As a young girl growing up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, I would constantly think of what I wanted to be when I got older. From a “hair doer”, to a second grade teacher, to a physical therapist, the idea of my future self was changed on a daily basis. I always knew I enjoyed playing sports and it was not until my appointment to the SEC Women’s Basketball Leadership Council that I discovered my passion for collegiate athletics, more specifically, enhancing the overall student athlete experience.

Alyssa Rice joined the Winning Edge Leadership Academy family in May of 2018, when she was a part of the first Game Changing Retreat. Since then, she has begun her first year of graduate school at Ohio University where she is pursuing both an MBA and MSA degree. While completing both degrees, Alyssa is a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Diversity and Inclusion within the College of Business and is a Compliance Coordinator for the Ohio Athletic Department.

Going into this retreat I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. With mixed emotions of nerves and excitement, I couldn’t wait to see what the weekend had in store. I remember sitting in the check-in room for hours after check-in was complete and talking with the other cohort members.