DRIVEN BY THE MISSION

Send us Fan MailEpisode 13- Mission: Sustained ExcellenceIn this episode, we sit down with Walt Holliday, Executive Director of the Cox Communication Center at LSU and a 32-year veteran of academic support and student athlete development. What starts as a reunion of old friends quickly becomes a masterclass in servant leadership, quiet excellence, and staying grounded through relentless change. Walt shares how a chance meeting with a dean at Rutgers redirected his entire life's path, what it means to truly meet students where they are, and how he's navigated the new era of NIL, the transfer portal, and roster turnover — all while honoring the memory of a beloved colleague and friend.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 12- Mission: AccountabilityIn this episode of Driven By The Mission, we sit down with Katie Ethridge, a respected leader and lifelong champion of student-athlete success. Katie offers candid insight into how meaningful relationships, individualized support, and a clear sense of purpose can transform lives both on and off the field. She also honors the legacy of her late colleague and dear friend, Alise Svihla, whose passion and positivity continue to inspire professionals across the industry.Tune into this episode to discover why behind every successful student-athlete is a Hidden Hero who chose to care, invest, and stay committed to the Mission.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 11- Mission: Learning Style'ZIn this episode of Driven By The Mission, Raymond Harrison and Jean Boyd welcome Yolanda Black, Learning Specialist at the University of Georgia, to spotlight the work happening behind the scenes of academic support for student-athletes. The conversation includes conversations about learning styles and skill building, but goes beyond academics — diving into confidence-building, identity development, mental health, and the complex realities student-athletes face in today’s NIL and transfer portal era. Yolanda offers a deeply personal and inspiring perspective on her purpose and mental health journey and how her calling to support students through a learning specialist role brought healing to her.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 10- Mission: GratitudeEpisode 10 is a milestone so we’re switching it up. Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison sit down with DBTM team member Cecil Banks III to reflect on the first 10 episodes, the guests who helped build the foundation, and the “why” behind this Mission. In this episode, the crew shares what it really took to launch DBTM, how a pivotal conversation set everything in motion, and why college athletics must remain the most ingenious human development platform in the world—even as NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal reshape the landscape.They revisit standout lessons from guests throughout college athletics—from leadership and identity development to vulnerability, trust, and building environments that don’t lose the mission in the money.If you’ve ever needed a reminder to keep going, this one’s for you.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 9- Mission: IntentionalIn this episode of Driven By The Mission, Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison are joined by Tori Niemann Lukens, Assistant AD and Director of Student-Athlete Development at Clemson University, for a powerful conversation on intentional leadership, identity, and human development in college athletics.Tori reflects on her journey from Division I student-athlete to senior administrator, sharing why sport is a vehicle—not the destination. She discusses the impact of the “final buzzer,” the danger of over-identifying with sport, and how intentional programming, relationship-building, and real-world reps prepare student-athletes for life beyond competition.A must-listen for leaders, coaches, and practitioners committed to developing the whole student-athlete.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 8 - Mission: Annoying UncleCourtney “Skip” Skipper has spent 19 years at Arizona State quietly changing lives—first as a GA who “just wanted to do development,” now as Assistant AD for Academic Services. In this episode, Skip, Jean, and Raymond unpack the power of language (“we’re products of expectations, not environments”), why authenticity beats authority with today’s athletes, and how a coach’s-kid childhood across three states became the perfect training ground to connect with anyone in the room. Skip breaks down the NIL/portal era’s new reality—transactional relationships, early money, and shrinking hunger—and shares how he stays effective by playing the “annoying uncle”: present, honest, relentlessly consistent.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 7- Mission : Forever FuelingFormer Washington State tennis standout and UCF Director of Sports Nutrition Aneta Miksovska joins Driven By The Mission to pull back the curtain on what sports nutrition really is — and why it’s about far more than food.Aneta traces her journey from the Czech Republic to the Palouse, becoming an NCAA Tournament athlete and three-time Pac-12 All-Academic pick, then shifting from tennis coach to trailblazing sports dietitian — including serving as the first full-time dietitian in her conference at Lamar. Now at UCF, she oversees nutrition for the entire department while working directly with football.Aneta explains why she refuses to be seen as a “snack babe,” and breaks down the true scope of her role: collaborating with strength coaches, sports medicine, mental health, and performance staff; building individualized plans around in-season vs. off-season demands; and teaching life skills through grocery store tours, cooking demos, and simple, sustainable habits.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 6- Mission: StrengthOn this episode of Driven by the Mission, Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison sit down with Karl Holmes Jr., Director of Player Engagement for Oregon Football. Karl opens up about a non-linear path—from arriving at Arizona State with his belongings in trash bags, to JUCO detours, seven concussions, a cleared arrest that still echoes, and a degree earned at Grand Valley State. He explains how those chapters forged his purpose: advocating for student-athletes as whole people in a high-pressure NIL/revenue-share era.Karl breaks down “Flight School,” his 8–10 week onboarding for freshmen and transfers, why radical authenticity beats any budget, and how he pushed for due process when a player was prematurely dismissed. He also shares a powerful story supporting a transfer navigating his mother’s illness and draft-night grief—reminding us that money and accolades can’t replace community.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 5 - Mission: Find Your FuelDr. Ron Moses, Deputy AD for Internal Operations at Old Dominion, cuts through the NIL/transfer noise and gets back to the backbone of college sports: academics, outcomes, and human development. From an unconventional path—Youth Challenge Academy, the military, Georgia Military College—to building outcome-driven cultures (3.0 team standards, mental-health staffing, athlete dining), Ron shows how discipline and accountability travel from the barracks to the locker room. He breaks down the new era’s realities—revenue share, portal churn, real financial literacy (LLCs, taxes, philanthropy)—and why departments must align beyond silos to truly serve students. Bottom line: remember your why, “find your fuel,” and build systems that change lives, not just scoreboards.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 4 - Mission: Value Add Saul Luna, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Texas A&M’s Track & Field & Cross Country programs, has dedicated his life to preventing injuries, restoring performance, and building trust in the moments when athletes hit the edge. In this episode of Driven by the Mission, Saul pulls back the curtain on the grit behind the scenes—nights in the training room, the delicate return-to-play decisions, and the human stories hidden under tape and protocols. We talk legacy, resilience, and how his journey—from humble beginnings to a key role in elite sports medicine—fuels his passion to guide athletes not just back into competition, but into lives of well-being and purpose.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 3- Mission: Iron WillJoe Connolly, Arizona State Football’s Director of Sports Performance, has built a career around developing athletes who are powerful on the field and prepared for life beyond it. In this episode of Driven by the Mission, Joe shares his philosophy on building trust, fostering discipline, and creating environments where athletes thrive. From strength training to leadership development, his approach is about more than sets and reps—it’s about shaping resilient young men ready to compete at the highest level.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 2 – Mission: PossibleKim Durand, Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Washington, has spent over 30 years helping student-athletes realize they’re more than the sport they play. From guiding them through the chaos of COVID-19 to navigating leadership transitions and conference realignment, Kim has remained anchored to one mission: comprehensive student-athlete success. Recently honored with the 2025 Women in Higher Education Achievement Award, she shares her journey, her philosophy, and the joy of sparking those “light-bulb moments” that shape lives beyond the game.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 1 – Mission: LaunchHosts Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison kick off Driven by the Mission with a bold vision: to spotlight the Hidden Heroes of college athletics and explore how they shape the student-athlete experience. This launch episode lays out the mission, familiarizes listeners with the podcast hosts, and discusses their “why” in this rapidly evolving era of college athletics.Follow DBTM @drivenbythemission on IG, Facebook, TikTokSubscribe / Rate / Share if an episode has impacted you—because if it helps one, it’s worth it.