August 12, 2021

“Mental toughness denotes that those who perform well—or belong in sport—embody some degree of toughness, yet toughness is a narrow and monolithic concept that doesn’t permit athletes’ diverse identities and experiences to exist fully,” says Leeja Carter, Ph.D., executive board member for the Association of Applied Sports Psychology.

August 8, 2021

Leeja Carter, associate professor of exercise psychology at Temple University and division head for the diversity and inclusion executive board of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and Ryan “China” McCarney, founder of the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation, discuss the importance of supporting mental health among athletes.

August 4, 2021

In a panel on mental health in sports and fitness, sports psychologist Dr. Leeja Carter, Ph.D., and psychotherapist Liz Beecroft were joined by Asics global head of marketing communications Fiona Berwick to discuss how athletes are forcing the conversation on mental health, the impact of this high-profile advocacy on amateur athletes and fitness enthusiasts and how brands are meeting athletes of all levels in supporting mental health initiatives. The discussion took place on the heels of Biles’s decision to drop out of the women’s gymnastics team finals as well as the individual all-around at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

August 3, 2021

Leeja Carter is an associate professor of exercise psychology at Temple University and chair of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. She’s an expert on feminist sport and exercise psychology, and gendered racism in sports.

Carter has presented internationally and published publications, book chapters, and articles on topics related to feminist sport psychology, Black feminist politics, and equity in sports. Recent publications include her book Feminist Applied Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice (2019) and article in Volume 42 of Women and Therapy (2019). She is also the founder and executive director of the Coalition for Food and Health Equity in Jersey City, N.J.

July 17,2021

Leeja Carter, an assistant professor at Long Island University-Brooklyn, whose work focuses on wellness for women of color, sports, and contemporary representation of Black women as "strong," sees the stories about McNeal, Richardson, and Osaka as connected by a greater culture of Black women being disproportionately punished and policed for mental health struggles.

January 5,2021

Dr. Leeja Carter is a feminist sport psychology expert and Fulbright Scholar. She most recently came to London as a panelist at the International Women’s Day event at London South Bank University.

Her pioneering work in US sport has helped marginalized groups access exercise and sports psychology to overcome barriers to physical activity.

June 2020

Leeja Carter, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Athletic Training, Health, and Exercise Science (ATHES) as well as the Director of the Performance Excellence in Applied Kinesiology Lab (PEAK) at Long Island University-Brooklyn. Dr. Carter also serves as the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Diversity Committee Chair, AASP Women in Sports Special Interest Group coordinator, and sits on the AASP Foundation Committee. Such professional experiences allow Dr. Carter to promote issues of diversity in exercise and sport psychology.

December 12, 2019

Mini-Trampoline Classes Will Bounce Back

"In addition to the physical health benefits of improving balance, strength and circulation, trampoline fitness is just fun and provides a physical activity to de-stress, sweat, and build strength through youthful movement," says Leeja Carter, Ph.D., diversity, and inclusion division head for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

June 26, 2019

Leeja Carter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in sport and exercise psychology at Long Island University-Brooklyn and head of Diversity & Inclusion Division for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, tells Bustle that female athletes of color — particularly Black women — are held to even more pernicious standards. “A Black woman must not only perform her gender based on stereotypical gender norms but to counter intersectional, oppressive images of Black women, like the ‘angry Black woman'” says Carter. “She must perform 'happiness' or 'positivity' to counter implicit notions of Black threat. This performance is an attempt to comfort white fragility in sport, to appear nonthreatening, not ‘angry’ or ‘unprofessional’.

June 9, 2018

It's not all in your head: Even when you're ill, working out can be a serious pick-me-up, thanks to the release of feel-good endorphins you get during physical activity, explains Leeja Carter, PhD, an assistant professor of sport and exercise psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn and an E-Board member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. This flood of endorphins can improve both the way you see your body and yourself and improve your mood—all positive effects that you’re likely in need of on those days you feel less than stellar.

May 9,2018

Feminist sports psychology expert Dr. Leeja Carter, director of the Center for Performance Excellence in Applied Kinesiology (PEAK) at LIU Brooklyn, was the featured speaker at an event marking International Women’s Day at London South Bank University.

Addressing the evening’s theme, “Can We Break Down Barriers in Sports?” on March 8, Dr. Carter, a Fulbright scholar, spoke about how these obstacles can affect all cultures, ages, and people. In her lecture titled, “Never Settle,” she credited her father with giving her such advice, adding that his words have continued to inspire her feminism and her advocacy work.

March 6, 2018

Dr. Leeja Carter is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Athletic Training, Health and Exercise Science (ATHES) and the Director of the Center for Performance Excellence in Applied Kinesiology (PEAK) at Long Island University in New York.

Eddie Brocklesby said: “The debate about the ageing and often inactive population in the UK continues and is part of breaking down those barriers in exercise.

“It’s great to be a part of this vital discussion –encouraging people not to give up but to keep participating in physical activities that appeal to them and contribute to their overall fitness.”

Dr. Carter said: “I’ve found that one of the things that benefits women is to share their stories about health and sport. It’s vital that we let women of diverse backgrounds share their stories.”