About the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
SAAC is a group of committed Stanford student athletes who represent and advocate for quality experiences for all Stanford student-athletes, serving as a conduit between the student athlete community and the Stanford Athletics administration. SAAC is comprised of six committees including, Cardinal RHED, Faculty Relations, Community Service, Social Events, Environmental Sustainability, and Community Development.
SAAC’s mission is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity for all student-athletes; protecting the welfare of all student-athletes; and fostering a positive student athlete image, while maintaining the tenants of the Division I philosophy.
View SAAC Mission Statement
Meet the Co-Presidents: Shannon Richardson
Class of 2020 | Los Gatos, CA | Human Biology | Beach Volleyball
A rising fifth on the beach volleyball team and an M.S. candidate in Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Stanford University, Shannon is a Co-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). As an undergraduate, she earned her B.S. in Human Biology and minored in Human Rights. As Co-President, Shannon looks forward to identifying the needs of the student-athlete population and serving as a liaison between student-athletes and the Athletic Department.
Outside of the Stanford Athletics, Shannon serves as Executive Director of BeAGoodDoctor, which is the umbrella nonprofit of a volunteer organization called Student Clinical Opportunities for Premedical Experience (SCOPE), a hospital-based non-profit that serves in a local safety-net hospital Emergency Department (ED). Shannon plans to work as an academic physician focused on nonprofit leadership, community-based research, and global health to ensure equal access to quality health services around the world, especially in underserved communities. In her free time, Shannon enjoys painting, drawing, or sculpting, reading non-fiction books, and listening to French music.
Meet the Co-Presidents: Frances Carstens
Class of 2021 | Cape Town, South Africa | Human Biology | Field Hockey
A senior on the field hockey team and Co-President of the Student Advisory Committee (SAAC). Frances is majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Human Performance and Anatomy. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has been passionate about helping, guiding and positively impacting others which has motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare. As Co-President, Frances promises to advocate for and elevate the voice of Stanford student-athletes to ensure they have the best possible experience Stanford Athletics has to offer.
Outside of SAAC, Frances enjoys working with Stanford faculty in three teaching assistant positions while further developing her communication and leadership skills as she mentors and tutors Stanford students. Frances also loves photography and spends her free time in the ocean, surfing and scuba diving or in the mountains, hiking, trail running and camping.
Contact Us:
If you're interested in getting involved with SAAC, please reach out:
Frances Carstens, Co-President (fcars21@stanford.edu)
Shannon Richardson, Co-President (sr20@stanford.edu)
About Cardinal RHED
Cardinal RHED is a sub-committee of Stanford SAAC, focusing on fostering resilience, health, and emotional development in our student-athlete community. Taking on the role of a student-athlete can give rise to immense stress -- constantly performing at a high level under high pressure. We want to support our student-athletes, and we want you to be heard. Cardinal RHED’s mission is threefold;
- To serve as a liaison between student-athletes and the Athletic Department on topics surrounding personal development and well-being. We see you, and we are here to make the change you want to see in your community.
- To architect programming and projects specific to the needs of the athletic population, working with the Athletic Department to bring them to fruition. These projects and programming include our infamous event GameFaces, as well as other small video projects to amplify the voices of our student-athletes. We greatly value the input of our committee members in launching new programs and projects to advance our mission and cater to the needs of our community.
- Finally, to function as a resource network helping athletes overcome the stigma around asking for help, and connecting them to available resources. Your peers and your community are your greatest asset.
Resources
Mental Health Resources
Learn More
FAQs: LOAs and Flex Quarters
Learn More
Talking to Coaches Guide
Learn More
Mental Health Research
View Research on Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health for a comprehensive overview on COVID-19’s impact on the mental health of student-athletes and more broadly.
Featured Events
With our signature event GameFACES, we invite every athlete to tell their story. Student-athletes apply with rough outlines of their stories, their experiences with interpersonal relationships, team dynamics, mental health struggle, medical retirement, tragic loss, and more. Through weeks of workshops and mentorship, we help the speakers cultivate their stories into refined, impactful messages to deliver at GameFACES. This event is open to anyone who wants a window into the lives of Stanford student-athletes--the details that make them human, and the details that make them powerful.
Meet the RHED Team
Carolina Sculti (Left)Class of 2022 | Rye, N.Y. | Science, Technology and Society | Women's Swimming and Diving
A junior on the Women’s Swimming & Diving Team and Co-Vice President of Cardinal RHED, she is majoring in Science, Technology & Society and minoring in East Asian Studies. She joined Cardinal RHED as a new member in 2019, and quickly found support, community, and solidarity in RHED. Carolina and Co-VP Emily Molins hope to foster a welcoming, goal-oriented, environment in this year's committee to continue to advocate for more emphasis on mental health in Stanford’s athletic community.
Emily Molins (Right)
Class of 2022 | Wilmette, Ill. | Economics and Engineering | Women's Lightweight Rowing
Emily is a rising junior on the Women’s Lightweight Rowing Team majoring in Economics and Engineering. Having joined the Cardinal RHED team last year, she is so excited to help lead the 2020-21 cohort alongside Lina as Co-VP. Educating and empowering student athletes on the topic of mental health, Cardinal RHED serves an important role within the Stanford Athletics community. Emily is thankful for the opportunity to continue to grow Cardinal RHED’s presence on campus and its positive impact on student athlete mental health.
About Faculty Relations
Faculty Relations Committee is designed to foster the relationship between Stanford student-athletes and Stanford faculty. We host the annual Faculty Fellows Dinner in winter, and work closely with individual faculty fellows to coordinate smaller, more intimate dinners during which the fellows can connect with select athletes. We also take on miscellaneous projects throughout the year, so if you are someone with a creative mind and a go-getter personality, this committee is right for you.
Featured Event
The Faculty Fellows Dinner provides a welcoming environment for students to connect with faculty members on a personal level. As Stanford students, we have unparalleled opportunities to learn from some of the smartest minds in the world. By visiting with faculty members at the dinner, students are able to find lasting mentorships that help to guide their academic, career, and life decisions.
Meet the Team
Katherine Gjertsen (Left)
Class of 2021 | Winnetka, IL | Symbolic Systems | Lacrosse
Katherine is excited to be starting her third year on the faculty relations team. She was initially drawn to SAAC because of the opportunity to facilitate spaces that build community and heighten the overall student-athlete experience. Her favorite SAAC event is the annual Faculty Fellows dinner where students and fellows between each team can connect with each other and learn more about different life experiences, sports, campus opportunities, and departments. She is majoring in Symbolic Systems and is focusing on Human-Computer Interaction. She loves spending time with family and friends and is passionate about educational technology, psychology, and the outdoors!
Lauren Green(Right)
A senior on the Women’s Swim Team studying Management Science & Engineering. This is her second year as part of SAAC, previously being a member of the Community Service Committee. She is excited about the opportunity to unite Stanford faculty and student-athletes with new and engaging events. In her free time, Lauren enjoys hiking, baking, and gardening. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in product or program management.
About Community Service
The Community Service committee is dedicated to giving back to the broader Stanford community through the passion and dedication of our athletes. We run two featured events in the year, known as Reverse Trick or TREE-t, a day promoting exercise and nutrition for students at local elementary schools, and A, B, Trees, a day that promotes childhood literacy and encourages young participations to engage further in reading. Along with our two signature events, we take the lead on SAAC Service Month, a national tradition that promotes student athlete volunteer participation in the month of May. We also take on smaller scale volunteering opportunities, such as writing letters to veterans and volunteering at local hospitals. If volunteering and making a positive impact on the lives of others is something you feel passionate about, please apply to join us!
Featured Events
Reverse Trick or Tree-t: Reverse Trick or Tree-t falls around the time of Halloween, and is our annual health initiative to promote nutrition and exercise. Student athlete volunteers visit nearby elementary schools, giving the opportunity for children to gain exposure to what is included in a healthy lifestyle. This day also offers volunteers the chance to share their own nutrition habits and exercise routines. Through interactive worksheets, games, and of course some healthy snacks and treats given out at the end, this event is fun and engaging for everyone!A, B, Trees: A, B, Trees is the largest event put on during the year by the Community Service Committee. It promotes childhood literacy, and was founded to promote reading to children. Since its beginnings, it has specifically worked to involve underserved youth in the local community during the event. A, B, Trees takes on the form of a field day held on campus, and activities include group storytelling led by student-athletes, book giveaways, spelling stations, bookmark decorating, and other reading-oriented activities and games. Hundreds of kids come to the event, and all leave with smiles on their faces and books in their hands.
Meet the Team
Amelia Smith (Left)Class of 2021 | San Jose, CA | Human Biology | Beach Volleyball
A Human Biology major and a rising senior on the Beach Volleyball team, has been part of the SAAC Community Service team since her freshman year. She is now the co-president of Community Service and looks forward to leading this unique and amazing group of student athletes in reaching out and giving back to our communities.
Outside of SAAC, Amelia is an ambassador for the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement program (ACE) which is a partnership with Duke University in providing student-athletes with opportunities for service abroad. She is also on the board of Athletes in Medicine at Stanford (AIMS) where she leads a community of current and former Stanford student-athletes to provide resources and mentoring for those pursuing a career in medicine.
Janice Shin (Middle)
Class of 2021 | Houston, TX | Science, Technology, and Society | Women's Tennis
Janice has been involved with SAAC the last two years in Faculty Relations, but this is her first time being involved with Community Service as one of its presidents. As an elite athlete in high school and ultimately homeschooling most of her high school experience, Jancie was unable to have time to do anything outside her sport and school. Once she arrived on campus, she wanted to give back to the community that has provided her so many opportunities. Since then, she has gotten involved with Stanford Dance Marathon, East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, and SAAC run events. So, Janice is looking forward to seeing what Community Service achieves this year regardless if it is in-person or virtual. Service can be done from anywhere, at any time.
Charlie Ekstrom (Right)
Class of 2022 | San Diego, CA | Architectural Design | Beach Volleyball
Charlie is in her second year as a member of SAAC Community Service, and her first as co-vice president. Prior to Stanford, she was a member of a six year community service organization that progressed through volunteer work with different philanthropic organizations with each year of membership. Some of the most memorable experiences she had came from work with the organizations Therapeutic Recreation Services, and Habitat for Humanity. After so many years of volunteering being an integral part of her life, she wanted to be able to continue on with it in her experience at Stanford. Since coming to Stanford, Charlie has also joined the organization Strong Girls United as a volunteer intern and Female Athlete Mentor, and intertwining community service into life is something she plans to take along with her for the rest of her life. She is looking forward to providing more volunteer opportunities for fellow student athletes, be that virtual or in person.
About Social Events
The goal of the Social Events Committee is to bring together the broader student-athlete community in fun and engaging ways. We achieve this through our two main events: Stanford's Got Talent and Stanny's. We do all of the behind the scenes work that goes into creating events that both recognize the accomplishments of our student athletes and provide new opportunities to create friendships and memories. Our group is always open to creative minds that help us continue to enhance our signature events and create fun new ideas that bring together the amazing student-athletes.
The Stannys
Our own version of the ESPYs, the Stannys is an event that recognizes the outstanding performances and qualities of our very own student-athletes. Awards are given for everything from best breakout season to community service excellence, as we like to celebrate our variety of talents. Everyone comes looking their best, and ready to support their outstanding fellow athletes.
Stanford's Got Talent
Stanford's Got Talent (SGT), formerly Dancing with the Card, is an event designed to foster the athletic community. Members of all teams are encouraged to participate in this hilarious, impressive, and memorable talent show, where hundreds of athletes come to support their teammates and join in the fun. Check back here for updates to come.
Remote Events (new!)
During these unprecedented times, the Social Events Committee is committed to our mission of bringing the broader student-athlete community together. We have many exciting ideas for remote events in the works including “Meet and Eat”, Netflix Party movie-nights, plus more. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming remote events!
Meet the Social Events Team
Andrew Aprahamian (Left)Class of 2021 | Malvern, PA | Science, Technology, and Society | Men's Soccer
Andrew is in his senior year at Stanford and serving his third year as a member of the SAAC Social Events Committee. His initial interest into the group was based on his desire to bring together and meet as many of Stanford's amazing student-athletes as possible. He recognizes the value and opportunity that student-athletes have in forming connections and friendships outside of their own sport while at Stanford. Andrew's favorite event is Stanny's because of the comradery and atmosphere in the room as everyone watches highlights and celebrates the successes of their peers. When not on the soccer field, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family and friends, drawing, and paddle boarding.
Timothy Sah (Right)
Class of 2021 | San Diego, Calif. | Computer Science | Men's Tennis
Tim Sah is a senior on the Men’s Tennis team majoring in Computer Science. Returning as a VP of the Social Events Committee, this will be Tim’s third year working with SAAC. Tim enjoys working with the SAAC Social Events committee because the student-athlete community is such a diverse and special group of people. With this in mind, the Social Events Committee strives to strengthen the existing student-athlete community and facilitate new friendships that will last a lifetime. With a challenging and unprecedented year ahead, Tim looks forward to working with Andrew and the rest of the Social Events Committee to continue creating opportunities for student-athletes to connect with one another through exciting events.
About Us
The Sustainability group is a collection of varsity student-athletes passionate about environmental stewardship within the Stanford Athletics department. We have four main focuses this year: making athletic facilities greener, educating our surrounding communities on sustainability principles, fostering community and public service, and collaborating with other PAC-12 schools. Our goal is to not only make Stanford the Home of Champions for our athletic prowess but for our commitment to environmental sustainability as well.
Meet the Team
Courtney Anderson (Left)Class of 2022 | Coppell, TX | Biology | Lacrosse
I got involved in SAAC during my sophomore year because of the creation of the new Environmental Sustainability subcommittee. I am passionate about sustainability because of the opportunity it presents to preserve the natural world, build strong communities, and bring environmental equality to people all over the planet. There is much to do to improve the environmental sustainability of our Athletic Department; I am committed to creating an environment where everyone works together to educate and challenge each other to reduce our environmental footprints. In my free time I enjoy scuba diving, biking, climbing trees, roller skating, sustainable crafting and swimming.
Emalia Eichelberger (Right)
Class of 2020 | Honolulu, HI | Sustainability Science and Practice | W Water Polo
Emalia is a 5th year senior on the Women's Water Polo team with a B.A. in Human Biology, and a M.A. candidate in Sustainability Science and Practice at Stanford University. She is a Co-VP of the SAAC Sustainability Committee along with Courtney Anderson. She began working with SAAC her senior year, as a member of the inaugural SAAC Sustainability Committee. As a VP, Emalia looks forward to advancing the sustainability of the Athletic Department, with the goal of becoming the most sustainable athletic department in the Pac-12. This year, her focus is on athletic gear, and how our community can reduce the packaging waste associated with our Nike partnership and recycle old gear and equipment
About Our Subcommittees
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach subcommittee is responsible for our relationship with surrounding communities, including athletic and academic faculty, student athletes, and the entire Stanford student body. The goal of this subcommittee is to be a resource for these groups to learn more about sustainability efforts within the athletic department, and to establish open lines of communication in order to form partnerships and collaborations to further sustainable action across campus. This year, our Community Outreach committee is organizing a campus wide gear drive to donate used gear to victims of Northern California wildfires.
Jonathan Worley, Masters Student |Sustainability Science & Practice | BaseballIsabel Pilson, Junior | Environmental Systems Engineering | Field Hockey
Emily Klingaman, Junior | Environmental Systems Engineering | Softball
Pac-12 Collaboration
The Pac-12 Collaboration subcommittee, with the help and oversight of committee president Emalia, will be responsible for talking with other ‘SAAC Sustainability’ groups from schools across the Pac-12. Currently Stanford is one of the lowest ranked Pac-12 schools in terms of athletic department sustainability, therefore it is the mission of this subcommittee to learn from our Pac-12 community to understand their best practices so we can improve the sustainability of our own athletic programs.
Brooke Forde, Senior | Human Biology | Women's Swimming & DivingRyan Oosting, Sophomore | Product Design | Men's Cross Country & Track
Jenna Brown, Junior | Political Science | Women's Basketball
Lettie Cabot, Sophomore | Undeclared | Women's Rowing
Event Planning
The Event Planning subcommittee is responsible for designing, planning, and executing any event hosted by the SAAC Sustainability Committee. The Event Planning Subcommittee also works in tandem with our Community Outreach team to organize events in collaboration with other organizations across campus. For the 2020-21 academic year, our Event Planning group is working on developing a speaker series for Spring quarter. Stay tuned for more information soon!
Sarah Klass, Senior | Human Biology | W Water PoloRachel Miller, Sophomore | Undeclared | W Rowing
Social Media
The Social Media subcommittee works to develop the public face of the SAAC Sustainability Committee. This year, the Social Media team is working especially hard to create exciting content geared toward environmental education and sustainability, as we work in this remote world! Social Media is in the process of designing a content posting schedule to communicate the following to our followers: 1) our Sustainability Committee initiatives, 2) our accomplishments throughout the year, 3) our future areas of focus and 4) relevant environmental sustainability education. Please follow @stanford_saac to keep track of our work throughout the year!
Trudie Grattan, Senior | Human Biology | LacrosseFloranne Carroll, Sophomore | Undeclared | Women's Water Polo
Anaclare Sole, Sophomore | Undeclared | Sailing
About Community Development
Developing connections between student-athletes at Stanford and across the conference, as well as empowering leaders to pursue passions and launch new initiatives:
- Community Leadership Development (Jacie): Connecting student-athletes with similar interests, and empowering them to develop initiatives together.
- Policy and Program Development (Anne): Connecting the policy interests and program ideas of Stanford student-athletes with like-minded SAs across the NCAA, as well as helping the individual SAAC sub-committees launch and share their programming across other collegiate programs. This role will be aided through the work of the PAC-12 SALT committee and also through the attendance of other SAAC conferences.
Meet the Team
Anne Ryschon (Left)
Class of 2021 | Fort Calhoun, Neb | Public Policy | Women's Lightweight Rowing
A rising senior and Public Policy major at Stanford, I am currently serving as the Policy and Program Development VP for SAAC. I have been involved with SAAC through the Community Service Committee since freshman year, volunteering at Trick or Treet, Cardsgiving, and A B Trees events. Last year, I formally joined SAAC, again as part of the Community Service committee and also began serving as the representative to the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT). I am excited to serve this year in a new role as a Development VP and continue my role as the SALT representative for Stanford. I hope to assist SAAC committees in advancing their programming ideas beyond Stanford and serve as a liaison between student-athletes and administrators in addressing policy needs that can better improve the student-athlete experience.
Jacie Lemos (Right)
Class of 2020 | Rye, N.H. | Human Biology | Lacrosse
A coterm student on the lacrosse team, and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Community Health and Prevention Research. Her undergraduate major was Human Biology. She has been a member of SAAC for the last 2 years, as part of the Faculty Relations committee. This year, she is excited to take on the new position of Community Leadership Development VP. She hopes to connect and empower student-athletes with similar interests, and help those athletes translate their athletic skill sets into initiatives off the field.
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