STUDENT-ATHLETES OF COLOR (SAOC)
Mission Statement: 
The Student-Athletes of Color (SAOC) Group brings together student athletes to create a community of inclusion at Brandeis. If you are interested in joining our collective effort as Brandeisians to move toward ensuring no barriers exist to limit opportunities for student athletes, we invite you to get involved. The SAOC Group is open to all student athletes and it explores issues affecting the athletes of color community and in ensuring that our student athlete community is open to individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.
What we do:
SAOC holds general meetings once every 3 weeks where we gather as a group to hang out, host speakers, and plan events within the community. In the past, we have reflected on topics related to DEI at Brandeis and within Athletics, watched a movie, engaged with our community through tailgates, and organized DEI-centered events. We love to engage with anyone who identifies as an athlete of color or person of color in any form, and our group is open to anyone who falls under these identities.
Our hardworking E-Board works behind the scenes to plan meetings, organize events, work with UAA peers, and secure funding for the group. We also have two advisors to the group, Pauri Pandian and Michael Matt, who guide us on many initiatives.
Student-Athletes of Color (SAOC) 2025-2026 E-Board Members:
Co-Presidents: Ragini Kannan ’26 and David Thomas '27
Treasurer: Zareena Mann ‘27
Events Coordinators: Audrey Teo '26 & Brooke Reed ‘26
Media Coordinator: Jessica Maina '28
Outreach Coordinator: Rainer Osselmann-Chai '26
Community Service Coordinator: Roy Kiprop Congwalei '28
Staff Liaisons: Pauri Pandian (Head women's tennis coach) & Michael Matt (Associate AD)
ATHLETES WITHOUT BORDERS
Athletes without borders is a group that provides a space for student-athletes to voice their concerns, plan community building events, and share their cultures from around the world with other athletes. The club’s main mission is to unite all student athletes to create a community committed to cultural exchange and mutual support. To accomplish its mission, the group's main focuses are:
- Aiming to support student athletes in their transition to college life while balancing sports, academics, and a variety of cultures and perspectives
- Help student athletes learn more about the community and different cultures of one another.
- Provide a space for both international and domestic student-athletes to connect, share their global experiences, and offer support to one another, enhancing their individual contributions within team dynamics
If you are interested in learning more or joining Athletes Without Borders, contact
co-Founder, Anastasia Sia '25 (anastasiasia@brandeis.edu).
Staff Liaison: Jasmine Lee (ATC)
THE HIDDEN OPPONENT
The Hidden Opponent, a nonprofit and advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness about student-athlete mental health, has opened up chapters on over 750 college campuses. THO provides individual chapters with panels, information on how to start their clubs and other educational resources for student leaders. The group works to plan and carry out seasonal awareness games and host events about bouncing back after injuries, external pressures, navigating relationships with coaches, and post-college life for student-athletes. THO also partners with other student-athlete affinity group to assist with fundraisers and community building activities within athletics to support the well-being of our student-athletes.
THO Campus Captains:
President/Founder: Dominique Paglia '25
Co-President: Audrey Teo ''26
Vice President: Hannah Bassan '25
Secretary: Mollie Obar '25
Treasurer: Justin Keeler '25
Event Coordinator: Maddie Manes '26
Social Media Outreach: Caitlin Gresko '25 & Madison Sansone '26
Staff Liaison: Kaitlin Carson (Strength & Conditioning Coach)
ATHLETE ALLY
The Brandeis Athletics chapter of Athlete Ally brings together students to create a community of inclusion for those interested in issues pertaining to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA+) community. We invite all members of the Brandeis community to get involved.
What we do:
We hold monthly general meetings to foster a safe and inclusive environment for queer student-athletes and others to gather. Additionally, we aim to have Pride Games every season, fall, winter, and spring, to normalize queer identities within sports, on the Brandeis campus, and in general.
Follow us on Instagram here @brandeis_athleteally!
Staff Liaisons: Lynne Dempsey (Sr. Assoc. AD) & Derek Carlson (Head baseball coach)
