Coordinator for Student Engagement

Email: jacks445@mailbox.sc.edu
Phone: 803-777-6404

Bio

Kaela joined the Office of Sustainability in August 2022 and her primary focus is to oversee the Sustainable Carolina Leadership Program. Kaela comes to the Office from the world of athletics; she was recruited to compete for the University of South Carolina softball team and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Experimental Psychology. She continued to pursue her interest in health and holistic wellness education by obtaining a Master’s in Exercise Science. After working as a collegiate softball coach for 8 years she found that, although she loved her sport, her true passion is for developing and counseling young people. Through her experience in student advisement and employee engagement, she has learned how to install continuous improvements in the culture of every program she has been a part of. For Kaela’s entire professional career, she has had the opportunity to work with student-athletes, teaching them life skills, guiding them through mental health and performance issues, and assisting in their growth by helping them identify behaviors that are impacting their well-being and inhibiting their success. Having served as a captain on every team she has ever played for, along with her successful record throughout her career as a coach, she has a natural ability to lead and communicate well with others. Kaela loves to empower students to identify their talents so that they may meet their career goals while creating a more sustainable culture for their future. In her spare time, Kaela enjoys spending time with her growing family, watching sporting events, reading, and hiking.