Excelling on and off the field/court: 19 Graduate and Professional Student Athletes

By: Margaret Savoie

Dr. Bob Baker, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development.

The University of Mississippi is home to 16 sports teams, 417 student athletes, and 19 graduate and professional student athletes enrolled in 13 different graduate and professional programs. In addition to the typical student athlete responsibilities such as training and game day schedules, these graduate student athletes have scholastic responsibilities at the graduate education level. However, these fantastic athletes excel on the track, court, or field and in the classroom.

“A lot of our athletes are high profile. Look at Tim Elko; he could have left but came back to pursue a master’s degree and is a prime example that you can be an elite student athlete and pursue a graduate degree. Both are possible,” said Dr. Bob Baker, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development.

According to Baker, three main factors have contributed to the increase in the number of graduate school athletes. The first is remaining eligibility; students could have taken a summer course and still have a year or more of eligibility to play, so they continue their education with a graduate degree. The second factor is COVID-19. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) granted everybody another year of eligibility due to the shutdown caused by the pandemic. The third factor is the diversity of options within the graduate degree programs at The University of Mississippi.

“There have been some online graduate programs developed and residential ones that are only a year, so that is very attractive to a student athlete who has one year left of eligibility,” said Baker.

Ben Savino, a Ph.D. student in engineering science and a member of men’s track and field outdoor, echoed Baker’s sentiments. “I was intrigued by the combination of top tier athletics and top tier academics.” Savino continued, “after graduating here, I was presented a great opportunity to follow my passions in school while continuing to represent the University through athletics…being able to advance my career while doing what I love made me want to stay.”

For the student athletes it is important to stress that they need a plan for after their time on the field or court. Baker and his team of student athlete development professionals encourage these athletes to plan for the future and obtain degrees that will help them to be just as successful in the career world as they are in their sport.

“I chose The University of Mississippi for my graduate career because they offered the exact program I wanted to pursue for my master’s degree,” said Marykate McGuire, a master’s student in higher education and member of the women’s soccer team. “There are not many higher education programs with an emphasis in athletic administration in the country, so it was the correct program and the exact time frame I needed to complete it.”

With a heavy workload for both school and their sport, graduate student athletes face challenges. However, they have a support system throughout the University. From advisors, professors, peers, teammates, and coaches to the FedEx Student-Athlete Academic Support Center, people across campus want to see them succeed.

“It’s really hard to do what is the equivalent of having a full-time job with the 40-45 hours your sport demands out of you on top of a master’s or doctorate degree, but our graduate student athletes have all the resources that our other student athletes have, from the structure, to study hall and support and mentoring if they need it,” said Baker.

Oluwasheyi (Shey) Taiwo, a first-year integrated marketing communications master’s student and member of women’s track and field outdoor, shared important advice for student athletes considering a graduate degree, “If you find something that you’re passionate about, and that lights a spark, don’t hesitate to pursue it! Graduate school takes education to another level and knowledge is power.”

Amani Johnson, a master’s in accountancy and data analytics student and member of the football team, stressed the importance of education. “In this environment, education should come first and if you have the opportunity to further it, do it, because this will only help your future more.”

Below is a current list of our graduate and professional student athletes:

Chijioke Akwuba, Graduate Certificate in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration, Men’s Basketball

Robert Allen, M.S. in Hospitality Management, Men’s Basketball

Anthony Camerieri, M.S. in Athletic Training, Men’s Track-Outdoor

Lucie Devier, M.S. in Sport and Recreation Administration, Women’s Tennis

Savannah Diederich, M.A. in Higher Education/Student Personnel, Women’s Softball

Baylor Franklin, M.B.A. in Business Administration, Men’s Track-Outdoor

Ellen Hume, M.S.E.S in Exercise Science, Women’s Golf

Amani Johnson, M.A.D.A. in in Accountancy & Data Analytics, Men’s Football

Simon Junk, M.A.D.A. in Accountancy & Data Analytics, Men’s Tennis

Makenna Kliethermes, M.A in Higher Education/Student Personnel, Women’s Softball

Jocelyn Long, J.D., Women’s Cross Country/Track-Outdoor

Christopher Maxon, M.S. in Sport and Recreation Administration, Men’s Cross country/Track-Outdoor

Marykate McGuire, M.A. in Higher Education/Student Personnel, Women’s Soccer

Laura de Jesus Mendes Taborda, M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communication, Women’s Track-Outdoor

Sydney Michalak, M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services, Women’s Soccer

Keith Robinson, M.S. in Sport and Recreation Administration, Men’s Track-Outdoor

Ben Savino, Ph.D. in Engineering Science, Men’s Track-Outdoor

Oluwasheyi (Shey) Taiwo, M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communication, Women’s Track-Outdoor

Kristel van den Berg, M.S.E.S in Exercise Science, Women’s Cross Country/Track-Outdoor

Excelling on and off the field/court: 19 Graduate and Professional Student Athletes

Below is a current list of our graduate and professional student athletes:

2022 Winter Newsletter