NORFOLK, Va. – Thanks to a grant received through the NCAA, Norfolk State Athletics will have a part-time counselor available to student-athletes in an ongoing effort to diversify mental health initiatives within the athletics department.
 
Brandy Gresham, a former track and field student-athlete at NSU and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), brings more than 15 years of experience in the mental health and substance abuse counseling field. She has worked with National Counseling Group in Virginia Beach during that time, providing professional clinical services to children, adults, geriatric, veterans, convicted felons and members of the LGBTQIA community.
 
"I am very humbled and excited to be given this opportunity to serve my alma mater," said Gresham, a 2005 and 2011 NSU graduate. "Talking to other graduates of HBCU's, this is very unique to have this type of resource program for student-athletes. This is a big deal and a wonderful opportunity for Norfolk State to implement such an initiative as this."
 
"The Department of Athletics continues to be proactive in providing the services and activities designed to achieve academic and athletic success of student-athletes," said Athletics Director Marty L. Miller. "The NCAA has been instrumental in assisting Norfolk State University to address issues and practices to improve retention and graduation rates of student-athletes. I thank the NCAA for addressing the mental health concerns of student-athletes to improve their chances for success beyond intercollegiate athletics."
 
The NCAA has identified student-athlete mental health issues as a growing concern for athletics departments across the country. With this pilot program, Norfolk State is on the forefront of this problem, working to address the emotional or behavioral issues that can affect student-athletes and their academic and athletic performance.
 
As both an alum of NSU and a former student-athlete, Gresham brings a unique perspective to her new role within the athletics department. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, she can relate to student-athletes and the pressure of succeeding, having gone through some of the same experiences during a collegiate career that found her hundreds of miles away from home.
 
"I believe this opportunity gives me a better advantage, because I went through it," she said. "When I arrived at NSU, it was a culture shock coming from Hartford, and I had no immediate family nearby. Not only was there the pressure of getting used to a new environment, there was pressure to do well academically to be eligible to compete. Then on top of that, there was pressure to not just compete, but to do well in track and field.
 
"Peer pressure can be quite overwhelming. And back then, I don't believe that there was a support or resource like this for us student-athletes to utilize."
 
Part of the burgeoning concern for mental health issues among student-athletes is getting over the stigma that comes with the word counseling. Gresham emphasized that it does not mean someone is weak, but rather it is a way to get ahead of a problem.
 
"Counseling can be seen as taboo, but I want student-athletes to know I am here specifically for them," she said. "Especially being away from home, I want them to know my face and know I can be their point of contact for anything they may need help with, large or small.
 
"It is easy to let issues fester, but unfortunately if not acknowledged and addressed it can negatively affect other areas of our lives. These student-athletes are still young and growing, and I want them to take advantage of this unique opportunity that so graciously has been extended to them."
 
The grant for the counselor position was provided by the NCAA through its Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP). Combined with other initiatives, the NSU athletics department has received more than $1 million through the AASP to support the academic success of student-athletes over the years.
 
Gresham will be housed in the NSU Counseling Center, located on the third floor of the Student Services Center. She will spend three evenings a week counseling student-athletes and assisting in different ways with their holistic success.