2024 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium2024 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium
Athletics

2024 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium

The University of Texas at San Antonio is proud to host the American Athletic Conference Academic Consortium's 2024 Academic Symposium. The Consortium funds grants for research in the area of student-athlete well-being, and the Symposium brings together student-athletes, scholars, and athletics staff from The American's member institutions to learn about the results of the research. The symposium also provides a space for collaborative efforts across the membership to discuss and enhance the student-athlete experience. 

We are looking forward to welcoming participants to San Antonio and encourage each of you to experience and enjoy as much of its culture as possible. Registration for the event can be found here. Please note that registration is free. 

 

More information about the Academic Consortium and previously funded research may be found here.

 

2024 AGENDA

Friday, April 12, 2024

5 p.m.

Welcome reception at the UTSA Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence. 
Lisa Campos, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, UTSA

Saturday, April 13, 2024

8:30 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
Taylor Eighmy, President, UTSA
Heather Shipley, Interim Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, UTSA
Mike Aresco, Commissioner, American Athletic Conference
Gregg Michel, Faculty Athletics Representative, UTSA
9 a.m. Keynote Speaker
R.C. Buford, CEO, Spurs Sports & Entertainment
10 a.m. Grant Presentation 1 - “Student-Athletes’ Road to Success in College Life: Factors Influencing Well-being, Athletic, and Academic Performance”
Seok Kang, Ph.D., UTSA
Adel Alaeddini, Ph.D., UTSA
10:45 a.m. Break
11 a.m. Student Panel 1 - “Student-Athlete Mental Health”
Moderator: Summer Rolin, Psy.D., UTSA
Panelists: TBD
11:45 a.m. Grant Presentation 2 - “Mentoring Program to Improve Student-Athlete Psychological Readiness, Academic Performance and Persistence”
Kelly Cheever, Ph.D., UTSA
Summer Rolin, Psy.D., UTSA
12:30 p.m. Lunch & Tour
1:30 p.m. Grant Presentation 3 - “Heat Illness in Elite Athletes: Defining Modifiable Factors in Heat Stress Physiology and the Utility of a Preseason Heat Illness Prevention Acclimatization Protocol”
Rebecca Lopez, Ph.D., University of South Florida
2:15 p.m. Student Panel 2 - “Student-Athletes as Employees”
Moderator: Paul Rogers, Faculty Athletics Representative, SMU
Panelists: TBD
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Grant Presentation 4 - “AAC Student-Athlete Mental Health: Development and Implementation of a Standardized Screening Process”
Trent Petrie, Ph.D., University of North Texas

Sunday, April 14, 2024

9 a.m.

Grant Presentation 5 - “Exploring Mental Health in Athletics: Post-COVID-19 review of athletic department practices and student-athlete barriers to mental health”
Philip Mullins, Ph.D., Wichita State University
9:45 a.m.

Break
10 a.m.

Student Panel 3 - “Building Positive Team Cultures”
Moderator: Brooke Williams, Senior Associate Athletics Director, UTSA
Panelists: TBD
10:45 a.m.

Closing Remarks
Gregg Michel, Faculty Athletics Representative, UTSA