OCCUPATION

Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Owner and Mental Performance Consultant, MATCHUP Mental Performance LLC

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Sport Pedagogy, University of North Texas

M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Career and Sport Psychology, University of Missouri

B.Soc.Sc in Psychology, City University of Hong Kong

EXPERIENCE

Dr. Alan Chu is an Associate Professor of Applied Sport Psychology, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and a member of the USOPC Sport Psychology and Mental Training Registry, working with athletes and coaches from youth to professional levels on mental performance and personal excellence. Alan is passionate about applying science to practice while adapting his approach to his clients’ cultural backgrounds. He works with performers such as performing artists and business professionals from Fortune 500 companies in addition to athletes and coaches.

Alan is an expert in motivation, mindful self-compassion, positive psychology, psychological skills training, and coaching and coaching education. He has produced over 60 scientific and applied publications for both research and practice in these areas. He has also developed the Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, & Athlete Resilience Training (SMART) Program to help athletes combat self-criticism and improve resilience to maximize their potential in sport and in life.

Alan’s journey into the world of sport psychology began with a fascination for the mental aspects of sports when he was a five-sport high school athlete in Hong Kong. As he had his ups and downs in different sports, he noticed the important roles that both individual mindsets and social support (from coaches, teammates, and parents) played in his motivation to train and his ability to compete at his highest level, including helping his team win the college championship in Hong Kong. He still competes in table tennis and serves as an internationally certified coach.