Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I’m pursuing a doctorate in Sport Management because I have a passion for helping Black male and female athletes reach their full potential both on and off the field/court. I thought to myself, this work had to be done, and I have to be the one to do it. With my experience both as an athlete and someone who has worked around athletes for quite some time, I can see the gaps, and I will work hard to close them.

Importance of your research and work

My research will support programs geared toward helping college and professional athletes succeed throughout their lives. It will give teams or organizations such as the NCAA, NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL data on the best or more appropriate ways to implement programing and services to help athletes once they leave sports for their next career.

Accomplishments and career aspirations

Being a McKnight Fellow is one of THE BEST experiences ever. It’s a family that is committed to seeing graduate students thrive and survive this process we call a doctoral degree. It’s an endless network, because everyone in academia knows one another, and I will be able to get a job anywhere in the nation—not to mention the financial support they provide. As someone who wants to own her own business and work at an HBCU later in life, McKnight has given me great examples and role models of people who do both very well.