Jens Omli
Instructor
Contact Information
- Email: jomli@calpoly.edu
Education
- Postdoctoral Training (NIH), Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
- Ph.D., Kinesiology (Sport & Exercise Psychology Emphasis), University of Minnesota
- M.A., Masters of Counseling, Springfield College
- B.A., Psychology & Philosophy, Westmont College
Courses Taught
- CD/PSY 2256 Developmental Psychology
- CD/PSY2229 Research Methods in Psychology
- CD 3351 Independent Study
Research Interests
Dr. Omli's scholarship is focused on human thriving and can be found at the intersection of Child Development, Sport Psychology, and International Affairs. His writing and outreach efforts are focused on nurturing the principles of heroism in high-impact leaders (teachers, coaches, counselors, managers, etc.). He has worked with thousands of coaches and physical educators around the world, who have daily contact with hundreds of thousands of children, particularly in East Africa. His international outreach efforts are aimed at providing information, support, and encouragement to coaches as they transition from a narrow focus on talent-development and strategy implementation, to a more comprehensive vision of coaching, which includes youth and community development. With grants from the U.S. State Department, Dr. Omli developed the largest coach training projects implemented on the continent of Africa, aimed at equipping sport coaches with international-standard technical training and connecting at-risk children with caring adult mentors. He has also published papers on coach and parent behavior in youth sport, and the impact of background anger/inter-adult conflict on children in youth sport settings.Selected Publications
Selected Publications
- Omli, J. (2024). How Heroes Hero: A Description and a Prescription. Jengo Books. ISBN-13: 979-8882551109 [Hardcover]
- Omli, J., & Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M. (2011). Kids Speak: Preferred parent behavior at youth psort events. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82, 702-711
- Omli, J. (2008). The MVP model: From phenomenology to practice. The Sport Psychologist, 22, 229-243.