Faculty and Staff Profile

Tavaghn Monts

Educational Background

BS Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Clemson 2020

Profile

Tavaghn Monts serves as Executive Director of Momentum Bike Clubs (MBC) and Assistant Director of Community Collaboration for the Race, Ethnicity, Youth, and Social Equity (REYSE) Collaboratory in Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Momentum Bike Clubs is a youth mentoring initiative serving middle and high school students across Greenville and Pickens Counties, using cycling as a platform to foster belonging, resilience, and positive youth development. In his dual roles, Monts leads community partnerships, program innovation, and research collaborations focused on the intersection of mentoring, trauma-informed practice, and equity. Monts’ professional interests include youth development, the impact of trauma on young people, and community-based mentoring models. He was recognized as a Top Presenter at the 2025 National AfterSchool Association Conference (NAA25) for his sessions “Adultism: The Silent Barrier to Youth Empowerment” and “Unmasking Toxic Masculinity in OST.” A graduate of Clemson University (B.S., Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, 2020), Monts combines academic insight with hands-on community leadership to strengthen opportunities for youth voice and empowerment.

Research Interests

• Youth development and mentoring
• The impact of trauma on children and youth

Research Publications

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Promoting
Learning and Development in K-12 Out-of-School Time Settings: Proceedings of a
Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
https://doi.org/10.17226/27885.

Honors and Awards

Top Presenter – National AfterSchool Association (NAA25) Convention, 2025

Recognized by the National AfterSchool Association as one of the Top Presenters of NAA25 for excellence in facilitation and participant engagement. Honored for the sessions:
• “Adultism: The Silent Barrier to Youth Empowerment”
• “Unmasking Toxic Masculinity in OST”

Links