Leadership

My journey as the president of ISPA has been a very fulfilling one. A lifelong athlete, sports has been an essential building block for my success as a professional and as a person. I am a practicing clinical psychologist now licensed in 23 states and internationally. I have an international reputation for caring for youth, families, acting out behaviors and general psychology. I am an associate professor at the University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, MX. Author of over 65 professional journal articles, 20 books, three novels, 6 screenplays and a performed theatrical play. My book, FAMILY FIT, was named in 2018 as one of the top five parenting books for dads-ever. My book for the United Nations (UNESCO) titled Creating a Safe and Welcoming School, has been translated into 16 languages and distributed internationally. I hosted a radio show for one year on troubled teens. I have received many awards and recognitions throughout my career. I was named by Cambridge (England) as one of the Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century for my work on helping to change our approach to drug abuse in families. I am frequently quoted in media articles and interviewed by reporters an average of six times each week. I have also appeared on camera many times in documentaries, The Blue Room and WooLife, and in TV series on the Discovery Channel and BBC. Producers and directors find him professional, yet candid, on air and willing to address the controversial facts that many professionals shy away from. As a youth I excelled in the popular US sports of football, basketball, and baseball. I was brought into triathlons and marathons by my son when he was 9 years old. (See below) I was hooked from the beginning and since have run in 14 marathons and dozens of triathlons. It continues to be an honor to work closely with my son in running this organization.

It is with great honor that I serve as Executive Director of the ISPA. My academic background is in psychology where I have a BA in Psychology from the University of Chicago. My sports background spans across my entire lifetime. From the age of 9 I have competed in quite a few Triathlons and was often the youngest competitor in these races. Over the course of my career, I have completed 10 Ironman Triathlons and 20+ Marathons. I have placed in the top three in numerous Triathlons and have won several age group awards. I played varsity baseball in high school as a pitcher. I was recruited to play Division 1 baseball in college, however, my passion for Triathlon won me over and I decided to focus on this and my studies. Sports have always played a major role my life and I feel their effect on me was paramount in my development as a more rounded and confident individual. I am also the author of the book: Ethical Youth Coaching:Principals and Practices. I strongly believe in the ISPA’s mission to raise the level of care athletes receive. I have seen firsthand the impact that individuals who work with athletes can have, and it is vitally important that these individuals adhere to the highest ethics and standards of practice in their given fields.
Please feel free to contact me at JMayer@theISPA.org  if you have any questions.