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.

B.S.Ed., M.S.W., The Ohio State University 

Joe currently serves as theSenior Program Manager for the LiFEsports Initiative. In this position, Joe is responsible for overseeing operations related to the community-based LiFEsports outreach programs. When he joined the team back in 2019 as a Graduate Student Intern, Joe identified with the mission of LiFEsports and appreciated the opportunity given to make a difference in the lives of those that need it the most through sport. Outside of LiFEsports, Joe coaches Middle School Basketball and Volleyball at Grandview Heights Middle School.

BSSW, MSW, The Ohio State University

Tommy is currently serving as the YLA Program Manager for the LiFEsports Initiative. 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!

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.

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. 

MEd Georgia State University

Jackie is currently serving as a Continuing Education Specialist for the LiFEsports and Coach Beyond Initiative. She has a master's degree in education from Georgia State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University. Jackie is a Nationally Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Certified Personal Trainer. Jackie joins the team excited to support athletes and coaches across Ohio to strengthen physical, social and emotional well-being through their team communities.

Sydney is currently a PhD candidate at the Ohio State University. She previously completed her Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies and in Political Science at Davidson College. She brings experience working with college student-athletes, coaches, national and international non-profits in operations management, program development & evaluation and creative design. Sydney is interested in research related to enhancing athlete well-being and performance, using sport as a vehicle for positive development, life skill development, and holistic approaches to health.

L.S.W, B.S.S.W, The Ohio State University

Maria is a Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Alternative Program student in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work. During her undergraduate studies, she completed her field placement with LiFEsports and later served as a Youth Leadership Coordinator for the LiFEsports Summer Camp. Currently, Maria is completing her graduate field placement with LiFEsports as a Site Manager. She is passionate about strength-based and resiliency-focused approaches, with a strong commitment to positive youth development. Maria is excited to continue serving youth and families in the Columbus community.

Michael is an MSW student in the College of Social Work. He earned a BA in Psychology from The Ohio State University. Michael is currently completing his graduate field placement with LiFEsports as a Site Manager at Adams Community Center. Prior to his graduate studies, Michael spent two summers working with the LiFEsports+ summer camp at Linden Community Center. He is passionate about providing evidence-based care and breaking down barriers to quality sport programming. Michael is excited to continue serving youth and families in the Columbus community by building and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Declan is in his second year of his Masters of Social Work program at The Ohio State University. He earned his BA in Psychology at Otterbein University, where he played football for two years. Declan spent this past summer as a Chalk Talk leader at the LiFEsports camp at Ohio State, and he is now in his second semester with the team at Coach Beyond. He is passionate about serving athletes and their families and is excited to expand the landscape of coach and athlete trainings to communities across the state of Ohio.

Emily is a second-year master’s student in the College of Social Work. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University, where she was a member of the field hockey team. This is her second semester with the LiFEsports team, and she served as a Chalk Talk Leader at the LiFEsports Camp this past summer. This year, she will be working more closely with Coach Beyond and Ohio State’s Sports Psychology and Wellness Services (SPAWS) office. Emily is passionate about promoting mental health in the sports world and is excited to continue serving youth and families in the Columbus community.

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).