Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Lizelle Salazar
No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team?
— Bo Schembechler
Athletes Connected is a collaboration between three University of Michigan entities: Athletics, School of Social Work and the Eisenberg Family Depression Center.
Below, meet the members at the University of Michigan that make Athletes Connected run as well as some of the program’s external partners and legacy contributors.
EISENBERG FAMILY DEPRESSION CENTER
Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Lizelle Salazar
Outreach & Education Programs Manager, U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center
Stephanie earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Communications and her Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan. She has experience planning and implementing health education and outreach initiatives for adolescents and young adults, including the Campus Mind Works website and outreach program for U-M students, and the Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness Project, a peer-based mental health program for middle and high school students. She also helps to plan the annual Mental Health on College Campuses Conference.
Stephanie was part of the initial Athletes Connected pilot project team and continues to assist in the coordination of informational presentations, and consultation on program outputs and evaluation.
Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Lizelle Salazar
Project Manager, Outreach & Education Programs, U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center
Lizelle has been part of the Athletes Connected team since 2016. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University and her Master’s of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from University of Michigan. In her role at the Eisenberg Family Depression Center, Lizelle primarily helps manage the Peer-to-Peer program, a youth-driven mental health program focused on educating middle and high school students about mental health and supporting them as they create an awareness campaign for their school. She is also involved in other outreach and education initiatives that help raise awareness, reduce stigma, and increase help-seeking for mental health issues.
As part of the Athletes Connected initiative, Lizelle manages the quarterly newsletter, updates the website, and consults on video and article creation.
Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Lizelle Salazar
Outreach Coordinator, U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center; Former U-M Student-Athlete, Football
Will is a mental health advocate who helps student-athletes adjust to and cope with the stressors of being a high-profile individual in a high-pressure environment. He encourages and promotes holistic wellness for the student-athletes in order to increase performance on and off the playing field.
In 2017, Will joined the Eisenberg Family Depression Center as an outreach coordinator.
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Michigan is proud to have full-time staff members to meet the needs of its student-athletes:
KELLY PAHLE, LMSW | Director, Athletics Counseling Team
BARB DONLAN | Senior Administrative Assistant
GREGORINO COGNETTO | LPC | Athletic Counselor
BRANDY GRESHAM, LPC, CSAS, CAADC, CT | Athletic Counselor
KEVIN MONIER, LMSW | Athletic Counselor
KEON STEWART, PhD, LPC | Athletic Counselor
MATISHA WILLIAMS, PsyD, LMFT | Athletic Counselor
EMILY COOPER | Ehrenberg Family Athletic Counseling Fellow
JOSH JACKSON | Athletic Counseling Fellow
KEY PROGRAM CONTRIBUTORS
The Athletes Connected project wouldn’t exist without staff members who worked tirelessly for the program’s success from its founding.
WILL DEL ROSARIO
Director & Producer
DANIEL EISENBERG
Grant Co-PI, School of Public Health
TRISH MEYER
Grant Co-PI, Depression Center
BARB HANSEN
Retired Athletics Counselor, U-M Athletic Department
EMILY KLUEH, LMSW
Former Athletic Counselor, U-M Athletic Department