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In his 25th year as Sport Psychologist with the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, Dr. David Yukelson is responsible for coordinating the delivery of Sport Psychology Services for all 31 athletic teams at Penn State University. A mental training specialist interested in talent development and the psychology of personal excellence, Dr. Yukelson provides counseling and support to coaches and student-athletes in the areas of: motivation and goal setting, commitment and belief, visualization and performance planning, mental skills training for managing peak performance under pressure, and individualized strategies for improving concentration, confidence, consistency, and composure. Dr. Yukelson also offers support and assistance to those individuals having difficulty handling multiple demands and stress effectively, navigating interpersonal relationships successfully, making the transition from high school to college smoothly, and/or coping with the trials and tribulations of being injured. In addition to individual counseling, he works with coaches and teams in the areas of group cohesion, leadership, communication, and synergistic team functioning.
Internationally renowned for his work in the field of Sport Psychology, Dr. Yukelson is Past-President and a Fellow in the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). He has published numerous articles in professional refereed journals, has had several papers presented at various national and international conferences. In terms of consulting, Dr. Yukelson serves on the advisory board for USA Football, is a member of both the USOC Sport Psychology Registry and USA Track and Field Sport Psychology Registry, and has traveled internationally with various USA Track and Field Teams.
Dr. Yukelson obtained a B.A. degree in 1976 from the University of California at San Diego (Social Psychology); M.S. degree in 1979 from Florida State University (Movement Science with specialization in Motor Learning and Sport Psychology), and a Ph.D. in 1982 from the University of North Texas (Higher Education with specialization in Sport Psychology). A native of Los Angeles, CA, Dave and his wife Marla have been married 38 years, and have three children: Adam, Joshua, and Drew.