Dr. Whittaker’s research interests are highlighted within the focus areas of student athlete wellness, minority male retention, disability support services, and international student engagement. Dr. Whittaker is a member of several professional organizations including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and he has enjoyed the pleasure of conducting workshops at a multitude of institutions and organizations nationally in which he highlights his philosophy that engagement is inextricably bound to learning. He states, “Students and employees who feel that they truly matter to an institution/organization are much more likely to be retained, persist, and ultimately succeed. Therefore, as effective leaders we must ensure the necessary resources are accessible to assist in this effort.”

Dr. Whittaker’s most recent research study titled, “An Analysis of Help-Seeking Behavior of Male Athletes at Four-Year Institutions” (2018), was conducted with his philosophy in mind. The study included a diverse group of 250 male student athletes in NCAA Division I and Division II athletic programs at public and private institutions. The study was aimed at determining if there was a relationship between male student-athletes’ intentions to seek help for non-athletic health concerns and male student-athletes’ academic success as defined by grade point average. The results yielded that there was a slight correlation between student-athletes working with a sports psychologist or mental health professional and higher grade point averages. Additionally, the highest areas of help seeking concern were weight control, relationship differences, and test anxiety.

Dr. Whittaker often expresses how his experience as a former college student athlete coupled with his professional experience of working in athletics has provided a unique platform of understanding the inimitable and often unseen battle with emotional wellness many student athletes experience during the active years of their  athletic career, as well as the post career transition phase. Research has shown that 10-15% of college athletes suffer from psychological problems that are severe enough to necessitate intervention. Despite the presence of clinical symptoms, many student-athletes have a propensity to avoid utilization of available counseling services. While student athletes may benefit from regular exercise, increased self-esteem, and social support, they remain at risk if these protective factors fail at some point. This gap in help seeking behavior within the student athlete population is what ignites Dr. Whittaker’s passion for being a catalyst of positive change.