Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS)
The Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS) is a student-led, student-focused conference designed for individuals interested in, or actively pursuing, careers in sport, exercise and performance psychology. MSEPS offers a distinctive experience centered on programming that supports the educational and professional development of undergraduate and graduate students.
Attendees benefit from opportunities to network, gain mentorship, engage in meaningful dialogue and receive feedback on ongoing research. Representing dozens of institutions across the Midwest states, the symposium reflects a strong regional commitment to advancing the next generation of sport and exercise psychology professionals.
We enjoyed hosting the AASP Regional Conference on March 6-7, 2026 at Northern Illinois University!
Keynote Speakers
Robin Vealey, Ph.D.
Robin Vealey, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Sport Leadership and Management at Miami University in Ohio. Read more about Robin.
Her research focuses on the achieving mentality in sport with emphasis on self-confidence, mental skills training and coaching effectiveness. She is a Fellow, inaugural Certification Council Chair and past-president of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, as well as a former editor of The Sport Psychologist. She is also a fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. A Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), she has worked with elite, collegiate and youth athletes and teams. A former college basketball player and coach, she now enjoys the mental challenge of golf.
Pete Kadushin, Ph.D., CMPC
Pete Kadushin, Ph.D., CMPC, is the manager of Learning and Development for the Chicago Blackhawks and previously served as the team's mental performance coach. Read more about Pete.
With more than fifteen years in performance psychology, he has worked in professional and collegiate sport, business and military settings to help performers and leaders reshape their relationship to success, failure, stress and change so they can perform at their best when it matters most. His work centers on helping people pursue excellence while living more connected and meaningful lives. He emphasizes using one's craft as a space for personal growth supported by practices like self-reflection, breath work and meditation. He has held academic appointments at Boston University and Western Colorado University and hosts the Mental Training Lab podcast.
Registration
Rates:
- Student: $60
- Faculty/professional: $70
Registration Notes
- Create an account or sign in.
- You can register multiple participants at the end of the registration process (step three).
- For the Saturday Table Speaker Lunch Sessions, select your top two sessions.
Hotel Information
We've set aside two blocks of rooms for MSEPS participants at the hotels listed below. Please note the discounted hotel rates are only available through Monday, February 16.
Home2 Suites
Rate: $149 plus tax per night
Address: 575 S. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115
Hampton Inn
Rate: $139 plus tax per night
Address: 663 S. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115
Amenities at both hotels include:
- Free parking
- Free high-speed Wi-Fi
- Free hot grab-and-go breakfast
- Access to fitness centers
- Access to indoor pools
NIU Symposium Locations
Explore NIU's campus via our interactive map.
| Date | Time | Building | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 6 | 3-8:30 p.m. | Altgeld Hall 595 College Ave. DeKalb, IL 60115 |
Blue Lot #14 and Blue/Yellow Lot #3
|
| Saturday, March 7 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Holmes Student Center 340 Carroll Ave. DeKalb, IL 60115 |
Visitor Parking Lot
|
Schedule Overview
Friday, March 6
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Registration/Check-in Opens | Altgeld Hall Lobby |
| 3:45-4 p.m. | Opening Remarks | Altgeld Hall Auditorium |
| 4-5:45 p.m. | Posters | Altgeld Hall 2nd Floor Hallway |
| 6:15-7:15 p.m. | Dinner | Altgeld Hall Auditorium |
| 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Keynote Presentation | Altgeld Hall Auditorium |
| 8:30-11 p.m. | Student Social | Holmes Student Center (HSC) Huskie Den |
| 9 p.m. | Faculty Social | Fatty's Pub and Grille |
Saturday, March 7
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Registration/Check-in | HSC Duke Ellington Ballroom |
| 8-8:30 a.m. | Coffee, Tea and Muffins | HSC Duke Ellington Ballroom |
| 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Keynote Presentation | HSC Duke Ellington Ballroom |
| 9:45-10:45 a.m. | Session I Presentations | HSC Heritage, University, Lincoln, Illinois Rooms |
| 11 a.m. – noon | Session II Presentations | HSC Heritage, University, Lincoln, Illinois Rooms |
| 12:15-1:30 p.m. | Lunch and Table Speakers | HSC Duke Ellington Ballroom |
| 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Session III Presentations | HSC Heritage, University, Lincoln, Illinois Rooms |
| 3-4 p.m. | Session IV Presentations | HSC Heritage, University, Lincoln, Illinois Rooms |
| 4:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks | HSC Duke Ellington Ballroom |
View all planned titles, presenters and presentations (DOCX)
Thank You to Our Symposium Sponsors!
- Association for Applied Sport Psychology
- Arthur D. and Florence S. Graffam grant
- NIU College of Education
- NIU Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
- NIU Graduate School
- OrthoIllinois
- Rockford IceHogs
- Sport and Exercise Psychology Student Club
- Fatty's Pub and Grille
MSEPS: A Brief History
The Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS) began in 1991 at the University of Illinois, created by doctoral students Billy Strean and Vance Tammen as a winter gathering for student researchers across the region. The first conference drew participants from Purdue, Miami, Michigan State and Western Ontario—and featured a Friday night social followed by student presentations.
Early Years
Early conferences were small, with about 40 attendees, allowing for intimate student–faculty interaction in a single-track format. Socials were famously hosted at faculty homes and featured competitive sport psychology trivia that mixed students from different programs.
Traditions and Memorable Moments
MSEPS quickly became known for its February dates and the accompanying winter adventures, including a full blizzard during the 1995 travel day to Western Ontario. The 1998 and 2008 conferences hosted by Human Kinetics became student favorites, thanks to access to the company's “hurt book” warehouse—where attendees could take home free, slightly damaged books.
Growth and Expansion
Today, MSEPS has grown to nearly 200 participants and now includes concurrent sessions, keynote speakers, workshops, posters and networking events. Programs regularly attend from across the Midwest and surrounding regions.
A Student-Centered Conference
MSEPS continues to prioritize the student experience, with most presentation slots reserved for student research and practice. Hosts seek sponsorships to keep the event affordable, typically providing dinner and lunch during the conference. Faculty meet annually to select future host sites, while students at the host institution lead planning and organization.
The 2026 conference at Northern Illinois University will mark the 35th MSEPS—and NIU's first year as host.
View all MSEPS conference sites.
| Year | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | University of Illinois | Urbana-Champaign, IL |
| 1992 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN |
| 1993 | Miami University | Oxford, OH |
| 1994 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 1995 | University of Western Ontario | London, Ontario, Canada |
| 1996 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH |
| 1997 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 1998 | Human Kinetics | Champaign, IL |
| 1999 | Miami University | Oxford, OH |
| 2000 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 2001 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN |
| 2002 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL |
| 2003 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH |
| 2004 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 2005 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 2006 | Miami University | Oxford, OH |
| 2007 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN |
| 2008 | Human Kinetics | Champaign, IL |
| 2009 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH |
| 2010 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 2011 | Miami University | Oxford, OH |
| 2012 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 2013 | Hope College | Holland, MI |
| 2014 | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH |
| 2015 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 2016 | University of Illinois-Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 2017 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI |
| 2018 | Miami University | Oxford OH |
| 2019 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 2020 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 2021 | No conference due to COVID | N/A |
| 2022 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 2023 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 2024 | Hope College | Holland, MI |
| 2025 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 2026 | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, IL |