GradPack Talks: Research Focuses on College Athletes

As a basketball player at Waynesburg University, BJ Durham’s identity was that of college athlete. It determined his schedule, provided him with a community of teammates and a leader — his coach. But once he left that environment, he discovered that it was hard to find himself.

Durham is now a Ph.D. student at NC State in the counseling and counselor education program, where he is studying how to help college athletes make the transition to whatever is next. Since most college athletes won’t move on to professional athletics, that transition away from sports can be challenging.

Here, Durham talks with the Graduate’s School’s Beth Philemon about his research and how he hopes to find ways to support other college athletes as they leave their teams and sports behind.

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