Northern Illinois University
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
College of Education

Jenn Jacobs, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Sport and Exercise Psychology

Department:

Kinesiology and Physical Education

Research Interests

• Sport-based youth development
• Transfer of life skills
• Sport for social change
• Social and emotional learning

Education

• Ph.D. Northern Illinois University, Educational Psychology
• M.S. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sport Psychology
• B.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kinesiology

Recent Scholarly Activities

Peer-Review Articles

• Jacobs, J. M., Wahl-Alexander, Z., and Mack, T. (2019). Strategies for gaining access to deliver sport programs with highly vulnerable youth. Journal of Youth Development, 14, 155-164.
• Wahl-Alexander, Z., Jacobs, J. M., and Mack, T. (2019). Lessons learned from the field: Teaching in high-risk physical education environments. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 90(5),
• Wright, P.M., Jacobs, J.M., Howell, S., and Ressler, J.R. (2018). Immediate outcomes and implementation a sport for development coach education programme in Belize. Journal of Sport for Development: Special Issue on Latin American Contexts, 6(10), 51-65.
• Jacobs, J.M., Richards, K.A.R., Shiver, V., and Lawson, M. (2017). The role of family and school culture congruence in transfer from sport-based youth development programs in afterschool contexts. Journal of Amateur Sport: Special Issue on Family Issues in Amateur Athletics 3(3), 20-43.
• Jacobs, J.M., and Wright, P.M. (2017). Transfer of life skills in sport-based youth development programs: A conceptual framework bridging learning to application. Quest, 70(1), 81-99.  

Funded Projects

• Project Flex: Sustaining a sport leadership program for incarcerated male youth (2018). NIU Research and Artistry Fund ($10,000) 
• Project FLEX (Fitness Leadership EXperience): a comprehensive evaluation of a sport education / TPSR program for juvenile inmates. (2018). Northern Illinois Great Journeys ($11,267). 
• Fighting for Better Body Image: A Boxing Body Empowerment Club for Middle School Girls. (2018). DeKalb Township Committee on Youth
• Alternative Spring BAE: Belizean Academic Experience for sport sciences students (2018). NIU College of Education Instructional Innovation Grant

Courses Taught

• KNPE 310 - Psychological Aspects of Sport and Exercise
• KNPE 445 - Measurement for Evaluation
• KNPE 582 - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• KNPE 583 - Psychology of Coaching
• KNPE 586 - Sport: Culture and Society