My doctoral research examines how public high school athletic administration leaders make decisions about program offerings, through the lens of behavioral decision science. People sometimes ask why a business researcher would study school sports. Few leadership roles touch more young lives with less support.
The case for taking this domain seriously
High school athletics reached record participation nationally, and the developmental evidence is strong. Sports participation builds the skills, resilience, and relationships that become workforce capability. The leaders who decide which programs exist, and who gets access, are performing human capital development at population scale. Yet the research literature has studied corporate and clinical decision makers for decades while leaving athletic administrators nearly untouched.
What my research explores
I interviewed athletic administration leaders across the central United States about real program decisions, including the additions, the cuts, the votes, and the pressures around them. The study applies Prospect Theory, the behavioral economics framework for decisions under risk and uncertainty, to understand how systemic constraints and psychological framing interact in this environment. The full findings are pending publication in sport management journals, and I will share them here as they release.
Where this is going
My goal is for athletic administration to be recognized, resourced, and prepared as the human capital development profession it already is. If you lead in this space, or govern those who do, I would welcome the conversation.
Mel Meier, DBA studies leadership decision making in public high school athletic administration. Her research is pending publication in sport management journals. She advises athletic associations, districts, and school leaders through board advisory, speaking engagements, and organizational assessments at iB Consulting USA.
Mel Meier, DBA is an applied social scientist and the founder of iB Consulting USA, a woman owned, WOSB certified advisory firm. She advises athletic associations, school districts, and school leaders through board advisory, organizational diagnostics, speaking engagements in the United States and internationally, and organizational assessments.
