Meet the Owner 

My lifelong dream of becoming a Track and Field Olympian shifted when I entered Illinois State University and had to choose between my education and continuing my athletic career. My major required a significant time commitment, so I chose academics, knowing my degree would take me further than athletics alone, even as I continued receiving recruitment offers from programs that weren’t the right fit.

The reality I had to face that world of athletics doesn’t prepare you for are the internal battles that follow athletic retirement. The transition was disorienting and emotionally heavy, and it took years to rediscover my interests, rebuild my identity, and create a new sense of normalcy. Over time, I slowly emerged from a place where I felt incomplete without my sport. Staying in school gave me the structure and support I needed, and I eventually earned my master’s degree in Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.

During this time, I founded Athlete Advocate because I knew I wasn’t alone. Many athletes struggle deeply with the emotional and identity challenges that come with retiring from sport. Currently I am now continuing my education by earning my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (PsyD), with the goal of advocating for athletes’ mental health, mentoring them through major transitions, and creating an impact bigger than myself. My mission is to help the next generation of athletes feel prepared for the real world, supported in their identity beyond sport, and equipped to build sustainable, fulfilling careers long after retirement.