Meet the ISYS Staff

	Daniel Gould, Ph.D., ISYS Director Dan has studied stress, burnout and motivation in young athletes, how high school coaches teach life skills to their players, talent development in children, the role of parents in youth sports, and youth leadership development. He is best known for his efforts to link sport science research to practice as well as his work as a coaching educator.
	Larry Lauer, Ph.D., Director of Coaching Education & Development Larry has a B.S. in psychology from Clarion University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in exercise and sport science from UNC Greensboro. Larry is an active sport psychology consultant and researcher studying violence and aggression in youth sport. Larry has directed youth ice hockey programs and coached youth baseball. He is an Advanced Level USA Hockey coach. Larry coordinates all ISYS coaching education efforts and is involved in many of the Institute's community outreach projects.
	Tracey Covassin, Ph.D., ATC Dr. Covassin serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and as a certified athletic trainer in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Her research focuses on neuropsychological impairments of concussions and epidemiology of sports injuries. She most recently served as the project coordinator of the Philadelphia Sports Concussion Project, and was a National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Student Research Award Finalist in 2004.
	Marty Ewing, Ph.D. Marty came to ISYS in 1983 to do research and develop and deliver coaches' education to high school and volunteer coaches. ISYS provided her with an opportunity to share her knowledge from 10 years of coaching at the collegiate level and to address some of the questions that arose from her coaching experiences. Marty was a member of the ISYS staff who developed the Program for Athletic Coaches' Education (PACE). Most recently, Marty's research has focused on the effects of motivational climate of teachers on learning and enjoyment of youth in physical education programs.
	Crystal Branta, Ph.D. Crystal has devoted her career to understanding how children and youth acquire and perform motor skills. Her research centers on the influence that physical growth and biological maturation have on the motor performance of children and youth from preschool through the adolescent years. Crystal has taught and coached in public schools and other youth sports settings. She was involved in the original Youth Sports Studies that helped pave the way for the development of the Institute.
	Nori Pennisi, M.S. Nori Pennisi has her undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill with a dual major in Psychology and Physical Education and her masters degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a specialization in sport psychology from UNC-Greensboro. Nori's primary ISYS responsibility is to help the Director manage the many ISYS projects on which he is involved. She also assists on special ISYS projects (e.g., serve as a program evaluator on a national youth sports grant, help write a sport parent book). Nori brings real life experience to ISYS as a sport parent of three daughters.
	Dana K. Voelker, B.A. Dana is a doctoral student in kinesiology specializing in sport psychology. She earned her master's degree in counseling from Michigan State University and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Penn State University. Dana's research interests include youth athlete leadership and positive youth development through sport. She is a former competitive figure skater and ice hockey player.
	Katie Griffes, B.A. Katie is a Kinesiology doctoral student with a concentration in sport psychology. Her research interests are in developing programs to help underserved youth, parental influence in the sport experience, and sport motivation. She received her undergraduate degree from Olivet College in Psychology. Katie currently coaches for a varsity high school girls' tennis team.
	Meredith Whitley, Ed.M. Meredith is a Kinesiology doctoral student with an emphasis in sport psychology. Her research interests include working with underserved youth nationally and internationally, coaching education, positive psychology, and performance enhancement. Meredith has worked with various athletes and teams at the middle school, high school, college, and adult level. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University and master's degree from Boston University.
	Jed Blanton, M.S. Jed is originally from Northern Arizona. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Sports Administration with a Psychology minor at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he was also the captain of the men's cross-country team. Jed finished his Master's at Georgia Southern University in Kinesiology, specializing in Sport Psychology. At ISYS, Jed's interests range from team captains and peer leadership to nature and outdoor based physical activity and personal development interventions.
	Missy Wright, M.S. Missy received her B.S. from Purdue University where she majored in psychology and was a member of the women's tennis team. She earned her M.S. degree from MSU in kinesiology. Missy worked as a tennis pro and mental training consultant for 4 years before returning for her Ph.D. Missy's current research focuses on participation and motivation in sports and physical activity for underserved girls. She is also interested in the development of life skills through sport and physical activity participation.
	Ian Cowburn, B.Sc. Ian is a Kinesiology doctoral student with an emphasis in sport psychology. He received his B.Sc. in Sport & Exercise Science from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. Ian has been involved in swimming and water polo as an athlete for over fifteen years and worked as an assistant coach for both his local swim team and high school soccer team. His research interests include coaching education, the role of parental influence in youth sport, and performance enhancement.
	Andy Driska, M.A. Andy Driska comes to Michigan State from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he completed a Master's Degree in Psychological Aspects of Sport. Andy's interests include teaching coaches to integrate mental skills training into their daily practice, as well as the roles of coaches, parents, sport psychology consultants and athletes in mental toughness development. Originally from Oreland, PA, he coached swimming and water polo for ten years prior to arriving at Michigan State, at the age -group, high school and intercollegiate levels.

 

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