Student Athlete

Pursuing Excellence On and Off the Field

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 13:13:05 +0000

Pursuing Excellence On and Off the Field John Brandon C… Wed, 03/23/2022 - 09:13

Undergraduate student-athletes in the College reflect on their proudest sports moment and how their classes supported their athletics.

Kai Muniz

Exercise is one aspect of staying healthy, so athletes pursuing degrees in the College of Health and Human Services are a natural fit. Six undergraduate students in the College of Health and Human Services were honored at the Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athlete Awards ceremony on March 22. The ceremony recognized student-athletes who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.75 while continuing to represent Mason in their respective sports. Community health majors Ashley Dawson (cheer), Briana Dawson (cheer), Stephanie Der (volleyball), and Kai Muniz (cross country); nursing major Jessica McRae (track and field); and social work major Casey Nelson (track & field) were honored at the awards ceremony.

Being a college athlete requires dedication and hard work. The scholar-athletes found their College coursework has been helpful in their sports and with their teams, while their athletics also helped with their coursework, regardless of their major.

“My courses taught me how to roll with the punches and learn to understand my fellow teammates based on their own unique pasts. Public health is all about working together and guiding people towards their best possible outcomes and the classes I have taken has made me more conscientious about my actions as an athlete,” said Muniz ’22, Bachelor of Science in Community Health.

Casey Nelson

“Regarding athletics, my studies of social work have allowed me to see the importance of balancing the multiple demands of being a student-athlete. Additionally, it has allowed me to become more understanding and empathetic of challenges that student-athletes face regarding mental health, injuries, and other setbacks,” said Nelson ’22, Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in public health.

“Being a student-athlete has prepared me for the harder classes in my major because I was able to work hard and do well in the classes,” said McRae ’22, a Nursing major.

They have created many memories throughout college, and these athletes especially remember the big moments that contributed to their respective team’s success.

“My proudest sports moment at Mason would probably be toeing the line [being on the starting line] at the regional cross country meet with the guys. It's a grueling season and getting to see all our hard work pay off and run in Louisville on such a storied course with the people I've grown to love was so special to me,” said Muniz, who typically ran the 1500, the mile, and the 5K.

“My proudest moment at Mason would be winning the hammer event at the A10s championship last spring,” said McRae, who also competed in shot put and the weight throw.

Jessica McRae

“My proudest sports moment at Mason was during my freshman year when I was competing at the A10 Conference Championship meet at the University of Massachusetts in 2019. I placed 8th in discus scoring a point for my team. I was very happy to contribute as a freshman to my team winning at Conference. Every point counts!” said Nelson, who also competed in shot put and the weight throw.

Professors are the coaches of the classroom who help students learn new skills and motivate them with new knowledge. For the ceremony, students were asked to identify their favorite faculty member who had impacted their college career. The student-athletes are thankful for what they’ve learned from their professors.

“Dr. Freedman is an outstanding professor. He does an excellent job engaging students by fostering a safe and inclusive classroom environment for everyone to respectfully share their thoughts and ideas. His immense passion and enthusiasm for students and their professional growth is greatly appreciated,” said Nelson, who is president of the Social Workers at Mason club.

“My favorite teacher in my major is Dr. Ali Weinstein. She presented the course content so well and gave us comprehensible situations to apply what we were doing in class in real-world scenarios. Talking with her gave me a lot of insight towards future careers,” said Muniz.

“My favorite teacher is Professor Frese because she is great at explaining pathophysiology to her students, and I feel like she really prepared us for what expect in real nursing situations,” said Mcrae.

Congratulations to all our student-athletes and best of luck in your future careers.

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Widening the spotlight on athlete mental health

Colleen Rich — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 16:38:24 +0000

Widening the spotlight on athlete mental health Colleen Rich Thu, 09/16/2021 - 12:38

In order for athletes to balance their routines with wellness, they need to apply the same principles as they did with sports, says Emmett Gill, term assistant professor in the Department of Social Work within the College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University.

Emmett Gill. Photo provided

“You can be disciplined on the field, at the training table, in the weight room, but you have to be disciplined about taking care of your mental health and engaging in self-care,” Gill said.

“Athletes have been speaking out, and tennis player Naomi Osaka, gymnast Simone Biles, swimmer Michael Phelps, Brandon Marshall and Dak Prescott of the NFL have had an incredible impact,” he added.

Gill wants to shed more light on the mental health of athletes, particularly Black and Brown athletes.

He said it’s important for athletes struggling with mental health or wellness issues is to identify a mental health professional who they can talk with to give them needed feedback.

“Athletes, and people in general, feel that if you go to a mental health professional then you’re broken, and something is wrong with you, but that’s not necessarily the case,” said Gill. “It’s amazing how good you can feel about who you are and what you’re doing just having someone to talk to.”

Gill, a licensed social worker, is teaching Foundations of Direct Practice and Foundations of Social Welfare in Mason’s online program. He also teaches courses on advocating and organizing for community change, and research methods for social work.

He is looking forward to serving the Mason athletic community (e.g., basketball and soccer teams) by bringing social work in the fold of Athletics, and has already sat in on a few of Mason’s men’s basketball team practices with head coach Kim English. Gill is also conducting mental health workshops for local college athletic departments, college athletes, coaches and staff with a focus on Black and Brown college athletes and the effects of NCAA’s rules regarding name, image and likeness on college athlete mental health.

Gill received a grant, funded by AJ Muste Foundation, to explore social justice efforts of professional athletes.

“We have figured out that athletes are human too, and have mental health challenges,” said Gill. “The challenge in athletics is that we don’t have any tools specifically developed for athletes.”

“Think about how much better you can be if you take care of your mental health,” said Gill. “You’re going to be a better wife or husband, son or daughter, employee or student, if you take care of your mental health. That’s where it all starts. It’s not our actions, it’s our intent.”

Gill is working on an app to focus on athlete wellness, with wellness images and quotes. Gill said the app, named Athlete Talk, is designed to meet athletes where they are, and includes a social media wellness feed similar to what you would see on Facebook and Instagram. Other primary features are a multi-day plan, thought and action exercises, and journaling.

Emmett Gill’s expertise is in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in sports. Prior to joining Mason’s College of Health and Human Services this summer, he worked for NFL Lifeline. He has also served as a faculty member and performed his services in athletics for Rutgers University, North Carolina Central, and the University of Texas at Austin. A licensed social worker, Gill is also a founding member of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports. He can be reached at egill7@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Jeanene Harris at jharri57@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www2.gmu.edu.

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