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., 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.

M.S.W., The Ohio State University

Catelen is the LiFEsports Assistant Director of Programming.  She started with us in 2017, where she helped pilot our off-campus community programming. In the Assistant Director of Programming role, Catelen will oversee of all youth programming for the LiFEsports Initiative. She also leads our internship opportunity within the organization, where she supports students daily learning and helps prepare future professionals in youth development. Outside of LiFEsports you can find Catelen teaching in the College of Social Work, mentoring youth in the community and probably training for some half marathon!  .  

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

Joe currently serves as the Off-Campus 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.

B.S.U.S., University of Cincinnati, M.P.A., The Ohio State University

Noelle is a One Linden School-Family-Community Coordinator for the Community and Youth Collaborative Institute (CAYCI), within the College of Social Work. She serves Windsor STEM Academy and the Linden community, working to strengthen school-family-community partnership, and transforming schools as hubs for community transformation. She also supervises and supports College of Social Work students completing their field placement at Windsor. In addition to her role at CAYCI, Noelle supports LiFEsports’ Youth Leadership Academy and helps with summer camp and clinics.

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

Research Interests: Social work in schools; Positive youth development; Family-school-community partnerships; School-based mental health; Scale development

B.A., West Virginia University, M.Ed., University of Missouri

Sean is currently the Communications and Community Engagement Manager for the LiFEsports Initiative. In this position, he is responsible for increasing the visibility of LiFEsports by planning, improving, managing and executing news, social media, information strategies, and event management to requisite audiences. Sean graduated from West Virginia University in 2016, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with a focus in Social Media. Sean also earned his varsity letter in wrestling during his time at WVU. He then went on to receive his master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a focus in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri in 2021. His passions are using his creative skills to advocate for prioritizing mental health with athletes and teaching others how to create positive change in their lives through sport.

Obi is a 2nd year Ph.D. student who is studying Kinesiology with a cognate in pedagogy and youth sport. Obi has previous experience in sport working as the OSU Men’s Soccer team manager and a youth soccer coach at various locations for the past 10 years. Obi also worked as an Ohio State Master of Sport Coaching graduate assistant. His favorite sport is soccer and he hopes to have a career within academia or a national governing organization after graduation.

Olivia is a first year MSW student at The Ohio State University and is graduate intern with CAYCI and LiFEsports. She completed her Bachelors of Science in Radiation Therapy at Ohio State in 2017. After graduation, Olivia spent three years at Pelotonia as a Community Coordinator supporting fundraising, recruitment, and community engagement. She then spent a year as a Development Manager for Hands On Nashville, leading revenue generating activities and cultivating funding relationships for the organization to respond to four devastating disasters in 2020 and 2021. Olivia is interested utilizing her community collaboration and relationship-building skills to focus on creating programming for positive youth development and young adult achievement. 

Sydney is currently a first year master student at the Ohio State University and is an MSW intern with LiFEsports/CAYCI. She previously completed her Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies and in Political Science at Davidson College. She brings over three years of experience working with 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.