Who am I? 

First and foremost, I am a sister to a couple of remarkable siblings, a daughter to the most supportive of parents, and a friend to many amazing and interesting people! I grew up in Connecticut where soccer was very much the thing that most connected my family. All of us played to some degree and went on to play collegiately, so that has given us many memories to carry with us together. I spent the past ten years coaching the game at the collegiate level until taking an opportunity this past January to become the Director of Unified Sports with Special Olympics New York. I spent time working with nonprofit organizations in Cape Town, South Africa and Granada, Nicaragua before joining Josh with the Beestera Foundation here in the Capital District!

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Who is a hero of mine? 

A longstanding hero of mine is the late Nelson Mandela. Mandela was a political leader in South Africa who spent twenty-seven years as a political prisoner, with most of his time in a cell on Robben Island (which I have visited). He is widely known for his belief that sport can be one of the most powerful facilitators of positive change, a concept that runs parallel to the mission of our Foundation.

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More about me:

I consider myself to be a bit of an adventure junkie! I have gone shark cage diving, bungee jumping, skydiving, and gorge-swinging. I often pair my love for travel and exploring new places with my desire to compete physically - completing my first marathon in Anchorage, Alaska and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. I am constantly adding things to my bucket list so if you've got a challenge, bring it my way!

 

Ask me about:

Traveling, Special Olympics, the best coffee spot in town, and Liverpool FC!

Who am I? 

I am the Founder and President of Advancement Through Athletic and Panthera Elite. I am a graduate of UMBC (Baltimore, MD) with a Bachelors of Arts in Cinematic Arts (2014), and a Masters of Science in Athletic Administration from Springfield College (Springfield, MA). I am a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and have coached youth to aspiring professionals in a variety of sports. I recently served as the International Teams Coordinator for USA Track and Field. Born in Central London, I became a naturalized US citizen in 2015. My mother, Dr. Helen, resides in New York while my sister, Ese, studies at Johns Hopkins University.

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Who is a hero of mine?

My mother is my hero. She was my first best friend and I have always idolized her work ethic and passion for life and supporting others.  

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More about me:

My two passions are coaching and youth development. I strive to make my community better and create similar opportunities I was given as a young athlete for underserved youth in communities across the US. I enjoy playing sports and I can still show you a slam dunk or two. If you ever need to talk to someone, I love meaningful conversations and can talk to anyone and everyone.  

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Ask me about:

Track and field, Arsenal FC, and my family.