Sport Management Staff

Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Doctor of Education | Postsecondary Educational Leadership

Dissertation title: The Impact of a head coaching change on intercollegiate student-athletes

Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Master of Science | Recreation and Sport Administration

Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Bachelor of Arts | Public Relations; Marketing Minor

RSA 558: Intercollegiate Compliance

SPM 200: Introduction to Sport Management

SPM 290: Sport Management Seminar

SPM 300: Public Policy in Sport

SPM 315: Sport Communication

SPM 335: Global Perspectives in Sport

SPM 350: Intercollegiate Athletics Administration

SPM 450: Sport Governance

SPM 452: Sport Leadership and Management

SPM 454: Sport Law

SPM 490: Internship in Sport

Selected Publications:

Forsythe, S. A., Fridley, A., Corr, C., Stokowski, S., Ezike, N. C. (2023). Pledging engagement: Motivations and intentions for college sport attendance among Greek-letter organizations. Journal of Applied Sport Management (in press). 

Fridley, A., Anderson, A., Stokowski, S., Forsythe, S. A., (2023). Diversity matters: Highlighting the differences in sport consumption motives of marginalized college students [Special Issue]. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 23(3), p. 485-499. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-01-2022-0025 

Fridley, A., Springer, D., Paule-Koba, A. L., Forsythe, S. A., & Stokowski, S. (2022). “He’s an asshole”: Power 5 college football athletes navigating a “shady” coaching transition” [Special Issue]. Sports Innovation Journal, 3(SI), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.18060/26004

Forsythe, S. A., Upright, P. A., Mergenthal, R.*, & Sullivan, D. J. (2021). Utilizing a personality assessment and programming in Division I football: An exploratory study. Journal of Student-Athlete Educational Development and Success, 3, 61-87. 

Upright, P.A. & Forsythe, S.A. (2021). A review of qualitative research in sport management: utilizing a descriptive case study design. KySHAPE Journal, (58)2, 64-70. 

Irvin, R., Stokowski, S., Dittmore, S.W., Forsythe, S.A., & Christian, D.D. (2021). Women’s perceptions of and barriers to mountain biking in northwest Arkansas. KySHAPE Journal, (58)2, 31-44. 

Stokowski, S., Fridley, A., & Kim, K., Forsythe, S. A., & Roberts, S. (2020). Faculty role models: The perceived mentorship of student-athletes, [Special Issue]. Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, 9(1), 1-15.

Forsythe, S. A., Upright, P. A., Mergenthal, R., & Jordan, T. A. (2019). The Impacts of a Head Coaching Change on Intercollegiate Student-Athletes. KAHPERD Journal, 56(2), 73-85.

Jordan, T., Upright, P. & Forsythe, S. A. (2019). Rural Kentucky sports officials’ perspectives on recruitment, training, and retention. KAHPERD Journal, 55(2), 59-72. 

Jordan, T., Upright, P., & Forsythe, S. A. (Fall 2017). Social media and relationship marketing in community sport. KAHPERD Journal, 55(1), 8-19.

Forsythe, S. A. (2015). The impact of a head coaching change on intercollegiate student-athletes (Doctoral dissertation). http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/diss/88/

Selected Presentations:

Forsythe, S. A., Fridley, A., Corr, C., Stokowski, S., & Ezike, N. (2023) Motivations and intentions for college sport attendance among greek-letter organizations. Applied Sport Management Association. Oral Presentation, Birmingham, Alabama, February 24, 2023.

**Morton, J. & Forsythe, S. A. (2023). Personality and player position: An exploratory study. (2023). Applied Sport Management Association. Graduate Research Competition, Birmingham, Alabama, February 24, 2023. 

Fridley, A., Stokowski, S., Velliquette, A. M., Forsythe, S. A., & Rubin, L. M. (2022). The forgotten inherent relationship: Faculty and intercollegiate athletics. College Sport Research Institute Conference on College Sport. Oral Presentation, Columbia, South Carolina, March 24, 2022.

Forsythe, S. A., Stokowski, S., Fridley, A., Croft, C., & Allen, B. L. (2022). Athlete identity and mental health among NCAA Division III college athletes. College Sport Research Institute Conference on College Sport. Oral Presentation, Columbia, South Carolina, March 24, 2022.

Forsythe, S. A., Stoll, G. K. (2021). Academics and athletics: Creating partnerships for research-based athlete development programming. National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) National Conference, Online, June 22, 2021. 

Forsythe, S. A., Mergenthal, R., & Upright, P.A. (2019). Sport Leadership and Management: Utilizing the Birkman Method in the Classroom to Enhance Student Development. North American Society for Sport Management Teaching and Learning Fair, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 28-June 1, 2019.  

Forsythe, S. A., Upright, P.A., & Mergenthal, R., (2019). Managing Stress Behaviors: Utilizing the Birkman Method to Develop a Pilot Program for a Division I College Football Program.   Applied Sport Management Association Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, February 15-16, 2019. 

Forsythe, S. A., Upright, P. A., & Jordan, T. A.  (2018). The Impacts of a Head Coaching Change on Intercollegiate Student-Athletes.  Ninth Annual International Conference on Sport & Society, Miami, Fl, July 2018. 

Forsythe, S. A. (2014). The Impact of a Head Coaching Change on Intercollegiate Student-Athletes. Presentation, European Association for Sport Management Conference, Coventry, England. 

Forsythe, S. A., Upright, P.A., Baker, K.M., and Tolusso, D.V. (2020). Player Development: The Efficacy of the Birkman Method Personality Assessment and Programming. Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists Summit, New York, New York. (Accepted – Conference canceled)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE: 

• National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Student-Athlete Development Programs and Best Practices Committee (2021-2023) 
• Co-Editor, Sport Management Section, Kentucky Society of Health and Physical Education Journal (2020-2021) 

UNIVERSITY SERVICE: 

• Honors College Thesis Chair, “The Impact of Track and Field to the Youth Refugee Community: A Case-Study Analyzing Sense of Belonging and Integration to a New Community” with MHC student, Rafael Teodoro da Silva Souto Borges (2023) 
  • Designed Distinguished by CE/T Committee 
  • Received Thesis of the Year Award by MHC  
• Colonnade General Education Committee – Chair (2022-Present) 
• Colonnade Committee Member (Fall 2019-Present) 
• Senate Executive Committee Member (2022-Present)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Athlete Development and Experience (2022-Present) 
• WKU Faculty Senate: At Large Member (2018-2022) 
• WKU School of KRS: Exercise Science Pedagogical Faculty Search Committee (2018) 
• WKU CHHS: Faculty Ambassador (2017-2019)