Research Interests
Dr. Kluch's research agenda is centered on why and how individuals and organizations utilize sport as a platform to advance equity, inclusion, and social justice. Drawing from interpretive-humanistic and critical epistemological frameworks and using qualitative and critical methods, Dr. Kluch's research looks at the individual factors (e.g., identity, sense of belonging), cultural institutions (e.g., media), and systemic forces (e.g., racism, exclusion) that either prevent or empower individuals and organizations to engage in social justice efforts. Specific areas of research include (1) activism, sport, and social change, (2) inclusive sport policy, governance, and human rights, (3) experiences of minoritized groups in sport, and (4) strategic diversity/equity/inclusion efforts in sport. As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Kluch has worked with organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, USA Diving, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to remove barriers to racial and social justice in the sports industry.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Assistant Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Assistant Professor, Center for Global Studies
Recent Publications
Bell, T. R., Bingaman, J., & Kluch, Y. (2025). “Clenched fists, helping hand”: Peter Norman and media frame building of white allyship. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Article 10126902251356561. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902251356561
Ferguson, T., Frederick, E., Brown, L., Kluch, Y., Hancock, M., & Siegfried, N. (2025). “I Was in a Position to Enact Change:” College Athletes’ Use of Social Media for Racial and Social Justice. Communication and Sport, 13(4), 686-712. https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795241289839
Du, X., Lee, M., Wu, X., Liechty, T., & Kluch, Y. (2024). Identity Centrality and Leisure Behavior among Chinese Queer Individuals in the U.S. Leisure Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2024.2407017
Kluch, Y., Sharnak, D., Brooks, S., Flores, S. M. A., & Weems, A. (2024). How does a “neutral” rule become a systemic barrier to racial justice? Human rights activism, International Olympic Committee Rule 50, and the neutrality myth in racialized organizations. Sport Management Review, 27(4), 640-660. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2024.2341159
Kluch, Y., Hancock, M. G., Siegfried, N., Brown, L. E. C., Ferguson, T. L., & Frederick, E. L. (2024). “You Always Had to Be Very Careful:” Mapping Civil Leisure Constraints for Collegiate Athletes Engaging in Social Media Activism. Leisure Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2024.2372798