Peter J. Economou · Lablypedia

Education

Peter Economou is an alumnus of the Seton Hall University, from his Bachelor studies, finishing with a degree in Biological Science in 2002, through his Doctor of Philosophy, major in Counselling Psychology studies degree in 2011; his doctoral dissertation is titled "Experiences of the White Gay Male: An Investigation of the Relationship between Factors of Being Gay, Heterosexism, and the Stress Response System." In between, he studied Master of Arts, major in Counseling and Psychological Studies, graduating in 2006, then took up Educational Specialist studies in Counseling and Psychological studies, which he completed in 2007. Economou became the first Seton Hall swimmer to win a Big East Conference butterfly title and was named the program’s Sophomore Male Athlete of the Year in 2001. He was formally inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame on 21 January 2023.

Licenses and certifications

Economou is licensed and practicing as a psychologist in New York and as psychologist and Professional Counselor in New Jersey, while teaching in the university, and fulfilling other professional roles. He is Board Certified in Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.

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Career and research

Peter Economou previously taught at the Felician University, before being employed in Rutgers University since 2018, where he is currently an assistant professor, head of the Organizational Psychology Program while also being the Director of Behavioral Health and Sport Psychology Department. The embedded program is regarded by Rutgers as one of only two Power‑5 athletics departments whose sport‑psychology services are overseen by tenure‑track faculty.

In 2008, he founded the nonprofit Non-governmental Organization, Share Our World, dedicated to delivering culturally centered education, advancing cultural diversity, and expanding awareness around mental health. He also founded the Counseling and Wellness Institute in 2015 to support education and advance research in evidence-based practices and subsequent applications in mental health.

As director of Rutgers University's Behavioral Health and Sport Psychology, he is instrumental in advancing the integration of Psychology and Mental Health Awareness in the field of collegiate sports. Because of this, he was featured as resource person for promoting mental health awareness in collegiate and professional sports in news websites in New Jersey. He has been in the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology since 2014, in addition to memberships to state and national psychology associations.

Aside from his published books and journal articles, Economou has also made appearances on Fox 5 NY as resource person in the topic of mental health, especially in relation to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, along with being interviewed by local news websites in connection with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the mental health of citizens, students, and athletes.

He also teaches Zen Buddhism, after having studied at the Morning Star Zendo with Robert Kennedy Roshi. Economou hosts weekly “Meditation Mondays” mindfulness sessions for Rutgers student‑athletes, integrating Zen principles into performance psychology.

Coaching and views

Through the Behavioral Health and Sport Psychology Department of Rutgers University, Economou also takes on the role of performance coaching, "providing Rutgers student-athletes with the tools to tackle mental challenges is as critical to their success as the physical support required to compete in the Big Ten Conference." He accumulated experience working with collegiate and professional athletes. He has been helping black athletes and their respective teams overcome racism and injustice. He emphasizes the need for professional leagues to have psychologists among the coaching staff, and the need for this movement of coaching with a focus on psychology and mental health to trickle down to the youth level.

In a 2024 New York Times article on sustaining a summer work routine, Economou discussed practices for preserving mental fitness during seasonal schedule shifts.