Chelsea Davis has built an academic résumé that reflects ambition and purpose. A 2022 summa cum laude graduate of Lander University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Davis has since earned two master’s degrees from Ball State University and is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Georgia.
With her sights set on becoming a licensed sports psychologist, Davis is steadily shaping a career dedicated to helping athletes strengthen not only their bodies, but also their minds.
Davis credits her time at Lander with the foundation for her success. As an undergraduate, she sought teaching assistant and research opportunities that challenged her to think critically, communicate effectively and engage with the science of human behavior. Those hands-on experiences, she said, not only prepared her for the rigors of graduate study but also gave her the confidence and professional direction needed for her career in sports psychology.
“Lander gave me the opportunity to meet people who became lifelong friends and to know faculty who would help me build a strong psychology foundation through coursework, independent research projects, teaching assistantships and several awards to pursue graduate school,” she said.
A Desire to Help Others Leads to Sports
After graduating from Lexington High School, Davis first considered studying medicine. “I quickly realized I didn’t like the fast-paced, diagnostic-focused pace of medicine. So, I turned my sights toward helping people, especially athletes, become their best selves psychologically.”
She became immersed in her psychology classes and became a teaching assistant for courses like Psychology 101 and upper-level courses like Theories of Counseling Psychology and Research Methods. “This not only reinforced my understanding of the coursework itself but enhanced my teaching style, allowing me to learn how to lecture, provide constructive feedback and connect with students,” Davis said.
Beyond the classroom, Davis undertook an independent research study which focused on the adjustment of athletes during COVID-19. “With support from psychology faculty like Dr. Mandy Cleveland, I conducted my first quantitative study.”
From that experience, Davis had the foundation for research studies, which led to her being awarded Researcher of the Year twice in her master’s programs at Ball State University. In pursuing her master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology, Davis became an instructor for physical fitness and wellness courses while also working as a research assistant with interests in mental toughness, the experiences of Black female student athletes and the impact of transitioning out of sports. She also served on the Counseling Psychology Diversity Committee while studying for a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.
“Both my teaching and research experiences were watered at Lander which gave me an excellent skill set to move into academia.”
Cleveland, chair of Lander’s Department of Psychological Sciences and Human Services, described Davis as a “confident and proactive student who actively sought out opportunities that supported her goal of becoming a sports psychologist.”
Lander’s role in Davis’ academic quest is the ability to “offer our students opportunities to collaborate with faculty on independent research. We provide funding for students to present their research at external conferences,” Cleveland said. “The Department of Psychological Science and Human Services also provides high achieving students with opportunities to be teaching assistants for upper-level courses. These experiences prepare ambitious students like Chelsea to be competitive applicants for graduate programs. They also set our students up for success once they are in those programs.”
The Pursuit of a Doctoral Degree
A first-year student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Georgia, Davis provides individual and group counseling services to students and people within the Athens area. She also teaches an online career and life planning course for about 45 students each semester.
Davis has authored articles, published in scientific journals and recently published her first book chapter, titled “Parental Roles, Racial Dynamics and Coaching Volleyball in the U.S. South,” which provides sport psychology recommendations on how to navigate racial dynamics for youth sports. This summer, Davis will represent UGA at a meeting of the Association of Black Psychologists and will present her research on culturally supportive environments for Black women college athletes.
Inspiring Future Psychologists
As she looks to the future, Davis wants to continue conducting research, writing articles, translating her research theories to counseling practices and providing support to Black women who want to follow in a similar career path. “I enjoy my work and want to spread that joy for other women of color, too,” she said.
Davis is inspired by the Maya Angelou poem, “Still I Rise,” which celebrates resilience in the face of adversity.
“Pursuing academia comes with ups and downs. You’ll win some battles and lose some battles whether it’s receiving grants, winning awards or even feeling like you ‘belong’ in a space,” Davis said. “In spite of these circumstances, I prevail because I’m meant for a higher purpose in this world. Thus, no matter the feat, I rise.”
For students interested in a psychology career, Davis said an advanced degree likely will take at least three to seven years of post-undergraduate study. And while that may seem daunting, “know that your community, whether it’s your friends, church, family or Lander faculty, will be there to support you. Lean on them, talk to them, get to know them because they will help you go far. As the African proverb states, ‘if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”