WASHINGTON - In continuing the effort to improve both the physical and mental well-being of American University student-athletes, sports clinician Taylor Lester has been hired in the Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services and will primarily work within the Athletics Department.

"We are so thrilled to welcome Taylor to AU Athletics," said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Well-Being Katie Benoit. "With her background and expertise, combined with her passion for college athletics, we are confident she will have an immediate positive impact as we continue to elevate the holistic support of our student-athletes."

In her role, Lester will promote the academic, social, and emotional well-being of student athletes by providing assessment, time-limited individual counseling/psychotherapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, outreach, consultation, referrals, and participation in rotation of after-hours emergency coverage. 

"I am extremely excited to join American University Athletics in the position of Sports Clinician to continue to promote student-athlete mental wellness across the department," said Lester. "As both a licensed clinical mental health counselor and a former student-athlete, I am looking forward to working with AU's athletes to enhance their overall well-being while providing the appropriate services to meet their specific needs. I would like to thank Associate AD Katie Benoit for her time and effort into making this position possible to better serve the student-athlete population here at AU, as well as all others in the department and in the Counseling Center who helped bring me here."

Lester, a former student-athlete and coach, has performed in a similar role for a number of organizations in Massachusetts, where she attended school. She was a Division II softball student-athlete at Stonehill College, graduating with a degree in psychology, and went on to earn a master's degree in mental health counseling from Suffolk University. Lester has since also earned a post master's graduate certificate in sports counseling from California University of Pennsylvania.

Most recently, Lester was employed as a clinical director for the Boys Detention Program at Old Colony YMCA in Brockton, Mass. Her other field work has included time with Doc Wayne Youth Services in Boston and the Coaching4Change organization, also in Boston. Lester has simultaneously been serving as the assistant softball coach at Brandeis University for the past year, and for Suffolk University in the four years prior.