LiFEsports Team
Faculty & Staff
LiFEsports is made possible through countless hours of work by OSU faculty, staff, and community partners.
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.
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.
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 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.
B.S., The Ohio State University MSW, The Ohio State University
Olivia is CAYCI’s Assistant Director of School Partnerships. In her role, Olivia leads several of our state and national outreach efforts by consulting with schools and districts using our CAYCI School Experience Surveys. She supports our partner schools with school improvement planning processes and implementation practices related to designing comprehensive strategies to strengthen their overall systems of support. Olivia also co-leads a grant project in Granville Exempted Village Schools focused on supporting student-athlete mental health. In the district, Olivia manages and facilitates efforts to train parents/guardians, coaches, and student-athletes on practices that will improve Granville’s readiness to respond to and prevent mental health concerns. She also manages other grant administration tasks and relationships among students, staff, consultants, and faculty. Olivia supports LiFEsports’ Youth Leadership Academy as a coach providing life and leadership skills training and mentorship to prepare high school-aged youth for postsecondary educational and career opportunities.
Olivia joined the team back in 2021 as a Graduate Research Associate where she connected her passion for community collaboration to support positive youth development and young adult achievement. Outside of LiFEsports, Olivia coaches high school soccer and enjoys spending time traveling and outdoors with friends and family.
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.
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.
B.A., The Ohio State University
Tanner Watson is an undergrad in Sports Industry at The Ohio State University as well as a student-athlete on the Track & Field team. He is from Cleveland, Ohio, and was an intern over the summer with LiFEsports for the main campus as well as the Linden location, This has led Tanner to become the YLA Assistant this upcoming year! Tanner is a BIG 10 placer in the discus as well as an All- American in Discus!
Quinten attended the University of Cincinnati for his first and second year of college then transferred back home to The Ohio State University for his third year and beyond. He majors in Sports Industry and is looking to graduate from OSU with a bachelor’s degree & pursue a career in the Sports Management field.
Holly Dotson is a first-year Master of Social Work student at The Ohio State University. Her professional experience spans several fields, including interior design and education, with her most recent experience serving as a library education specialist at a middle school in Utah. Holly is passionate about supporting youth and plans to apply her MSW training in middle or high school settings, with a focus on at-risk and underserved populations. Holly loves traveling, hiking, and spending time with her husband and four children.
Maria is completing her Master's of Social Work degree with a focus on Child and Youth Services. Maria has a passion for child welfare and has been playing sports her whole life. Maria obtained her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and played on the Women’s Soccer Club all four years.
Dashah is enrolled in the Master's of Social Work program at the Ohio State University and aspires to be a school social worker. Over the past year, she has been serving as a middle school social worker intern at Hilliard City Schools. Dashah has one son and enjoys camping, reading, dancing, and attending her son's baseball games.