, Mark Brooks, who tragically passed away in a 1993 plane crash along with three other colleagues.

Ramshaw is a professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. His research explores the social construction and cultural production of heritage, with a particular interest in sport-based heritage. Through fellowship professional development funds, the institute supported Ramshaw’s 2018 research project on harnessing the power of Clemson Football memories to improve the cognitive functioning of South Carolinians with dementia, and the publishing of two recent books that he wrote and co-edited: Heritage and Sport: An Introduction (Channel View, 2020) and Baseball and Cultural Heritage (University Press of Florida, 2022). Ramshaw is currently working on a project that examines the factors that lead to larger soccer teams becoming tourist attractions.

As a legacy professor, Ramshaw will look to build a more in-depth program of study in his discipline by recruiting and encouraging other faculty and students to contribute to the institute’s mission, as well as carrying on the legacy of Robert and Mark Brooks. 

Visit Clemson.edu/Brooks-Sports to learn more about our legacy professors and the many faculty engaged in our institution. 

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