About Shari Kuchenbecker

Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D. is a sports psychologist, educator, researcher and author of RAISING WINNERS:  A Parents Guide to Helping Kids Succeed On & Off the Playing Field (Three Rivers-Random House, 2000).

She is currently a tenured professor at Chapman University and President and lead researcher for R.W. Research, Inc., which conducts studies on children in sports, parenting and women's development.

A consultant to organizations, schools, and individuals on optimizing youth development and self-efficacy through quality positive practices, Dr. Kuchenbecker is a member of the American Psychological Association Media Consultants, a frequent contributor to such publications as Parents, Parenting, Sports Illustrated, Working Mother, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Mademoiselle, Family Life, Mirabella, Elle,  and has appeared on CNN, the CBS Early Show, KNBC, Fox and Friends, Women to Women and LifeTime, as well as numerous radio shows. 

Professor Kuchenbecke has developed a community action quality coaching program called the Sports Proactive Information Formative Feedback Inventory (SPIFFI£Ã) designed to assist moms in promoting quality coaching practices in youth sports.

An advocate for empowering youth through pro-social community action, Dr. Kuchenbecker is on the Advisory Board for Youth Philanthropy Worldwide and a Member of the board of the Cap & Gown Women's Honor Society at Stanford University.

Professor Kuchenbecker graduated from Stanford University and UCLA (BA, MA and Ph.D. respectively) with a focus in child development. She is the mother of three children who all played sports through college.