James Matthews

James joined the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science in 2012, and is an Associate Professor, and the current Deputy Head of School. Previously, he held the role of Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and is a former University Fellow in Teaching and Academic Development. He acted as the academic director for the MSc in sport management from January 2013 to December 2020, leading the programme to a global ranking in multiple years. (https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2019/july/25/sportsmanagementmscgloballyrankedamongstbestinclass/ ). James obtained a BA (Hons) psychology degree in 2000 followed by an MA in social and organisational psychology in 2002 from the UCD School of Psychology. After working in organisational development for four years, he returned to UCD in 2006 to begin doctoral research in the field of sport and exercise psychology under the guidance of Prof Aidan Moran. He received a postgraduate research scholarship for his work from the Irish Research Council (IRC) and completed his PhD in 2009. More recently, he has completed training in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy in the School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin. His teaching and research interests focus on the psychology of sport, exercise and health behaviour. Specifically, his research centres on physical activity related behaviour change, mental health promotion in sport, and performance management processes in elite sport. James provides psychological support services to the University’s Ad Astra Elite Sport Scholars, and is a former chair of the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Division of Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology. Prior to joining UCD, James held positions as a visiting lecturer in Dublin City University and as a Psychologist in the energy industry designing mental skills training programmes for teams that work in high risk environments.