Class of 2026 Student Spotlights: Jillian Arriola
During her time at 91制片厂, Jillian Arriola designed and conducted a study on re-injury anxiety, athletic identity, and return to sport in female collegiate athletes following ACL reconstruction. She also presented research at the Association for Applied Sport Psychology conference in Canada, on parents鈥 perspectives of identify formation in the junior lifeguard program. Additionally, Jillian served as a mental performance consultant for three NCAA Division I teams, and as a Secretary of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Club.
The road to obtaining her Master of Science degree in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology didn鈥檛 come without its challenges, but it is those experiences that shaped Jillian into who she is today.
鈥淚 chose this academic and career path because of my experiences as a former collegiate athlete who struggled with the psychological challenges of injury recovery without adequate support. Those experiences shaped my passion for sport psychology and my desire to better support athletes navigating similar situations.鈥
During her time at 91制片厂, Jillian says that she was greatly inspired by one of her professors, Dr. Leilani Madrigal.
鈥淒r. Madrigal鈥檚 expertise in injury and rehabilitation provided invaluable guidance and mentorship throughout my thesis journey. She consistently pushed me beyond my comfort zone and encouraged me to pursue opportunities in both research and applied experiences as a mental performance consultant. My goal moving forward is to help athletes develop mental skills that enhance both performance and well-being, while creating environments where they feel safe being honest about their experiences. I hope to contribute to spaces where athletes feel supported not just as performers, but as people.鈥
Congratulations, Jillian!
