Sport Psychology – Meet Our Team
Meet the Sport Psychology & Wellness Services Team
Jamey Houle, Ph.D ABPP
Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness Services
Houle is a former elite-level athlete, so he has a personal understanding of the needs of athletes. He majored in psychology at Ohio State, where he also was a member of the 2001 NCAA champion gymnastics team and back-to-back Big Ten team champions. He has his master’s degree from Springfield College and earned his Ph.D in counseling psychology from Auburn University. He is certified in counseling psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and he is in his fourth year with Ohio State.
Contact: James.Houle@osumc.edu | 614-688-8993 (o) | 860-983-3692 (c)
Charron Sumler, LPC NCC
Assistant Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness Services
Sumler, who played four years of collegiate basketball, arrives at Ohio State after spending the past two years at the University of Texas, where she coordinated services and resources for university students in crisis situations. She has 10 years of counseling, leadership and case management experience and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, and a master’s in counseling from Texas State University.
Contact: sumler.2@osu.edu | 614-292-2512 (o) | 210-386-6999 (c)
Sam Davis, PhD
Sport Psychologist, Research Coordinator
Dr. Sam Davis (he/him) is a licensed psychologist and former Division III college student-athlete. He joined the SPAWS staff as a post-doctoral fellow in 2023 after completing his predoctoral internship at Oregon State University. Sam obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Goucher College, where he swam for three years, and obtained his doctorate in counseling psychology from Colorado State University. Sam’s clinical interests include (but are not limited to): anxiety and depression, suicide prevention, personality concerns, and navigating injury and retirement. He uses a collaborative and integrated approach to therapy to help student-athletes set and meet their therapy and performance goals. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his dog (Finn), watching/playing sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Contact: samuel.davis@osumc.edu | 302-668-4385 (c)
Dr. Liz Sanborn, Psy.D.
Sport Psychologist, Training Coordinator
Dr. Liz Sanborn is joining the SPAWS staff from the University of Notre Dame where she provided clinical and sport performance services to student-athletes. Liz received her bachelor’s degree and played softball at Otterbein University. She went on to receive a master’s degree in sport psychology from Miami University which led her to her role working with the United States Army and training soldiers on sport psychology and resilience principles. Liz received her Psy.D. from James Madison University in clinical psychology and completed an internship working with students and student-athletes at Lehigh University. Liz’s clinical interests include depression, anxiety, trauma, identity development, interpersonal functioning, and performance enhancement among others, and she provides group and individual therapy.
Contact: Elizabeth.sanborn@osumc.edu | 513-476-2552 (c)
Sydney Mack, MSW, LSW
Athletic Counselor, Prevention and Performance Coordinator
Sydney Mack (she/her) is a licensed social worker and current doctoral candidate at the Ohio State University (OSU). She previously completed her Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies and in Political Science at Davidson College. Sydney’s clinical interests include (but are not limited to): grief and loss in sport, trauma, recovery from injury, performance enhancement, anxiety and depression, and suicide prevention.
Contact: Sydney.Mack@osumc.edu | 803-206-6184 (c)
Justin Worley, PhD
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Dr. Justin Worley obtained his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and played soccer at Lehigh University. He went on to receive a master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences from Ithaca College and a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Utah State University. His research interests include social and motivational processes in sport and mental health experiences of student-athletes.
Contact: justin.worley@osumc.edu
