Alison Doherty, PhD
Professor
Room 2225C, 3M Ctr
519 661-2111 x88362
adoherty@uwo.ca
@Alisondoherty1
Google Scholar
LinkedIn
Education
- MPE, PhD (Ottawa)
- BA (Western University)
Graduate Program Supervision
Research In Profile
Professor Alison Doherty’s research focuses broadly on the capacity and management of nonprofit and community-based organizations for safe and inclusive sport and physical activity. She is leading or involved in projects aimed at advancing recognition and reporting of concussion in the youth sport context, a safer sport culture in high performance sport, women and gender equity in sport leadership, and the integration of newcomers through organized sport. Professor Doherty engages in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches to research. Her work is framed by meaningful knowledge mobilization.
Featured Publications and Projects
Books
- Casey, M., Doherty, A., Elliot, S., & Norman, L. (Eds.) (2022). Engaging women and girls in community sport: Building an equitable and inclusive future, Special Topic of Frontiers in Sports & Active Living.
- Malcolm, D., Doherty, A., Sanderson, J., & Bachynski, K. (Eds.) (2021). Concussion and sport: A sociocultural perspective, Special Topic of Frontiers in Sports & Active Living.
Chapters and Reports
- Doherty, A., MacIntosh, E., & Kerwin, S. (2022, August 28). Fostering a fear-based environment: Coach behaviour needs to change in high-performance sport.
- MacIntosh, E., Kerwin, S., & Doherty, A. (2022, July 25). “I feel (un)safe when…”: What athletes have to say about high performance culture.
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
- Doherty, A., Millar, P., & Misener, K. (2020). Return to community sport: Leaning on evidence in turbulent times. Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(1-2), 1-7.
- Doherty, A., & Cuskelly, G. (2020). Organizational capacity and performance of community sport clubs. Journal of Sport Management. 34(3), 240-259.
- Doherty, A., & Patil, S. (2019). Reflections on major sport event volunteer legacy research. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 11(S1), s34-s42.
Visit Google Scholar for a comprehensive list of publications.
Current Grants and Research Projects
- Pila, E., Sabiston, C., Doherty, A., Calogero, R., Hallward, L., Sandmeyer-Graves, A., & Maharaj, A. (2022-2025). Weight-inclusive approaches to physical activity for girls and women: Co-developing resources to change the physical activity landscape in Canada. SSHRC Partnership Development Grant, $185,200.
- MacIntosh, E., Doherty, A., & Kerwin, S. (2021-2024). Creating a Safe Culture in Canadian High Performance Sport. SSHRC Insight Grant, $177,013.
- Patil, S., & Doherty, A. (2021-2022). The Financial Wellbeing of National Team Women Athletes in Canada. Canadian Gender+ Equity in Sport Research Hub (E-Alliance) Seed Grant, $9,500.
- Schlesinger, T., and colleagues (Alison Doherty, Western University, Associate Partner). (2019-2023). Integration of Newly Arrived Migrants through Organized Sport – From European Policy to Local Sports Club Practice, Erasmus+ Programme, European Commission, $573,400.
- Doherty, A., Caron, J., Fischer, L., Gassewitz, D., Greenhow, A., Safai, P., Cowle, S., Misley, J., Riggin, B., Rowe, K., Sibbald, S., Tanenbaum, B., Watson, M., & Wicker, P. (2019-2024) An Integrated Model for Effective Youth Sport Concussion Management. SSHRC Partnership Development Grant, $199,970.
Featured Graduate Student Projects
Capacity for Sport for Development
- Clutterbuck, Ryan (2018), PhD, Kinesiology.
Capacity Building in Community Sport Organizations
- Millar, Patti (2015), PhD, Kinesiology.
Understanding the Volunteer Youth Coaching Environment: A Psychological Contract Perspective
- Harman, Alanna (2013), PhD, Kinesiology.
Reflections on Return to Sport
- Desmond, Rhys (2021), MA, Kinesiology.
Capacity for Change: Critical Factors in the Organizational Implementation of Gender Equity in Sport Initiatives
- Patil, Swarali (2017), MA, Kinesiology.
Visit Scholarship@Western for a list of completed student theses and dissertations in the repository.
Additional Information
Academic Appointments and Research Affiliations
- School of Kinesiology Research Chair (2021-23)
- Sport Management at Western
- Sport and Social Impact Research Group (SSIRG)
- North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM)
- Sport Management Association of Australi and New Zealand (SMAANZ)
- European Association for Sport Management (EASM)
- Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
Awards
- Dr. Earle F. Zeigler Lecture Award, North American Society for Sport Management
- Dr. Garth Paton Distinguished Service Award, North American Society for Sport Management
- Research Fellow, North American Society for Sport Management
- American Library Association CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award: Cunningham, G., Fink, J., & Doherty, A. (Eds.) (2016). Routledge handbook of theory in sport management. Oxford: Routledge.
- Highly Cited Paper Award, Elsevier: Doherty, A. (2013). Investing in sport management: The value of good theory. Sport Management Review, 16(1), 5-11.
- Keynote speaker EASM Conference (Bern, Switzerland) and SMAANZ Conference (Melbourne)
Professional Activities
- Editorial Board Member, Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review
- Board Member, Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC)
- Member (Inaugural) Canadian Women & Sport Impact Research Committee
- International Visiting Scholar/Lecturer:
- University of Minnesota
- Bond University (Australia)
- La Trobe University (Australia)
- Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
- German Sport University
- Russian International Olympic University
- Editor (2013-2016), Sport Management Review
