PhD Students
Kelsey Saizew
Email: kelsey.saizew@queensu.ca
I am completing my PhD under the supervision of Luc Martin. I am originally from Calgary, Alberta, where I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary (’13). I competed on the Dino’s track and field team throughout my undergraduate degree. My research interests include elite sport, group dynamics, leadership, team cohesion and subgroups/cliques. I completed my Master’s thesis in 2018, where I looked at the social processes within a sport composed of multiple subgroups. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, reading, and being active with my son.
Mitch Profeit
Email: mcp3@queensu.ca
I am a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Martin within the PLAYS Research Group. I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia in my hometown of Prince George, B.C., a Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial Rehabilitation from Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C., and an MSc right here at Queen's University. My current research focuses on how teams think, synchronize, and perform in sport. Specifically, my research focuses on how video-based strategies can be used to build team cognition, including the development of shared mental models, promote quality decision-making in limited-time environments, and enable effective near and far transfer. Outside of the PLAYS RG, I work with Queen's Health Sciences, where I contribute to the development of online education for both graduate and undergraduate-level programs. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy spending time at a movie theatre, watching live sport, cheering on the Canadiens, and continually trying (and failing) to make the perfect cup of coffee.
Haley Smith
Email: haley.smith@queensu.ca
I am currently a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Côté in the PLAYS lab. I completed my BSc degree in Kinesiology at Queen’s University (’15) while also competing as a member of the Canadian National Mountain Bike Team. I took the years following my undergraduate degree to focus solely on the Olympics, which was a long and rewarding journey that took me around the world and, ultimately, to Tokyo. That decades-long pursuit, coupled with a personal history of mental illness, sparked my interest in the field of sport psychology. My academic interests are broad, and include the influence of the family in lifestyle sports (the likely focus of my thesis research), mental health in young athletes, and inclusion in outdoor adventure sports. Outside of the lab, I am still a professional off-road cyclist and spend as much time as possible pedalling around in the woods, watching Great British Bake Off, and spending time with my family. I am also involved in athlete governance, fulfilling the role of off-road representative for the TCA (The Cyclists’ Alliance), which is the international professional women’s cycling union.
Ally Hudder
Email: 24pxm@queensu.ca
I am currently a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Luc Martin. I completed my BSc in Biology and Psychology at Trent University before completing my MSc in Human Kinetics and Recreation at Memorial University of Newfoundland under the supervision of Dr. David Hancock. My research interests are broadly focused on sport psychology, with my master’s thesis looking at sport officials' eye movement patterns during ambiguous decision-making. Alongside my research, I am passionate about coaching and athlete development and have spent many years playing, officiating, and coaching volleyball at both the club and varsity levels. Outside of school, you can usually find me playing sports, particularly volleyball, gymnastics, and, more recently, pickleball. When I’m not in the gym, I enjoy cooking, crocheting, quilting, and spending time with family and friends.
Mia KurtzFavero
Email: 17mjk9@queensu
I am a PhD student in the PLAYS Research Group, supervised by Dr. Côté and Dr. Martin. I completed both my Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies and Psychology, and my MSc in Sport Psychology here at Queen's University. My master's research focused on supporting youth coaches' interpersonal behaviours by developing their intrapersonal coaching skills, and my current research interests include transformational coaching, coach development, and athlete leadership. My passion for these areas stems from my own experience as a volleyball coach at the local, club, provincial, and varsity levels. Outside of the PLAYS Research Group, I am pursuing my Mental Performance Consulting Certification to help athletes develop the mental skills needed for sport performance. When I'm not in the lab, I enjoy any excuse to challenge family and friends to a competition — whether it's volleyball, beach volleyball, spikeball, running, or tennis — along with going to the gym, water colour painting, and coaching.
MSc Students
Kaitlin Fortier
Email: kaitlin.fortier@queensu.ca
I am a MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab. Originally from Newmarket, I completed my undergraduate degree at Queen’s University, earning a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Kinesiology. My research interests lie broadly in the area of group dynamics, with a particular focus on how athletes navigate the unique psychosocial demands of injury. Growing up, I danced competitively and ran cross country/track and field. Outside of the lab, you can find me running, doing Pilates, going to the gym, or spending time with friends and family!
Morgan Leeder
Email: 24vp64@queensu.ca
I am currently an MSc student working under the co-supervision of Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab and Dr. Jordan Sutcliffe at RMC. I grew up in Kemptville, just south of Ottawa, and ventured to Laurentian University in Sudbury to complete my BA in Sport Psychology (‘25). At Laurentian, I was able to expand my passion for sport and its psychological aspects not only through my engaging classes and internships, but also as co-chair of the Laurentian University Women in Sport Committee, through various positions on the Laurentian University Kinesiology and Health Sciences Student Association, and by participating in/working at intramurals of all kinds. My academic interests lie in the area of Group Dynamics, but are broad overall, as I am a firm believer in lifelong learning. Outside of the lab, you will find me exercising (ARC, spin classes, and more), at a coffee shop with friends, or cheering on our Gaels!
Kiyara Letlow
Email: kiyara.letlow@queensu.ca
Bio to follow.
Olivia Christendat
Email: olivia.christendat@queensu.ca
I am an MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Jean Côté in the PLAYS lab. Growing up in Toronto, I completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology with a Certificate in Physical Activity Instruction at the University of Toronto. My research interests relate to the area of coach-athlete dynamics and youth participating in sport from a psychosocial perspective. My goal is to help make sport environments more positive through education and training for sport participants (coaches, athletes, and parents). Outside of the lab, you can find me working with children, playing dodgeball, reading a book, or checking out coffee shops and farmers markets with friends.
Ella Jenkins
Email: 25wcxm@queensu.ca
I am a MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Luc Martin in the PLAYS lab. I grew up in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and completed my undergraduate degree at UPEI, earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honours under the supervision of Dr. Dany MacDonald. During my time at UPEI, I competed on the varsity Cross Country and Distance Track team which fueled my interest in the field of sports psychology. My research interests are broadly focused on sports psychology, with my previous research looking at how body image, anxiety, age, and sport can affect an athlete’s confidence in female university athletes. Outside of the lab, you’ll find me exercising (running, spin classes, pilates, and more), reading down by the pier, or walking around town with my dog Winnie looking for the best coffee spots in town!
4th Year Thesis Students
3rd Year Internship Students