2026 NASSS Elections Slate of Candidates

• NASSS Executive Board Slate of Candidates
• NASSS Graduate Student Representative (GSR) Slate of Candidates

2026 NASSS Executive Board Slate of Candidates

President-Elect
( 1 Candidate; Vote for 1)
Joseph N. Cooper

Secretary
( 1 Candidate; Vote for 1)
Anna Baeth

Member-at-Large
( 3 Candidates; Vote for 1)
Julie Brice
Stacey M. Alvarez Flores
Sayvon JL Foster

Candidate Biographies

Position: President-Elect

Joseph N. Cooper, Endowed Chair and Professor of Sport Leadership and Administration, University of Massachusetts Boston 

Vision for NASSS: My vision for NASSS extends on the legacy of socially conscious and equity-minded scholarship, leadership, programming, and engagement enacted by previous and current members. I aim to create a positive, inclusive, respectful, and collaborative culture where ideas from various members are considered and incorporated in governing processes. Timely and clear communication about the association’s efforts and plans are important to my leadership approach. Improving the financial standing of NASSS while upholding the values of the association and minimizing undue burden on student and new faculty members are also among my priorities. As a continental entity with global reach, I strive to increase the international membership and visibility of NASSS particularly those from historically and contemporarily marginalized backgrounds. Grounded in sport sociology, I also seek to promote interdisciplinary insights, contributions, and collaborations that can be shared at our annual conference, in the Sociology of Sport Journal, and through various communication mediums throughout the year. Utilizing digital technologies and platforms to promote the outstanding scholarship, pedagogy, and various contributions of our NASSS members across and beyond the academy is another priority. Strengthening partnerships with organizations and groups that possess shared values is another component of my vision. I envision NASSS as a transformative space for generating ideas, forging relationships, developing initiatives, and cultivating scholar educators who are active participants in igniting social change from the local to global levels. 

Qualifications for Office: I have been a member of NASSS since 2010 and attended nearly every conference over the past 16 years. I have presented and organized sessions as well as routinely participated in the Take a Graduate Student to Lunch event. I have served on the NASSS Conference Program Committee, currently serve as an Associate Editor for the Sociology of Sport Journal, and am a previous SSJ Early Career Researcher Award recipient. 

Summary of Publications: I am sport sociologist with over a decade of scholarly productivity and impact. I have published three solo-authored books including one with Rutgers University Press and edited four books. My research has been published in the Sociology of Sport Journal, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, and Journal of Sport and Social Issues.

Position: Secretary
Anna Baeth (she/her), Ph.D. is the Vice President of Programs and Research for Athlete Ally

Vision for NASSS: My vision for NASSS is to simultaneously focus on governance, sustainability, and stability as well as nurturing a community of care for one another. I aspire to support in cultivating an environment where open communication flourishes. Focused on developing systems for greater transparency and consensus-building, my vision is to track board agendas, record meeting minutes, and support the board in moving forward annually.

Qualifications for Office: I have served as Secretary for NASSS since 2024 and have been a member since 2014. I have attended the NASSS conference annually– presenting, organizing sessions, and participating in roundtables. I served on the Elections Committee and have acted in other leadership roles beyond NASSS, such as acting as a head collegiate coach.

Summary of Publications: I am a public, critical feminist scholar and a cultural studies practitioner of sport. Through Athlete Ally, my recent work has focused primarily on national conversations around queer and transgender athletes. My forthcoming works will be published in Sociology of Sport Journal, in Communication in Sport, and the Journal of Human Rights. I am currently working on a book, Queering Sport Science, Populism, and Isolationism: What Has Happened with Trans Athletes and What It Says about Us, for Rutgers University Press and earlier this year, co-authored Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports through the New Press. I have also published in The Journal of Homosexuality, The Journal of Sport and Social Issues and special collections like, Justice for Trans Athletes: Challenges and Struggles.

Position: Member-at-Large

Julie Brice, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, California State University Fullerton.

Vision for NASSS: Overall, my goal is to help NASSS continue to grow as a relevant, impactful, and socially engaged scholarly community. My vision centers on four priorities: strengthening connections with the sporting industry, advancing global and transnational engagement, enhancing the annual conference as an inclusive and generative intellectual space, and deepening commitments to equity and inclusion. At a time when academia is increasingly critiqued as disconnected from broader society, I believe NASSS can continue to demonstrate the real-world impact of sport sociology by fostering meaningful, ethical collaborations between scholars and practitioners. Strengthening ties with sporting organizations and industry partners can help bridge research and practice while maintaining NASSS’s critical orientation. I am also committed to advancing NASSS’s global reach by strengthening relationships with international sport sociology associations to broaden scholarly perspectives, enhance collaboration, and ensure that diverse and global voices are meaningfully integrated into the Society.

Qualifications for Office: I am co-director of the Center for Sociocultural Sport and Olympic Research and long-time NASSS member. Since 2016, I have attended, presented, organized sessions, and participated in workshops for grad students. I served on the Barbara Brown Outstanding Paper Award Committee for the past two years, attended the DCCC’s Breakfast in Seattle, and taken students to lunch as part of the annual TASTL program. Additionally, I have continuously contributed to NASSS’s Sociology of Sport Journal as a book and manuscript reviewer and author. I am an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Olympic Studies and recently co-edited special issues for both Journal of Olympic Studies and Annals of Leisure Research. I also serve as a member of the Editorial Advising Board for the Annals of Leisure Research. Alongside being a member of NASSS, I am a member of the International Association for Sport Sociology and have attended their conferences in New Zealand, Canada, and Finland (upcoming).

Summary of Publications: I am a feminist sport sociologist focusing on the various socio-cultural and political factors that impact how women understand their bodies, experience movement, and impact power relationships, with more specific focus on women’s professional soccer and fitness spaces. Embedded within my work is an exploration of innovative methods, specifically new materialism and post qualitative approaches. I have written widely on these topics, publishing over 27 referred journal articles, 15 book chapters, and 3 books. My work has appeared in research methods, sociology of sport and leisure research, sport management and policy, and health journals. Additionally, I am a co-author of Feminist New Materialisms, Sport and Fitness: A Lively Entanglement, as well as a co-editor of The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Politics, Representation, and Management and Critical Perspectives on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Events, Issues, Controversies.

Position: Member-at-Large

Stacey M. Alvarez Flores is a PhD Candidate in Sociology in the School of Family and Human Dynamics at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona

Vision for NASSS: My vision for NASSS is to continue to build on the work I have done over the past two years as Graduate Student Representative: strengthen connections and opportunities for graduate students and continue to improve organization effectiveness while improving connectivity with our members. It is particularly important to me that NASSS is a welcoming space because I remember what it was like when I attended my first conference. Had it not been for a few people who took me under their wing and have continued to be a support system, I am not sure I would have returned or run for my first position. My vision is to create opportunities for us to be in community with each other and I don’t think it should only be once a year. We have an opportunity to re-envision how we connect and present by creating virtual sessions and regional conferences at different points throughout the year. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the current situation and the need to hold space and keep each other as safe as we can. I envision a NASSS where this is the norm.

Qualifications for Office: I joined NASSS in 2022 and attended and presented at my first conference in Las Vegas. Immediately following the conference, I knew I wanted to get more involved. I was selected to SEEDS, a program that provided me with a great support system, and I was elected as a graduate student representative, a role I have served in for two years. During this time, I have organized sessions and presented at NASSS each year. I co-hosted graduate student listening sessions to get a better pulse on the needs of our students. I have advocated for more consistent board meetings to improve organization effectiveness, advocated for greater representation of Latinx scholars and scholarship at the conferences, advocated for the importance of SEEDS, advocated for the use of Robert’s Rules at meetings to have a smoother process for meetings, and advocated for the continued financial support of graduate students through volunteerism at the NASSS conference. In addition to my experience on the NASSS board, I have significant leadership experiences as president of my school’s graduate student organization, as president of my sorority alumni association, and as the current scholarship chair on an educational nonprofit board where we award over $100k in scholarships annually to name a few. I believe I can continue to contribute to NASSS and its members.

Summary of Publications: I am a sociologist who studies sport, race, and gender. I am currently working on publications that focus on the barriers to sports participation for girls of color and the impact of sleep apnea on former Black collegiate and NFL football players. My dissertation focuses on the experiences of Latinx girls in sports. I have three published co-written book chapters: “Race and Sport: Fear of a Black Planet” in Racism’s Impact on White Americans in the Age of Trump, and “On the Frontlines: Black Boys and Injury in Basketball” in Palgrave Handbook: Sport, Politics and Harm, and “Social Capital and Academic Success" in Handbook on Inequality and Social Capital. In addition, I have co-authored published works on human rights activism and graduate education.

Position: Member-at-Large

Sayvon JL Foster is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences within the School of Education & Human Sciences at University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS).

Vision for NASSS: My vision for NASSS is guided a near-decade of consistent membership and engagement, alongside a recognition of the critiques and natural challenges that come with sustaining a large-scale scholarly organization. Building upon existing efforts, I am promoting three-pronged approach centered on scholarly rigor, professional development, and community embeddedness. First, NASSS should continue to strengthen its position as a leading space for sport sociology by amplifying the work of its members. This includes leveraging social media, expanding public scholarship, and fostering active engagement with journals, research labs, and related intellectual spaces to enhance the visibility and impact of our collective work. Second, NASSS must deepen its commitment to professional development across career stages. Building on the SEEDS program, this includes formalized support for pre-tenure faculty and those navigating institutional transitions, alongside the creation of a consistently updated hub for career opportunities, collaborations, and professional resources. Third, NASSS should prioritize community embeddedness by engaging with academic programs in host regions, partnering with local sport organizations and commissions, and contributing to sport-based social justice efforts. My ideal NASSS is an intellectually rigorous, professionally supportive, and community-engaged organization that extends its impact well beyond the annual conference.

Qualifications for Office: I have been a member of NASSS since 2018 and have presented at the annual conference each year, contributing to the intellectual community through consistent scholarly engagement. I served as a SEEDS mentor in 2025, supporting the development of emerging scholars within the organization. Beyond NASSS, I serve as a Scholarship Committee Member for the KU School of Education & Human Sciences and as a reviewer for the HSES Undergraduate Research Award, contributing to student development and academic excellence. I also serve on the editorial boards of Sociology of Sport Journal, Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, and Journal of Athlete Development & Experience.

Summary of Publications: I am a sport scholar whose research is grounded in Culturally-Situated Inquiry (CSI), understanding sport as both shaped by and shapes communities, values, and norms. My work advances an identity-conscious approach across three areas: HBCU athletics, centering the cultural and historical realities that define these spaces; the Black sport experience, examining how Black athletes, leaders, and communities engage and reshape sport; and athletics at Special Mission Institutions, with a collaborative focus on how mission and culture shape athletic operations beyond the Power Four model. My research has been published in Sociology of Sport Journal, Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, Communication & Sport, Innovative Higher Education, International Journal of Exercise Science, and Journal of Athlete Development & Experience, along with several edited book chapters.

2026 NASSS Graduate Student Representative (GSR) Slate of Candidates

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name (3 Candidates; Vote for 1).

D'onte Claypool
Jessica Guilbault
Giona Picheco

Candidate Biographies

D’onte Claypool

D’onte Claypool is a rising third-year doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management at Texas A&M University.

Vision for NASSS: The annual NASSS conference represents a critical space for graduate students to not only share their work, but to build meaningful relationships, engage in critical dialogue, and envision their future roles within the field. My vision for NASSS centers on strengthening the graduate student community not only as participants in the organization, but as emerging leaders shaping its future. My first NASSS conference in 2025 was an overwhelmingly positive experience, shaped by meaningful networking opportunities, including the Take a Graduate Student to Lunch initiative, the impact of the SEEDS program, and connections with faculty, practitioners, and fellow graduate students which motivates my desire to contribute to and sustain the conference’s tradition of excellence and community. If elected, I aim to foster greater connection and unity among graduate students across institutions, research areas, and career stages. While NASSS already provides valuable programming for graduate students, I see an opportunity to further cultivate sustained engagement beyond the annual conference. This could include creating more intentional spaces for collaboration, peer mentorship, and knowledge-sharing that extend throughout the year. Ultimately, I want to help position graduate students not just as attendees but as an interconnected community of scholars who are actively contributing to and leading the future of NASSS and the sociology of sport as a whole. By strengthening these networks, we can enhance both the graduate student experience and the long-term vitality of the organization.

Qualifications for Office/Leadership Experience: I currently serve as the Social Chair for the Black Graduate Student Association at Texas A&M University, where I organize events that foster community, support, and engagement among graduate students. In addition, I serve as the Kinesiology/Sport Management representative for the Graduate Student Advisory Council within the College of Education and Human Development. In this role, I advocate for graduate student needs, contribute to college-level decision-making, and help bridge communication between students and administration. These leadership experiences have equipped me with the skills to effectively represent diverse graduate student perspectives, facilitate collaboration, and create inclusive spaces, skills that I would bring to the Graduate Student Representative role.

Summary of Publications/Presentations: My scholarly work focuses on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in sport, with an emphasis on the experiences of Black individuals within sport-related spaces. I am the lead author of Toward a Critical Multilevel Framework to Analyze and Address Challenges Black Academics Face in Sport Management, which I presented at NASSS in 2025; the manuscript was recently published in Quest. I have also presented Black Employees’ Perceptions of Diversity and Inclusion in the Sportswear Industry at the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) 2025 conference; this project’s manuscript is currently under review at a leading journal in the field. I have an upcoming presentation at NASSM 2026 titled Reimagining Reflexivity: A Conceptual Examination of Autoethnography’s Role in Sport Scholarship. Through my research and conference engagement, I have demonstrated a strong commitment to contributing to scholarly conversations within both NASSS and the broader sport management and sociology of sport communities.

Jessica Guilbault

Jessica Guilbault is an incoming first-year doctoral student in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.

Vision for NASSS: As the NASSS Graduate Student Representative, my main objective would be to facilitate development, support and connection. I am a strong advocate for increasing accessibility and inclusivity in sport, as well as in academia. Financial barriers are a reality for many graduate students, including myself. I would advocate to establish more grants and minimize fees for graduate students to reduce the financial burdens of travelling for a conference. Furthermore, I would be committed to providing cost-free opportunities for student development and connection. The NASSS community is a group of passionate and knowledgeable scholars, and I believe there should be greater opportunities for more experienced scholars to connect with emerging researchers to promote the growth and development of all parties. I envision a year-round professional development seminar series where mentors and mentees can connect online. Each seminar would focus on a skill or topic which are relevant and essential to the journey of graduate students. These seminars would provide a welcoming learning environment for graduate students to learn and ask questions. Also, it would serve as an avenue for graduate students and scholars to network and cultivate relationships within the NASSS community.

Qualifications for Office/Leadership Experience: Throughout my education, I have continually demonstrated a commitment to leadership, volunteerism and community development. In 2023, I graduated from Brock University with a Bachelor of Physical Education with a minor in Educational Studies. During this time, I served as a Peer Mentor for first years students. In this role, I organized online social events and meetings online as the COVID-19 pandemic prohibited in-person events. Additionally, I volunteered with community organizations such as Niagara Support Services and the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region to support the learning and development of youth with disabilities. More recently, I was the lead coordinator of a free try-curling event for girls ages 9-16. I successfully applied for a Curling Canada grant to host this event. My role included organizing and leading the event. Further, I was responsible for recruiting coaches and participants; we successfully hosted a full-event with 32 girls. Within these roles, I have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, empathy, kindness, and a commitment to serve others.

Summary of Publications/Presentations: At my first NASSS conference in 2024, I presented preliminary findings from my MA thesis titled Part of the Club, Not of the Club: The Experiences of Racialized Women in Canadian Curling. I shared qualitative data on how various social identities influence sport participation and barriers to physical activity. Further, through auto-ethnographic methods, I drew from my own experiences as a racialized woman who has been involved in Canadian curling for over a decade. In Chicago, I was presented the NASSS Gary Sailes Graduate Diversity Scholarship Award. Additionally, in January of 2025, I presented on my MA thesis at the Macintosh Sociology of Sport Day Conference hosted by Queen’s University. These presentations contributed to the growing literature and conversations regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and initiatives in Canadian curling.

Giona Picheco

Giona Picheco is a second-year doctoral student in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Vision for NASSS: As a grad student, I have found the NASSS conference to be a welcoming and supportive space. It can feel intimidating for students to share their work and make new connections to build their networks, and the structure of the NASSS conference helps to ease that stress through initiatives such as take a student to lunch and graduate student lunches. It’s important to foster an inviting space to encourage participation from students in the early stages of their careers and I would like to expand on these measures to support grad students in their professional growth, update website links and outdated information to promote resources and opportunities available to students, and bridge connections between members to expand networks. To sustain a healthy community, I believe we must continue to ensure a multitude of voices are involved and invited to participate between grad students and more experienced scholars. I consider myself to be a friendly resource to support students and an advocate for offering more accessible opportunities.

Qualifications for Office/Leadership Experience: As an undergraduate, I served as the historian on the Student Veterans Organization executive board at the University of Rhode Island in 2021/2022. As a master’s student, I served as the treasurer for the Graduate Sociology Student Association at UMass Boston in 2024/2025 and co-organized our annual research symposium. Since earning my master’s degree, I began teaching as an adjunct lecturer at Curry College in the Criminal Justice and Sociology department in addition to three years of teaching undergraduate courses at UMass Boston, with experience teaching classes such as intro, culture, race and ethnicity, social movements, and grassroots organizing. Outside of academic roles, I have a wide range of leadership experience. I am currently a security supervisor at a professional soccer stadium, I previously led a division for three years while serving on a submarine in the US Navy, and I ran for electoral office in two state legislative campaigns in Rhode Island while organizing and directing both campaigns.

Summary of Publications/Presentations: I first attended NASSS in 2025 and presented my master’s thesis “Walking It Off: How Hegemonic Masculinity Overlooks Sports Injuries” and I will be presenting at a student roundtable session at the American Sociological Association annual conference in 2026. Each year the sociology department at UMass Boston holds a graduate research symposium to offer students the opportunity to share their work and gain experience in conference presentations at which I have presented twice in two years. I do not have any currently published work, but I am actively working on developing at least two papers for publication by improving my study on masculinity and sports injuries and developing a separate project analyzing M/M hockey romance novels.

2025 Elections Results

Congratulations to those members who were elected to the Board to terms beginning in November 2025.

President-Elect:

Rachel Allison

Members at Large (2):

Michele K. Donnelly

Courtney Szto

Treasurer:

Michael Friedman

Graduate Student Representative:

Miruthula (Miru) Queen Anbu

For more information about the elections process, please click on the Elections Information tab on this page.

You can also read about these positions in the NASSS Constitution and Bylaws and in the Policy and Procedures Manual, which are posted on the NASSS website: NASSS.org/about/documents.