New Staff Added to Help Pitt Athletics Launch Mentoring Program
2/15/2018 3:00:00 PM | General, Life Skills
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PITTSBURGH—Pitt Athletics has added three new positions to aid in the development of a first-of-its-kind mentorship program within the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program, Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Thursday.
As part of this robust investment in mentoring student-athletes, Lousaka Polite and John Pelusi have joined the Pitt athletic department, with both garnering the title of Assistant Athletic Director of Varsity Letter Club and Mentorship. In addition, Lisa Auld has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Student Life.
"As an athletic department, one of our top priorities will always be the personal and professional development of our student-athletes," Lyke said. "With the addition of Lousaka and John – two former Pitt student-athletes themselves – to our Life Skills staff, along with the well-deserved promotion of Lisa, we are proud to expand upon our commitment to our student-athletes. We believe this new Pitt Athletics mentorship program will greatly benefit our student-athletes' experience as well as connect our mentors to the athletic department in a meaningful way. We are grateful for the continued support from Cathy and John Pelusi to allow our Life Skills department to be a model program."
Polite, a four-year Pitt football letterwinner and nine-year NFL veteran, returns to the University of Pittsburgh in a full-time capacity. Known during his playing days as a bruising fullback who opened holes for running backs through his blocking ability, Polite will now have the opportunity to pave the way for Pitt student-athletes. Polite graduated from Pitt with a bachelor's degree in psychology, earned his EMBA from Miami and most recently worked for the NFL's Miami Dolphins, assisting with their youth programs and entertainment projects.
Also a former Pitt football letterwinner across three seasons as a tight end, Pelusi rejoins Pitt Athletics as a staff member after serving as a financial advisor with Socius Family Office, where he primarily worked with NFL players and coaches on investments, retirement savings, tax preparation and financial planning. Pelusi, who previously worked for PNC Bank's wealth management program, owns an undergraduate degree from Pitt in marketing and also graduated from Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business with a master's in business administration. While earning his graduate degree, Pelusi was also instrumental in developing Pitt's Life Skills Financial Literacy program.
In their new roles, Polite and Pelusi will both focus primarily on mentor recruitment for Pitt student-athletes.
Auld, who has been with Pitt Athletics since 2011, earns a promotion that will also see her play a key role in the mentorship program, in addition to her duties working with student-athletes on career and personal development and health and wellness initiatives. A communications graduate of Villanova with a master's in counseling from California (PA), Auld is also a licensed counselor and an adjunct professor of sports psychology at Pitt. Prior to her career with Pitt Athletics, Auld worked in the footwear and apparel wholesale industry in sales and marketing for And 1 Basketball, Timberland and Converse.
"Our mission has always been to help our student-athletes pursue success in life during college and after college," Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student Life Penny Semaia said. "This new initiative will take another significant step in that direction as we will now ensure every one of our student-athletes has the opportunity to be matched with a mentor during their academic career. Equally exciting, we will have the opportunity to welcome home so many former Panthers who will make this tremendous impact on the lives of our current student-athletes."
The recruitment of possible Pitt student-athlete mentors will begin by seeking Pitt Varsity Letter Club members, University of Pittsburgh alumni and community partners to sign up for this initiative.
Those interested in signing up to potentially mentor Pitt student-athletes can sign up here.
The goal of the initiative is to have every Pitt student-athlete matched with a mentor with whom they have the opportunity to meet regularly. Matching of student-athletes with mentors will be based on factors such as sport, geography and professional and personal goals.
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PITTSBURGH—Pitt Athletics has added three new positions to aid in the development of a first-of-its-kind mentorship program within the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program, Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Thursday.
As part of this robust investment in mentoring student-athletes, Lousaka Polite and John Pelusi have joined the Pitt athletic department, with both garnering the title of Assistant Athletic Director of Varsity Letter Club and Mentorship. In addition, Lisa Auld has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Student Life.
"As an athletic department, one of our top priorities will always be the personal and professional development of our student-athletes," Lyke said. "With the addition of Lousaka and John – two former Pitt student-athletes themselves – to our Life Skills staff, along with the well-deserved promotion of Lisa, we are proud to expand upon our commitment to our student-athletes. We believe this new Pitt Athletics mentorship program will greatly benefit our student-athletes' experience as well as connect our mentors to the athletic department in a meaningful way. We are grateful for the continued support from Cathy and John Pelusi to allow our Life Skills department to be a model program."
Polite, a four-year Pitt football letterwinner and nine-year NFL veteran, returns to the University of Pittsburgh in a full-time capacity. Known during his playing days as a bruising fullback who opened holes for running backs through his blocking ability, Polite will now have the opportunity to pave the way for Pitt student-athletes. Polite graduated from Pitt with a bachelor's degree in psychology, earned his EMBA from Miami and most recently worked for the NFL's Miami Dolphins, assisting with their youth programs and entertainment projects.
Also a former Pitt football letterwinner across three seasons as a tight end, Pelusi rejoins Pitt Athletics as a staff member after serving as a financial advisor with Socius Family Office, where he primarily worked with NFL players and coaches on investments, retirement savings, tax preparation and financial planning. Pelusi, who previously worked for PNC Bank's wealth management program, owns an undergraduate degree from Pitt in marketing and also graduated from Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business with a master's in business administration. While earning his graduate degree, Pelusi was also instrumental in developing Pitt's Life Skills Financial Literacy program.
In their new roles, Polite and Pelusi will both focus primarily on mentor recruitment for Pitt student-athletes.
Auld, who has been with Pitt Athletics since 2011, earns a promotion that will also see her play a key role in the mentorship program, in addition to her duties working with student-athletes on career and personal development and health and wellness initiatives. A communications graduate of Villanova with a master's in counseling from California (PA), Auld is also a licensed counselor and an adjunct professor of sports psychology at Pitt. Prior to her career with Pitt Athletics, Auld worked in the footwear and apparel wholesale industry in sales and marketing for And 1 Basketball, Timberland and Converse.
"Our mission has always been to help our student-athletes pursue success in life during college and after college," Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student Life Penny Semaia said. "This new initiative will take another significant step in that direction as we will now ensure every one of our student-athletes has the opportunity to be matched with a mentor during their academic career. Equally exciting, we will have the opportunity to welcome home so many former Panthers who will make this tremendous impact on the lives of our current student-athletes."
The recruitment of possible Pitt student-athlete mentors will begin by seeking Pitt Varsity Letter Club members, University of Pittsburgh alumni and community partners to sign up for this initiative.
Those interested in signing up to potentially mentor Pitt student-athletes can sign up here.
The goal of the initiative is to have every Pitt student-athlete matched with a mentor with whom they have the opportunity to meet regularly. Matching of student-athletes with mentors will be based on factors such as sport, geography and professional and personal goals.
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