Q & A with Megan: Featuring Daniel Roberts

Alfred State sport management major Megan Gridley recently interviewed Coordinator of Event Management and Equipment Services Daniel Roberts. Roberts started at ASC prior to the start of the 2019-20 season and his position is part of the NCAA  Division III Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Grant program. 

You are starting your second year at Alfred State, what are some of your goals for the 2020-2021 school year?

I have several goals for the 2020-21 school year.

I want to assist the athletic department and athletic teams with their transition through the COVID-19 environment. COVID-19 has made it a rough year in the country but I believe that we will get back to a sense of normalcy.

I want to make sure I contribute to the team (athletic administration) at Alfred State in whatever task is needed of me. I want to assist with creating programs that address the injustices, and what we can do as administration to bring awareness to our community. I am confident that our administration is making strides to address the injustices in our society. 

Raising awareness for mental health and for individuals "to be ok with not being ok" is another goal I have.  I am very thankful that I speak with my therapist weekly, as she has helped me through everything that has happened in 2020. I believe we have a great health and wellness staff on campus where students can take advantage of.

I also want to assist the wrestling program in becoming successful. Recently, I took a role with the team as volunteer coach to work with the heavyweights. Over the summer, I had an opportunity to train with Coach Justin Signorelli to work on my wrestling techniques, so I can be a good teacher to those heavyweights. His lessons allowed me to be more confident in coaching. I think we have a great group of young men in the wrestling program, and with this coaching staff, the wrestling program will continue to be successful.

Finally, I want to continue my growth as an athletic administrator. I have matured in my position from last year and want to keep that momentum going. I would like to continue to grow everyday as an athletic administrator and servant leader in collegiate athletics. I believe life is about constant evolution and constant change.

What were some lessons you learned last year from your roles in event and equipment management?

• Be time efficient
• Be proactive in your work, predicting the next move before it happens
• Think like a chess player, being 10 steps ahead
• Trust your team
• Understand some questions don't need an answer right away but need to be addressed eventually.
• Learn from your mistakes
• Ask for help, don't try to do everything on your own

You are working on a new listening series with Associate Athletic Director Jen Enke, what are some of your goals with this program?

This program will allow us to know what is going in our student athlete's lives. I realize that COVID-19 and other issues including the injustices in our society has mentally exhausted everyone. People are emotionally affected as well. We have to address it and come up with programs that will assist in the student athletes mental and emotional well-being. This program will also allow us to be visible for those student athletes who may not know that we are available to talk. I am hoping to make this program becomes an annual event, so we can always be aware of our student athletes and continue to help these student athletes grow as future leaders in this society.

What advice would you give to student-athletes during this uncertain time?

• Understand that it is "ok to not be ok."
• Speak to someone you trust whether it's a significant other, friend, professor, mentor, or counselor about any issues that may be going on.
• Take some time to be physically active whether that means taking daily walks, working out, attending group fitness classes with athletics on campus or meditation. Being able to clear your mind is key during these times.

Quick Hits:

Favorite sport to manage? Wrestling.

iPhone or Android? iPhone

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Africa, I am very proud of my culture and currently waiting for the results to find out what tribe I am from. Once I discover what tribe I am from, then I want to visit that location in Africa.