Katherine Polasek is presently in her third year as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at SUNY Cortland.  Katherine is a 1995 graduate of Lyons Township High School where she participated in varsity swimming and water polo. She earned her B.S. degree from University of Maryland at College Park in 1999 where she participated in varsity swimming and water polo.  Katherine earned her M.S. degree from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2001 and her Ph.D. degree from Temple University in 2005.

In addition to her work as an assistant professor at SUNY Cortland, Katherine has been working as a sport psychology consultant for the past six years.  She has worked with high school, college, and national caliber athletes.  As a former Division 1 swimmer and All-American water polo player, Polasek is well versed in the rigors often associated with being an athlete.