Sports and Social Work Lab

Dr. Banks is giving lecture

The purpose of the Sports and Social Work Lab (SSWL) is to develop innovative projects within the School of Social Work (“School”) at the intersection of sports and social work.

These projects will:
1) research the impact of sports and sports-related issues on the social and psychological well-being of athletes and athlete-adjacent individuals (e.g., family, coaches); and
2) explore sports as an effective social work intervention, particularly for community engagement The lab will serve as experiential learning site for individuals interested in sports and social work research. The SWWL lab will also support students and faculty to engaged in training and research, emphasizing creative and interdisciplinary interventions.

The SSWL will engage in relevant projects that will analyze the impact of social problems on the sports landscape and the benefits of sports to our society. The SSWL will also produce evidence-based interventions for practitioners to utilize with athletes and in athletic organizations.

Learn more about the Sports and Social Work Lab:

Team Members

Leon Banks

Leon Banks, PhD, Principal Investigator

Dr. Banks has over 20 years of experience practicing with various marginalized populations. Dr. Banks’ current research interest is analyzing the interface of Social Work with Sports from a micro, mezzo, and macro level. Dr. Banks also has done extensive research and published numerous articles on Non-custodial Black fathers and the barriers to access/visitation.

Vivian Burrell

Vivian Burrell, MSW, Co-Principal Investigator

Vivian Burrell’s professional practice experience includes serving as a school social worker, clinical coordinator, and forensic interviewer. She is a doctoral candidate in the College of Education, with a research focus on the mental health of D1 football players of color.

Anna Scheyett

Anna Scheyett, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator

Anna Scheyett is Professor and former dean of the School of Social Work. Her area of research focuses on the supports vulnerable populations may need in order to live successfully in the community, including rural populations and individuals in collegiate and professional sports.

Gaurav Sinha

Gaurav Sinha, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator

Gaurav Sinha’s research agenda lies at the intersections of poverty, social justice, and mental health and utilizes big data analytics and strengths-based approaches to promote financial and mental health equity.

Research Assistants

Jaylah Dorsey	Craig Hicks
Ashlyn Laclair	Anitra Walker

Published Papers

Who’s Winning?: An Examination of the Characteristics of Student Athletes with High Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Valuation

Strength and Motivation: What College Athletes Bring to Social Work

OP-ED – Time To Get Into the Game: Social Work and Sports Activists

National and International Presentations

Coming Soon …

Team Members

Research Assistants

Published Papers

National and International Presentations

Join our commitment to well-being and social justice.