BELLINGHAM, Wash. – With the growing needs of collegiate student-athletes for mental health and performances, Western Washington University Athletics has added Dr. Jennifer Gildner as an embedded sport psychologist.
 
Dr. Gildner, Ph.D, CMPC moved into the athletic offices in Carver Gymnasium last fall and has been a key addition to the program helping student-athletes gain access to support. The position is a unique collaboration with the WWU Counseling and Wellness Center. Prior to moving offices to the heart of campus in Carver Gym, Dr. Gildner was the designated sport psychologist through the NCAA.
 
An accomplished professional in their field, Dr. Gildner brings a wealth of experience to WWU Athletics. Dr. Gildner received an undergraduate double degree in psychology and sociology from Colorado State University and received a master's in clinical psychology from Abilene Christian University. Dr. Gildner is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPSC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
 
Dr. Gildner received a Ph.D in counseling psychology from the University of Houston while creating practicum working with UH Athletics. She completed a doctoral internship at Grand Valley State University with a sport psychology focus and completed a post-doctoral residency with the University of Southern California Department of Athletics.
 
Set to begin her sixth year at WWU, Gildner was previously at the University of California, Davis for eight years serving as the Coordinator of Sport Psychology Services, which included two years serving as the sport psychologist for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA.
 
Dr. Gildner describes the importance of having an embedded sport psychologist in an athletics department as the following:
 
"Having an Embedded Sport Psychologist normalizes the need for mental health and performance support while streamlining the process for student-athletes to access that support. Student-athletes experience mental health issues at a similar rate as other college students (NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study, 2022). Having an embedded Sport Psychologist also facilitates consultations coaches may need and referrals they may want to make. With the added stress of competition, travel, injuries, scheduling, and other challenges associated with being an elite performer, student-athletes often benefit from working with a Certified Sport Psychologist who understands the pressure and the environment."
 
The embedded sport psychology position is the first by a school that competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and also the first joint effort between the WWU Counseling and Wellness Center and departments throughout campus.
 
Dr. Gildner resides in Bellingham with her wife and 15-year-old puppy, Kylie.