IRVING, Texas – The 2022 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium, the signature event of the conference’s academic consortium, returns as an in-person event this week at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the campus of the University of Memphis.
The symposium, presented by the American Athletic Conference Academic Consortium, will bring together scholars and students engaged in research related to student-athlete well-being. Faculty, students and staff from The American’s member institutions will participate and share information to foster the development of scholarly collaboration among the membership.
The symposium will be held in-person for the first time since 2019. The 2021 symposium was conducted remotely from the University of South Florida after the 2020 symposium was canceled due to the pandemic. The first symposium was held at Temple in 2017 before the event moved to UCF in 2018 and Tulsa in 2019.
The 2022 symposium will begin Thursday, April 7, with a reception at the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Complex, where Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland joins American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco, University of Memphis President Dr. Bill Hardgrave and Athletic Director Laird Veatch will welcome the attendees.
The formal program begins Friday, April 8, with presentations of grant-funded research and topical discussions. This year’s agenda includes a broad range of topics, including injury prevention and nutrition, mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the future of Division I athletics.
The symposium concludes Saturday, April 9, with a keynote address from Felicia Martin, Interim Senior Vice President of Inclusion, Education and Community Engagement with the NCAA.
The American Athletic Conference Academic Consortium was founded in 2016 as a presidential initiative by the conference’s member institutions to promote academic excellence and to develop opportunities for collaboration and professional development for faculty, administrators, and students. The core focus of the consortium is the establishment of research and formulation of programming relative to student well-being, with particular emphasis on the issues surrounding college athletics. The consortium aims at fostering partnerships among member institutions and developing initiatives that advance the academic mission at each institution.
2022 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium
FedEx Institute of Technology | University of Memphis
April 7-9, 2022
Thursday, April 7
Welcome Reception
5-6:30 p.m. | Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Complex
Dr. Bill Hardgrave President, University of Memphis
Laird Veatch Vice President, Director of Athletics, University of Memphis
Jim Strickland Mayor, City of Memphis
Mike Aresco Commissioner, American Athletic Conference
Friday, April 8
Opening Remarks 8:45 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Mike Aresco Commissioner, American Athletic Conference
introduction by Lynda Black, Associate Professor of Law, University of Memphis
Grant Presentation 9 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Tiger Bites — A Hands-On Nutrition Approach to Improving
Student Health and Performance
Mary Catherine Schallert Clinical Associate Professor,
University of Memphis College of Health Sciences
Marlon Dechausay Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare,
University of Memphis
Guest Presentation 10 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Updates From the NCAA Sport Science Institute: Let’s Talk About Cannabis, Mental Health and More
Anne Rohlman Director of Policy, Education and Strategic Engagement,
NCAA Sport Science Institute
introduction by Christine Copper, Professor of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy
Grant Presentation 11:15 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Examining Leadership and Career Development Initiatives: Perceptions of Student-Athletes and Athletic Department Staff Within the American Athletic Conference
Dr. Elizabeth Taylor Assistant Professor, Temple University School of Sport Tourism
and Hospitality Management
Dr. Matt Huml Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati
College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services
Student Panel 1 p.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Mental Health: Stories and Insights From Student-Athletes
Jamaya Fleming University of Memphis (Track and Field)
Kayce Litzau Wichita State University (Volleyball)
Gideon Adu Peprah University of Central Florida (Soccer)
Thomas Wells University of Tulsa (Soccer)
moderated by Katie Power, University of Houston (Swimming and Diving)
Grant Presentation 2 p.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Influence of Sports Bra Support on Common Biomechanical Predictors of ACL Injury
Dr. Douglas Powell Associate Professor, University of Memphis
College of Health Sciences
Hailey Fong Graduate Student, University of Memphis
College of Health Sciences
Remote Presentation 3 p.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
A Conversation About Transformation
Jeri Beggs Professor, Illinois State University College of Business
Troy Dannen Ben Weiner Director of Athletics, Tulane University
Kendall Spencer Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
moderated by Christine Copper, Professor of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy
Student Panel 4:15 p.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Through Student-Athletes’ Eyes
Tiara Chambers East Carolina University (Basketball)
Quindell Johnson University of Memphis (Football)
Jackie Terpak Temple University (Gymnastics)
Lanyce Williams University of Memphis (Basketball)
Franklin Agunanne Southern Methodist University (Basketball)
moderated by Ra’Von Bonner, Temple University (Football)
Saturday, April 9
Student Panel 8:30 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Living the Life: The Student-Athlete Experience
Ella Anciaux Wichita State University (Basketball)
Sierra Cheatham Tulane University (Basketball)
Sofia Gkritzali University of Cincinnati (Basketball)
Marcus Murphy University of South Florida (Soccer)
Jasmine Jolly Southern Methodist University (Track and Field)
moderated by Sion James, Tulane University (Basketball)
Guest Presentation 9:30 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Dr. Jonathan Howe Assistant Professor, Temple University
School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality
introduction by Christine Copper, Professor of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy
Grant Presentation 10:35 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
The Necessity of Social Support: Administrators’ Insights on the Development and Retention of American Athletic Conference Student-Athletes
Dr. Brennan Berg Associate Professor of Sport Commerce, University of Memphis
Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
introduction by Christine Copper, Professor of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy
Keynote 11:30 a.m. | FedEx Institute of Technology
Felicia Martin Interim Senior Vice President of Inclusion, Education and
Community Engagement, NCAA
introduction by Lynda Black, Associate Professor of Law, University of Memphis