About Us
Reimagining Democracy Through Sport
The Sport and Civic Engagement Research Lab reimagines sport as a dynamic platform for democratic participation and citizenship development. Rather than treating sport as a neutral or purely recreational space, we examine how it can be reshaped to foster more inclusive, participatory, and just forms of civic engagement. Our work explores how sport both reflects existing structural inequalities and holds the potential to address barriers related to social, economic, and environmental justice. By connecting research, teaching, and practice, the lab brings together students, scholars, and community partners to engage public challenges through sport. Grounded in interdisciplinary inquiry and community collaboration, we aim to generate actionable knowledge while preparing students to become thoughtful leaders across the diverse contexts in which sport operates.
Vision
Democratic Sport
We aim to reimagine sport as a meaningful site of democratic life, where participation, dialogue, and collective action can take shape. Through research and practice, we seek to better understand how sport shapes civic engagement over time and how it can be strengthened to support more inclusive and participatory public life.
Community Impact
We seek to work alongside local communities while buildig connections with national and international partners to address shared challenges through sport. By fostering collaboration across sectors and contexts, we aim to expand the role of sport in strengthening communities and building bridges across social and geographic boundaries.
Student Development
We aim to prepare students to become thoughtful practitioners and scholars who understand the broader social role of sport. Through experiential learning and research engagement, we support the development of critical perspectives, practical skills, and a strong sense of responsibility to the communities they serve.
Sustainable Futures
We seek to shape more responsible and sustainable futures for sport by examining its relationship with the environment and broader social systems. By challenging existing practices and exploring new possibilities, we aim to contribute to forms of sport that are more just, resilient, and responsive to the needs of future generations.
Research Areas
Sport as a Platform for Civic Engagement
Sport can bring people together in ways few other institutions can. We study how sport organizations, events, and everyday participation create opportunities for people to connect, take part in community life, and work together to address shared challenges
Sport and Democracy
Sport reflects the values and tensions of the societies in which it exists. We examine how sport can foster democratic practices such as participation, representation, dialogue, and accountability, while also critically exploring the limitations that shape its role in contemporary public life
Equity and Access in Sport
Not everyone has the same opportunity to participate in sport. We examine how factors such as income, gender, and race shape access to sport, and how broader systems, including the rising cost and commercialization of sport, create barriers for many communities. We also work with partners to identify practical ways to expand access and create more equitable pathways for participation, especially in under resourced and rural communities.
Ecological Sustainability in and through Sport
Sport both impacts and depends on the natural environment. We investigate how sustainability is defined and practiced across sport, and how it is sometimes reduced to surface level initiatives rather than meaningful change. Our work examines both the environmental footprint of sport and its potential to contribute to more responsible and just futures, while exploring how sport can be reimagined in more sustainable ways.