Sept. 29, 2014
EL PASO, Texas – Nicole Okolo, a former track and field student-athlete with the University of Alabama and Western Carolina University, has joined the UTEP Athletics family in the role of Director of Student-Athlete Development.
Okolo will spearhead the Life Skills initiatives and S.A.A.C. campaigns for the UTEP Athletics Department. She joined UTEP after finishing work on a master's degree in sport business management at UCF in May 2014. She previously earned a master's degree in business administration from the school.
She has prior experience in program development and coordinating community service for student-athletes, as well as academic advising. She gained knowledge and grew in experience through internships with the Asheville Buncombe Regional Reports Commission (May 2011-July 2011), with UCF Athletics Student Services (Sept. 2012-Dec. 2013) and with UNCW Athletics Academic Support (Jan. 2014-July 2014).
The native of Lawrenceville, Ga., earned her undergraduate degree with a bachelor's of science, sport management from WCU in Dec. 2011. She was a two-time All-Academic National Collegiate Division I Track & Field Coaches' Association recipient (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011), with the final two years of recognition coming while at WCU.
Okolo co-authored a Racial and Gender Report Card on Major League Baseball, 2013 and was a 2012 NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient.
Her servant heart inspires her to help individuals realize their potential, which she passionately pushes them to help achieve it. She has been a volunteer with Collins High School as a coach (Jan. 2012-May 2012), the Scholar-Baller program as a facilitator (Aug. 2012-May 2013), NACDA Convention as a brand ambassador (June 2013), Hope for Stanley (Aug. 2013) and Camp Boggy Creek (Dec. 2013).
Okolo is looking forward to the opportunity at UTEP, specifically with aspirations of advancing opportunities for student-athlete growth. To learn more about the program, please visit UTEPAthletics.com and check out the homepage from the "Inside Athletics" drop-down tab menu.
