LiFEsports Team

Ph.D., M.S.W., University of Utah. M.S., B.A., B.S., Miami University

Dawn is a professor at the College of Social Work and affiliate faculty member in Human Sciences at OSU. Dawn serves as the Executive Director for Teaching/Research for LiFEsports. She is known nationally for her research in sport-based positive youth development, afterschool programming, and school mental health practice. She is a licensed independent social work (with supervision designation) in Ohio. Dawn was a college athlete, and also has coached soccer at the high school, Club, and community levels. Collectively she has over 30 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating youth development, sport, exercise, and school mental health interventions for youth. Dawn has been at OSU since 2000, and joined the LiFEsports team in 2008. More information about Dawn Anderson-Butcher can be found at csw.osu.edu.

B.S.B.A., M.A., Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Jerome is currently the Director of Staff Development in the Department of Athletics, the LiFEsports Executive Director of Service & Outreach, and an Adjunct Professor in the College of Social Work and in the College of Education and Human Ecology. He is dedicated to providing a great experience to people of all ages through sport. He enjoys helping students excel at developing into great people, and to become effective members of society. He accomplishes this through his work in athletics, the LiFEsports Camp, and in the classroom.

B.S.W., Capital University, M.S.W. and M.S., The Ohio State University

Rebecca is currently the Director of Operations for the LiFEsports Initiative. In this position, she is responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of all current programming. In addition to this role, she supports and manages teaching/learning, research, and fundraising endeavors within LiFEsports. During the summer, she serves as the Assistant Director for the LiFEsports Summer Camp. Becky joined the LiFEsports Initiative in 2008. Outside of LiFEsports, Becky is an independent licensed social worker in the State of Ohio, serves as a field consultant for the National Summer Learning Association, and has coached middle school soccer in Grandview Heights City Schools for the past 11 years.

Ph.D., The Ohio State University, B.S., M.S.W., Louisiana State University

Dr. Samantha Bates is an Assistant Professor in the OSU College of Social Work and our LiFEsports Director of Research. She is a licensed social worker with more than seven years of experience working with socially vulnerable youth in various settings including schools, communities, after school programs, and sport. Her research focuses on equity-minded positive youth development and mental wellness through sport. She is highly involved in driving our research agenda to identify key mechanisms and strategies that facilitate positive outcomes for our young people through sport. She is also helping to lead our Coach Beyond work that aims to train 15,000 coaches in positive youth development practices by 2025.

PhD Michigan State University, MS University of Tennessee, BS The Ohio State University

Dr. Kylee Ault-Baker is the Assistant Director of Coach Beyond and Research Scientist working with the LiFEsports and Coach Beyond Initiative. She has a PhD and Master’s degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Psychology, and she has worked as a mental performance coach for the past 8 years. Her research addresses how sport can be a tool for positive youth development and the role of sport coaches and administrators in education-based athletics. She joins the research team with the goal of furthering our understanding of how LiFEsports contributes to the growth and development of youth throughout Columbus, and is excited continue to provide programming for coaches and athletes on the development of leadership and life skills.

B.A. Sport Management

Stephanie Loomis is a Senior Program Manager working with the Coach Beyond Initiative and LiFEsports. She has a BA in Sport Management from Bowling Green State University with a focus in Recreation and Event Management. She has worked in the sport industry for 13 years, in which she served as an Ohio high school Athletic Director for three years.  Stephanie has coached girls' basketball and softball at the high school, club, and community levels. Her role in Coach Beyond supports coaches and administrators in education-based athletics on going beyond the X's and O's. Stephanie joins the team eager to continue leading impactful programming for coaches and athletes in the development of leadership and life skills with Coach Beyond as the catalyst.

BSSW, MSW, The Ohio State University

Tommy is currently serving as the Senior Program Manager for LiFEsports. In this position, Tommy is responsible for overseeing programming for the Youth Leadership Academy, working with high school aged youth to provide them with leadership development and college/career readiness programming. Tommy worked with LiFEsports in the summers of 2018 and 2019, where he found his passion for working with youth and their communities. Outside of LiFEsports, you can find Tommy playing volleyball whenever he has a chance and exploring all the great things Columbus has to offer!

MEd Springfield College, MSE University of Dayton, BS Otterbein University

Brett is currently serving as a Continuing Education Specialist for the LiFEsports and Coach Beyond Initiative. He has a Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Springfield College and a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Dayton. He is a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervision designation in the state of Ohio where he has been practicing for the last five years. Brett joins the team excited to be able to work with coaches and athletes on the development and implementation of mental skills as well as breaking the stigma surrounding mental health by providing education and support. 

MSW, LSW

Sly Worthy Jr., MSW, LSW, is a first-year PhD student in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University (OSU). He is a licensed social worker and a certified anti-oppression practitioner through the National Association of Social Workers. Additionally, he holds a certificate in Sport Social Work from the University of Michigan. Sly has approximately four years of experience as a clinician and school social worker, two years as a high school football coach, and one year as a facilitator for coaches and student-athletes through LiFEsports’ Coach Beyond program. 

 Sly’s combined background in coaching and clinical practice has influenced his research interests in sport social work, mental health, and mental performance. He is currently working towards his social work independent license and pursuing certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC).