NEXTGEN The Ohio State University Department of Athletics

Kamryn Babb

• Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
• Major: Communications
• Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management
• Sport: Football

Why NextGen?: "This program gives me the opportunity to grow while also getting more professional development outside of football, and I still get to stay connected with the Ohio State community. This program has led me into my first full time job as a Development Associate Director."

Future Career Aspirations: "I am not really sure what I want to do, I am blessed to be apart of NextGen so I can continue to gain experience and explore what I want to do in the future."

Kamryn participated in Lead Like a Buckeye and Bucks Go Pro 2.0 during his time at Ohio State.

Kathleen Jones

• Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio
• Major: Journalism
• Minor: Business & Media Production and Analysis
• Sport: Women's Tennis

Why NextGen?: "I have wanted to work at Ohio State ever since my first internship with Bucks Go Pro 1.0 in Summer of 2021."

Future Career Aspirations: "I’d love to continue working in marketing and develop my copywriting skills. I’ve really enjoyed working on the backend of websites, so hopefully some of that will be sprinkled into my future career path as well."

Kathleen participated in Wolstein Leadership Academy, Lead Like a Buckeye, Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and Bucks Go Pro 2.0 during her time at Ohio State.

Marcus Ernst

• Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
• Major: Finance
• Sport: Baseball

Why NextGen?: As my career at Ohio State as a student-athlete was coming to an end, I knew I wanted to explore a career in athletics. This program was the perfect opportunity to explore what area I was interested in within college athletics. It allowed me to learn and understand what a career could look like. Ultimately, it led to me finding an interest and passion in athletics development, and I am super grateful for the opportunity."

Future Career Aspirations: "In the future I hope to be an Athletic Director at a major university."

Marcus participated in Wolstein Leadership Academy and Bucks Go Pro 2.0 during his time at Ohio State.

Lexi Edwards

• Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
• Major: Psychology
• Minor: Integrative Approaches to Healthcare
• Pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management
• Sport: Women's Gymnastics

Why NextGen?: "I decided to apply to NextGen to explore my career aspirations and interests, develop skills as a working professional, and to work at a prestigious university. I am very grateful for this opportunity from the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute and look forward to what the future will bring."

Future Career Aspirations: "My career aspirations include continuing to serve the student-athlete population in reaching their personal and professional goals. I would like the opportunity to stay within collegiate athletics. "

Lexi participated in Lead Like a Buckeye during her time at Ohio State.

Brooke Shields

• Hometown: Clarksburg, Maryland
• Major: Political Science
• Minor: Human Rights
• Pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management
• Sport: Cheerleading

Why NextGen?: "I applied to gain experience and knowledge on the operations of collegiate athletics and to start my career in the sports business industry."

Future Career Aspirations: "I plan to go to law school and focus on sports and entertainment law."

Brooke participated in Wolstein Leadership Academy, Lead Like a Buckeye, Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and Dress to Impress during her time at Ohio State.

Ashley Turner

• Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
• Major: Sport Management
• Pursuing a Master of Science Kinesiology, Sport Management
• Sport: Women's Lacrosse

Why NextGen?: "I decided to apply to NextGen because it was an opportunity I could not pass on. With Ohio State Athletics being one of the most well-known and successful departments in the country, I knew that if I was given this opportunity, I would be working with the best."

Future Career Aspirations: "My future career aspirations are to work hand in hand with athletes, teams and organizations to prepare them for success on and off the field. Whether that is athlete development or event management, I want to contribute as much as possible to teams to ensure their highest performance."

Ashley participated in Bucks Go Pro 2.0 during her time at Ohio State.

Delaney Lawler

• Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey
• Major: Hospitality Management
• Master's degree in Sports Coaching and Leadership
• Sport: Field Hockey

Why NextGen?: "There is no better place for myself to learn and be immersed in the world of sports than The Ohio State University. After an unforgettable five years as a Buckeye, two more years to get my foot in the door professionally at one of the most prestigious universities was an opportunity I could not pass up. "

Future Career Aspirations: "My future career aspirations are something that I find myself being intrigued by different areas the more I learn about. My first experience with NextGen being with the Event Management team as well as our Scarlett and Grey Venues team have been nothing short of amazing. I have learned so much ranging from the ins and outs of everything that goes on during a football season, to our stadium hosting private events and what all goes into the planning and execution of these moments."

Delaney participated in Wolstein Leadership Academy, Lead Like a Buckeye, Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and 2.0 during her time at Ohio State.

Alexis Hankins

• Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
• Major: Exercise Science
• Sport: Gymnastics

Why Next Gen? : "I saw it as an opportunity to grow and expand my knowledge and experiences. It's a great transition for life after sport and from being a full-time student-athlete."

Future Career Aspirations: "I could definitely see myself working in the sport industry, whether that is within college or professional sports."

Alexis participated in Lead Like A Buckeye, Wolstein Leadership Academy, Bucks Go Pro 2.0 during her time at Ohio State.

Hannah Bach

• Hometown: Brecksville, OH
• Major: Sociology
• Pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management
• Sport: Swimming

Why Next Gen?: "I saw the NextGen program as an incredible opportunity to make a smooth, fun, and impactful transition into the professional world from being a student-athlete. Since the internship is at Ohio State, I already understood how to uphold the high standards and meet the expectations surrounding The People, The Tradition, The Excellence."

Future Career Aspirations: "My future career aspirations involve working in either the athletics or healthcare realm. Currently, I am gaining invaluable experience in the Athletics Development office, and I feel that development is a path I could see myself pursuing further, especially in the world of athletics."

Hannah participated in Lead like a Buckeye, Dress to Impress, and Wolstein Leadership Academy during her time at Ohio State.

Nina Andrainos

• Hometown: Shelby Township, Michigan
• Major: Sports Industry
• Sport: Dance

Why Next Gen? "I chose NextGen because it allows me to explore various aspects of the athletic department that I may want to pursue as a career. It provides an opportunity to learn from the individuals who made a significant impact on my experience as a student-athlete and to gain insight into the behind-the-scenes work required to operate one of the nation's top athletic departments."

Future Career Aspirations: "Looking ahead, I hope to build a career in collegiate athletics or with an NFL team. While I'm still exploring the exact role I want to pursue, I’m confident that the experience I gain from the NextGen program will guide me in discovering my passions and the right direction for my career path."

Nina participated in the Bucks Go Pro 1.0, Dress to Impress, and Wolstein Leadership Academy during her time at Ohio State.

Ali Gordon

• Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Major: Communications
• Sport: Field Hockey

Why Next Gen? "I chose the NextGen program for a smooth transition from playing field hockey at Ohio State into a career in sports, as well as my aspirations to be in marketing. I knew the program would be able to offer me experiences that are few and far between anywhere else, and it is such a dream to work for one of the best schools in the country."

Future Career Aspirations: "My career aspirations are to build a successful career in marketing, where I can continuously learn and grow. I aim to gain diverse experiences by collaborating with various fields and professionals, which will help me develop a well-rounded skill set and a deeper understanding of different market dynamics."

Ali participated in Bucks go Pro 2.0, Dress to Impress and the Wolstein Leadership Academy during her time at Ohio State.

Andrew Moore

• Hometown: Cleveland, OH
• Major: Consumer and Family Financial Services
• Pursuing a Master's degree in Architecture
• Sport: Football

Why Next Gen? "I wanted to join the NextGen Program to develop myself into the best person I can be in a very dedicated environment."

Future Career Aspirations? "My future career aspirations include becoming a designer specializing in sports."

Andrew participated in Dress to Impress and Cross Sports during his time at Ohio State.

Sydney Taylor

• Hometown: Columbus Ohio
• Major: Business Marketing
• Minor: Human Development and Family Science
• Pursuing a Master's in Sport Management
• Sport: Women's Volleyball

Why NextGen? "I knew I had a passion for student-athletes and college athletics. I could not pass up the opportunity to start the next chapter at a place I have called home my whole life. I wanted to gain professional skills, hands on experience in college athletics, while also having the grace to explore different departments in athletics. I knew I would learn and grow a ton as an individual and a female in college athletics."

Future Career Aspirations? "I would love to continue to use my passion for sports, Ohio State, and student-athletes and figure out what specifically that is through the NextGen program. I hope to always be around sports and give back to student-athletes in some type of way."

Sydney Participated in Bucks Go Pro 1.0, Lead Like a Buckeye, Dress to Impress, and Cross Sports during her time at Ohio State.

Lacey Stringer

• Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
• Major: Psychology
• Master's in Human Resources
• Sport: Track and Field

Why NextGen? "I chose the NextGen program because I wanted a space where I could grow and intentionally shape my professional development. Working closely with people who are driven, supportive, and willing to invest in my growth as a young professional is incredibly important to me. The collaborative environment, mentorship, and opportunities to stretch my skills are all reasons why I value what Nextgen Offers. I knew this program would help me build confidence, expand my network, and prepare for the next steps in my career."

Future Career Aspirations? "Human Resource career hopeful, with an open mindset of potential change."

Lacey was the President of SHEROS during her time at Ohio State.

Jalen Pace

• Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
• Major: Sport Industry
• Sport: Football

Why NextGen? " chose to do NextGen because throughout my college career, I knew that I wanted to work in sports and NextGen is a great way to introduce student athletes to the Athletic Department.

Future Career Aspirations? High School Athletic Director

Jalen participated in Life Sports during his time at Ohio State.

Sydni Ratliff

• Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
• Major: Strategic Communications
• Pursuing Masters in Sports Management
• Sport" Women's Tennis

Why NextGen? "The program provided me with a smooth transition from being a student-athlete to preparing for a professional career in sports. I knew it would give me invaluable work experience and an opportunity to explore different career paths within athletics."

Future Career Aspirations? "In the future, I aspire to build a successful career in collegiate athletics or in professional sports, where I can continue to learn and grow. While I am still exploring different roles, the experiences from the Next Gen program will help me in discovering my potential career path."

Sydni participated in SAAC and Dress to Impress during her time at Ohio State.

Sean Henderson

• Hometown: Spring Texas
• Major: History/Computer Science
• Pursuing a Specialized Master's in Business Analytics
• Sport: Cheer

Why NextGen? "During my four years as a student-athlete at Ohio State, I was shaped by countless members of the Athletic Department who played a meaningful role in my personal and professional development. As I transition into my career, the NextGen program provides a two-year opportunity to give back and create similar impactful experiences for current student-athletes and the broader athletic community."

Future Career Aspirations? "I hope to be the Director of Analytics for a college basketball team, ideally at Ohio State." 

Sean participated in the Wolstein Leadership Academy, Bucks Go Pro 1.0, interned with Sports Science, and Women's Volleyball analytics during his time at Ohio State.

Kami Kortakrax

• Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
• Major: Communications
• Sport: Softall

Why NextGen? "Ohio State has the best opportunities, facilities, and most importantly people that help me continue to learn and grow. I can’t think of anywhere better in sports that I would like to work. They also allow me to work full time while also being flexible in my training for professional softball."

Future Career Aspirations? "Whatever God has in store but I know I want to continue to work in sports and hopefully in youth ministry."

Kami participated in Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and 2.0, Lead Like a Buckeye, SAAC, Buckeye Representatives, and the Cross Sports Vice President during her time at Ohio State.

Sarah Richards

• Hometown: Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
• Major: Health Science
• Master's in Sport Management
• Sport: Field Hockey

Why NextGen? "I chose NextGen because it was truly an opportunity I couldn't pass up! I knew I wanted to pursue a career in sports, but I wasn't exactly sure what that would look like! The NextGen program is a great way to gain experience in different departments within the athletic department, while also learning from, and working alongside the best of the best in the industry!

Future Career Aspirations? "I would love to be a Division 1 field hockey coach, or work in athletics administration."

Sarah participated in Bucks Go Pro 1.0 and Lead Like a Buckeye during her time at Ohio State.

Hudson Harris

• Hometown: Orchard Park, NY
• Major: Business Marketing
• Pursuing Master's in Sports Management Sport: Men's Volleyball

Why NextGen? "It gave me the chance to still be a Buckeye and give back to my school."

Hudson participated in Bucks Go Pro 2.0, Lead Like a Buckeye, and Cross Sports during his time at Ohio State.