Dr. Taylor Langley Joins Tars Staff as Sports Psychologist

WINTER PARK, Fla. (July 31, 2023) - Following a national search and a thorough interview process, Rollins Associate Vice President of Athletics Pennie Parker is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Taylor Langley, Ph.D. as the Sports Psychologist for Tars athletics, effective August 1.

The discussion of mental health and wellness in athletics has been top of mind at Rollins. Access to care, and both the understanding and prioritizing the mental health needs of student-athletes is of great importance to ensure their well-being both on and off the field. Rollins has been at the forefront of the discussion, and have now taken the first steps to provide improved resources for their athletes with this new position, one of the first of its kind at the Division-II level. 

"We are excited to have Dr. Langley join our staff," said Parker. "We are fortunate to have a sports psychologist who will work closely with our student-athletes and provide ways to improve their student-athlete experience".

Dr. Langley joins the Tars after a stint at the University of Colorado, where she served as the Assistant Director of Psychological Health and Performance. Her job responsibilities included assessing and treating common issues such as anxiety/depression, eating disorders, substance use, grief, trauma, and personality disorders among athletes; consulting and outreach services to coaches, athletic trainers, academic staff, and other administrative personnel regarding the psychological well-being of individual student-athletes and team members; and providing crisis intervention and emergency services in situations involving individual student-athletes or teams.

Her other experiences include a counseling and psychological internship with Oregon State University, a graduate practicum at Columbus State University, and student counseling at Auburn University, where she received her Ph.D. Dr. Langley also has a masters in psychology from Georgia Southern University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida State University. 

She is a member of the Clinical and Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA), American Psychological Association (APA), and Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). 

"I'm very excited and humbled to be joining Rollins College athletics and returning home to the Sunshine State," said Langley. "I'd like to thank Pennie Parker, the athletic department, and the college for this opportunity. I look forward to supporting the mental health and well-being of Tars student-athletes, in addition to developing the very first embedded mental health and sport psychology program. I'm ready to work! Go Tars!"

In the position, Dr. Langley will provide team consultation, assistance, and educational opportunities, including meeting with coaches to assess team well-being and performance needs, and educating student-athletes about psychological skills that can enhance well-being and performance. She will work closely with the athletic training staff as well as the Wellness Center to ensure that each student-athlete is being properly cared for. Dr. Langley will also be available for private, one-on-one discussions with student-athletes when needed.