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., Bowling Green State University, M.S.E., University of Toledo

Stephen is the Program Manager for the LiFEsports Initiative. In this position, he is responsible for the management and leadership of the LiFEsports clinics and our Youth Leadership Academy. Stephen joined the LiFEsports Initiative in 2017. Outside of LiFEsports, Stephen is a licensed Real Estate Agent. He frequently serves as an instructor for the OSU Extension, Franklin County Homebuyers Education Workshops. Stephen has also served on the OSU department of Social Work’s Diversity Committee and Response Team. Stephen has a passion for helping youth succeed through education and professional development.

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.

B.A., Washburn University, M.S.W., Wichita State University

Traci is currently serving as the Sport Coach Administrator for the OSU-OHSAA LiFEsports Alliance. Under the Susan Crown Exchange grant, she will be supporting the Alliance’s goal of reaching at least 15,000 coaches from across Ohio to equip them to address the ever-changing needs of their communities’ youth and promote sport-based positive youth development (PYD). Traci played 4 years of Division II soccer at Washburn University while obtaining Bachelors in Spanish and Economics with minors in International Business, International Studies, and Human Services.  In 2014 Traci graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Wichita State University.  She joins the team with 7 years of experience as a school social worker in Wichita, Kansas as well as 9 years of coaching high school cross country and girls’ soccer. She is an avid wrestling fan and passionate about promoting girls wrestling as a stand-alone sport. Since 2015 has been an active member of the Alliance for Social Workers in Sports. Traci has also taught BSW and MSW level courses on Sport Social Work at Wichita State University. 

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.

Travis (he/him/his) is in his first year in the MSW-PhD program in Social Work at Ohio State and is a field placement intern with LiFEsports. He previously completed his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Wilmington College and his Master of Science in Sport & Exercise Psychology at University of Kentucky. While at WC, he competed in track and field as a sprinter and served as Student Body President. He also collaborates with the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society at University of Tennessee and is a Junior Associate Editor for the Journal of Advancing Sport Psychology in Research. Travis is interested in research related to sport for social justice, positive youth development, life skill transfer, and advocacy for gender and sexual minorities.

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.

AM is currently a 2nd year master student at The Ohio State University and is conducting his field placement with LiFEsports during the 2021-2022 academic year. He previously completed his bachelor’s degree in recreational management with an emphasize in sports from Appalachian State University. While attending Appalachian State, he competed as a former student-athlete and served as an intern for their athletic department. AM holds a interest in focusing on the unique needs of student-athletes at both an individual and environmental level. This could include counseling , therapeutic intervention, and life skill development through clinical and evidences based services.

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.

Alexis is currently in her last semester of her Social Work undergraduate at The Ohio State University. She is conducting her field placement with LiFEsports throughout the 2021 academic year. Upon graduation, Alexis wants to focus on adolescences and their mental health. She also plans on returning to The Ohio State University to complete the Social Work Masters program.

Claire (she/her/hers) is currently in an ASAP master student at Ohio State and is in field placement working with Dublin City Schools. She has previously worked with LiFEsports in several different capacities including conducting research and working at summer camp. Additionally, Claire currently supports LiFEsports’ Youth Leadership Academy. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Ohio State and was an undergraduate field placement intern with CAYCI working to support Windsor STEM Academy. Claire takes a special interest in supporting student success in the school setting by removing nonacademic barriers to learning.