Current Student Bios

Bridget Barker

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sport’s Management from the University of Nebraska – Kearney.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Bridget started playing competitive soccer at a young age, which continued into 4 years of playing at the college level.

Research/Consulting Interests: The psychological impact of injury, how interruptions in sports impact mental well-being, stress, performance anxiety and depression treatments in athletes.

Hobbies: Exercising, being outdoors, hanging out with her dog, watching sports and being around family and friends.

Maddie Butzine

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in criminal justice from Iowa State University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Maddie was a competitive dancer from kindergarten through middle school. She then joined her high school dance team where she also coached the middle school dance team and special needs dance team.

Research/Consulting Interests: Motivation, performance anxiety, burnout and mental recovery from injury.

Hobbies: Baking, hiking, reading and spending time with family and friends!

Madisen Charles

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Health from Hollins University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Madisen grew up playing competitive soccer and played collegiately at the Division III level for four years. In high school, she played field hockey, basketball and soccer and ran cross country.

Research/Consulting Interests: Injury recovery, performance anxiety and player-coach communication/relationships.

Hobbies: Exercising, reading, playing with my dog, Remi and spending time with family and friends.

Molly Grabarec

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Molly played competitive softball for 13 years, in addition to playing for her high school team. Since the end of her journey as an athlete, Molly has continued her passion for sports by refereeing and later becoming a supervisor for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's recreational facility.

Research/Consulting Interests: Performance anxiety, motivation, confidence and mental health.

Hobbies: Camping, reading, going to coffee shops and spending time with her friends and family.

T’Nahleg Hall

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Sport Management from St. Ambrose University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: In high school T’Nahleg participated in football, swimming and track and field. After high school, T’Nahleg went on to play football at the Division 2 Level. After college, T’Nahleg pursued the professional route by receiving minicamp invites from the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Research/Consulting Interests: Mental Health, Performance, Anxiety, Motivation and CTE studies.

Hobbies: Listening to music, watching sports, dancing, strength training, shoe shopping and spending time with family and friends!

Austin Jepson

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Austin played competitive soccer beginning at the age of 7. He continued to play soccer at the Division One level attending the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he led his team to the program’s first ever Horizon League regular season championship in 2017. He was named Horizon League player of the year and First-Team All-Region as well as First-Team All-Conference his senior season. Austin then went on to play professional soccer for four seasons. Two seasons with St. Louis FC (USL Championship) and two seasons with Forward Madison FC (USL League One).

Research/Consulting Interests: Injury prevention and recovery.

Hobbies: Running, lifting weights, yoga, food, attending/watching Packer games, golf and spending quality time with family and friends.

Sawyer Lovstad

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a History Minor from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Sawyer played competitive football from third grade until graduating high school. Sawyer also played baseball for many years before transitioning to golf during his senior year of high school. Along with playing sports, Sawyer took on the role of a team manager for his high school basketball team during his senior year. Sawyer also took part in some athletic training courses while in high school which required working with athletes and their injuries.

Research/Consulting Interests: Development of Self-Confidence, Team Cohesion and Injury Recovery in a professional or collegiate environment.

Hobbies: Being with friends and family, golfing, watching the Badgers, Brewers, Bucks and Packers, playing video games, being active and enjoying nature.

Jessica Maes

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Wisconsin - Parkside.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Jessica has experience supporting high school and college students in the pursuit of academic success, amateur and professional actors and singers in the pursuit of performance preparation and business professionals in the pursuit of personal development support.

Research/Consulting Interests: Performance anxiety, mental well-being, goal setting, mindfulness/meditation and arousal regulation.

Hobbies: Knitting, travel, genealogy and spending time with family!

Lexi Meade

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in English Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Lexi was a two-time WIAC player of the year while golfing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau and is a current member of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Women's Golf Team.

Research/Consulting Interests: The intersection of gender and sport as well as intentionality in athletics.

Hobbies: Reading and spending time outside with her dog Milo.

D. J. Messman

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Sports Coaching from Butler University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: D. J. played multiple sports at a young age including soccer, basketball, baseball and racing go-karts. D. J. has raced go-karts competitively since the age of 5 and still enjoys it to this day. In high school, D. J. played soccer, basketball and golf and participated in track and field as a thrower. In college, D. J. was a strength and conditioning coach for a high school swim team and was an assistant coach in track and field for the throwers.

Research/Consulting Interests: Injury recovery, concussions and CTE, coaching and injury/re-injury and performance anxiety.

Hobbies: Being around friends and family, playing sports, watching sports and cooking.

Destin Payne

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor’s in psychology from St. Norbert College.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Destin played basketball and football from an early age through high school. He also participated in powerlifting in high school and found a new passion for exercise during his undergraduate experience.

Research/Consulting Interests: Goal Setting, performance anxiety, confidence and motivation.

Hobbies: Exercising, watching movies/sports and spending time with family and friends.

Holly Reynolds

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communication from Carroll University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Holly played a variety of sports growing up including basketball, volleyball, dance and track. Holly continued throwing in track at the Division 3 level and played club volleyball during her undergraduate studies.

Research/Consulting Interests: Injury recovery, coaching, motivation and team cohesion.

Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, reading, watching sports and listening to new music.

Keara Ryan

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Keara played competitive basketball from an early age, at the AAU and high school levels.

Research/Consulting Interests: Performance anxiety, motivation, burnout, leadership/coaching styles effect on athletes’ mental health, youth sports and injury recovery.

Hobbies: Exercising, reading, being on the lake and hanging out with friends and family!

Kiley Smith

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Colorado State University.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Kiley played tennis and volleyball throughout high school, before joining the club tennis team at Colorado State University and coaching children in the sport. Kiley continues her love for exercise by working as a fitness instructor and personal trainer at Orangetheory Fitness.

Research/Consulting Interests: Exercise adherence, motivation, sedentary behavior, sport transitions and retirement.

Hobbies: Running, reading, hiking, going to concerts and spending time with family!

Annie Swaters

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Central College.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Annie played competitive basketball from a young age and went on to play Division III basketball for four years of college. Throughout her life, she has participated in various sports including softball, volleyball, track and field and basketball.

Research/Consulting Interests: Injury recovery, burnout, performance anxiety and team culture.

Hobbies: Exercising/playing sports and spending time with family and friends.

Lauren Keith

Career goal: Become a CMPC, working with athletes to help their performance and mental health. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Yoga, workout classes, walking. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I have always had the desire to help others, but I saw a huge need for help in the performance field, so SEPP was the perfect mix. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: Because of the cohort model, professors and Green Bay itself. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: I would want to teleport. 

Grace Morgan

Career goal: Work with children or professional athletes. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: I was a competitive swimmer for 10 years and now enjoy weightlifting. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: Being a retired college athlete, I know the mental toll that can come with high levels of competition. I want to provide the skills and knowledge for those who want to reach their highest potential in performance and sport. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: I graduated from UWGB with a bachelors degree in psychology and minor in Sociology and Anthropology. I had such an incredible experience and received a fantastic education, so choosing to pursue the SEPP program here was an easy decision. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: I would want to be able to transport instantly to anywhere in the world, but more specifically back home to Washington so I could see my family. 

Makenna Bisch

Career goal: Be a CMPC for college or professional athletes. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Dancing, playing basketball, golfing, working out.  

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I have always been interested in the field of sport and I stumbled upon SEPP when I was applying for undergraduates school and just fell in love with the field. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: Because I wanted to stay close to home and I really enjoyed my time here as an undergraduate. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: I would want to teleport because I love to travel, but not the time it takes to travel. 

Halle Smith

Career goal: To become a CMPC and have my own practice or work for a university.  

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Dance, football, group fitness, soccer. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: Finding out that I could work with clients in nontraditional settings and help student athletes improve on things I struggled with as an athlete and performer 

Why did your choose UWGB?: The faculty was extremely welcoming. They were helpful and  timely with questions and concerns I had. They want me to succeed! 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Flight or mind reading. 

Andrea Miller

Career goal: Working with professional athletes. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Multiple different sports, weightlifting/running, yoga/ pilates and meditation. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: Being a retired college athlete, I know the mental toll that can come with high levels of competition. I want to provide the skills and knowledge for those who want to reach their highest potential in performance and sport. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: The overall warm and friendly environment it portrayed. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Reading minds

Jess Trice

Career goal: Work with collegiate or professional athletes within their sport. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: I love watching football, baseball/softball, and volleyball. I also enjoy playing volleyball and softball and traveling to sporting events. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I knew I wanted to get down to what happens in an athletes mind during the highs and lows of their sport. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: I knew since being a big sports city I would excel, along with having great faculty supporting me the whole way. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Time manipulation

Annie Gruber

Career goal: Become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant at the collegiate level. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Yoga, Dance, and weight training. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: The opportunity to help athletes reach their full potential. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: Because of how genuine everyone is and the great opportunities. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Mind reading

Dustin Tauscheck

Career goal: Doctorate in psychology and work for a professional basketball team.  

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: I enjoy basketball and skateboarding. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: The idea of working in sport and being a consultant for an athlete would be fun. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: I was already going to UWGB and saw that they had a SEPP program and was interested in it. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Teleportation, it would be very convenient. 

Rachel Witthuhn

Career goal: Work in a sport and performance setting as a CMPC. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: I love to play volleyball, participate in/teach group fitness classes such as BodyPump and dance, go for hikes with my family and dogs, and karaoke with my friends. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I have been involved in sport, exercise and performance since preschool and know all of the feels that go along with the ups and downs of performance. I aspire to help others through a patient-centered care lens. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: I knew this program would provide me the best opportunity to pursue my career goals by providing the hands-on experience and foundational skills necessary to find success in a patient-centered care setting. I believe that UWGB will not only help be achieve my academic and career goals, but will also help me develop my character as I strive to become a game changer in the world of mental health. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: I would want to give every shelter animal a happy, healthy. loving home and end animal abuse. 

Maddie Matthys

Career goal: Become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Pickleball, yoga, going on walks, working out.

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: A passion for psychology and the love of sports. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: The opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field I'm passionate about as well as the tight knit community and welcoming environment UWGB provides. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: To fly

Megan Zander

Career goal: Become a CMPC and work with performers.  

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Weightlifting, walking, and live performances, and sports. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I have been a performer in both music and sport and had always been curious about ways I could make my performance more consistent. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: I knew I would great opportunities to prepare myself for consulting. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Teleportation

Matthew Jelinski

Career goal: Get my CMPC and work with athletes.

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Soccer, track, cross country, weight lifting, running, water sports, skiing, sand volleyball, and kickball. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I have a love for both psychology and sports. This field combines two of my biggest passions. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: It aligned the most with my goals and values. It also felt like a place I could learn a lot and still have it feel like home. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: Cryokinesis

Amme Sheforgen

Career goal: Work with collegiate athletes on their mental health and performance. 

Sport, Exercise, and/or Performance Activities: Pickleball, basketball, lifting. 

What sparked your interest in the SEPP field?: I was an athlete my entire life and the mental aspect has always been interesting to me. 

Why did your choose UWGB?: It's a good program at a place that feels like home and is close to home. 

If you could have one superpower what would it be?: To fly because I hate long car rides and that would be so fun!