Rate My Professor James Clark

Dr James Clark is a Lecturer in Psychology within the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast, having joined the university in 2022. He earned his PhD in sport psychology from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where his dissertation, completed in 2023 and titled 'Understanding mental toughness in women's Australian rules football: A sociocultural, situational, and behavioural exploration,' examined mental toughness in women's Australian rules football across sociocultural, situational, and behavioural dimensions. This comprehensive thesis comprised three studies exploring mental toughness from multiple perspectives. Prior to his PhD, Clark completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours) in Psychology and a Bachelor of Exercise and Movement Science at QUT, providing him with a strong foundation in both psychological theory and exercise physiology.

Clark's research interests focus on sport and performance psychology, exercise psychology, women's sport, and personality in sport, particularly mental toughness among elite athletes and advancing understanding of elite female performers. He is an enthusiastic educator dedicated to engaging students through student-focused teaching methods, delivering courses such as Sport and Exercise Psychology (SPX222), research methods, and design. His commitment to excellence in teaching was recognized in 2021 when he was admitted as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Clark is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society and has contributed to discussions on psychosocial safety in Australian workplaces through co-authored conference posters presented at the UniSC Research Conference, including 'What Factors Influence SMEs to Implement Preventative and Responsive Psychosocial Safety Measures?' and 'Enabling Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing in Australian Workplaces.' These efforts highlight his interdisciplinary approach to psychology in applied settings.