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

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

Department

Kinesiology and Physical Education

Research Interests

• Sport for incarcerated populations
• International sport for social change
• Sport for development

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 Publications

• Jacobs, J.M., Bennett, G., and Wahl-Alexander, Z. (in press). Counter Stories on the Meaning of Sport in the Lives of Black Youth who are Incarcerated. The Sociology of Sport: Special Issue on A Critical Examination of Race and Antiracism in the Sport for Development Field: Reimagining and Recreating Spaces for True Racial Inclusion and Equity.
• Wahl-Alexander., Z., and Jacobs, J.M. (in press). Physical Activity and Social Behaviors of Incarcerated Youth Participating in a Sports-Leadership Program. Journal of Correctional Health Care.
• Kuipers, K., Jacobs, J.M., Miossi, L., and Davis, J. (2022). Using social media to foster engagement and connection in sport psychology classrooms. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 13(4), 272-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2022.2103221
• LeCrom, C., Jacobs, J.M. and Kuipers, K. (2022). Transformative learning abroad: The impacts of an international sport-focused trip on American girls. The Journal of Sport for Development, 10(2).
• Jacobs, J., and Wahl-Alexander, Z. (2021). Self-efficacy experiences of graduate students working in a sport-based leadership program at a youth prison. Child Adolescence Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00772-x

Recently Funded Projects

• ENVEST Tanzania: A boxing and football international exchange project in Tanzania (2022). U.S. Department of State Sports United Grant.
• Project FLEX (Fitness Leadership EXperience): a comprehensive evaluation of a sport education program for incarcerated youth (2020, 2021, 2022). Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice 
• She Believes in Belize: The First National Women’s Sports Summit. Citizen Action Diplomacy Fund. (2019). U.S. Department of State
• 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 582 - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• KNPE 583 - Psychology of Coaching
• KNPE 586 - Sport: Culture and Society
• KNPE 587 - Professional Preparation in Sport and Exercise Psychology Professions