SEATTLE – Seattle University Athletics has announced a trio of new hires on its Student Athlete Support Services staff, including Stephen Johnson as Assistant AD for Academic Services, and Marisa Manus and Kristin Mikolajewski as Athletics Trainers.
Johnson is no stranger to the Seattle U campus, originally joining the Seattle U community in 2019 as a senior academic advisor in the Albers School of Business and Economics. He was promoted to Director of Undergraduate Programs in June of 2021.
"Working in Division l athletics, particularly helping ensure student athlete academic success, is a rewarding experience," said Johnson. "To have this opportunity at Seattle University is an honor. Seattle U Athletics embodies the true essence of the student athlete experience: success in personal development, in the classroom, and in sport. I look forward to contributing towards this ongoing success."
All told, Johnson has more than 10 years of professional experience in academic advising, program management and student services. Prior to Seattle U, he was an academic advisor at UC Berkeley, University of Washington, University Prep and Edmonds Community College.
"We are extremely grateful and excited for Stephen to join us from his role in the Albers School of Business," said Eric Guerra, Associate AD for Compliance and Student Athlete Services. "Stephen has forged many important relationships across campus, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to this role. He will make an immediate impact given his institutional and industry acumen. Stephen is an outstanding addition to our Student Athlete Services team, as well as the athletics department overall."
Johnson attended the University of California, Berkeley where he earned both his BA and MA degrees. At UC Berkeley, Stephen was also a student athlete on the men's basketball team, which led to a 10 year professional career in Europe.
Manus joins the Seattle U sports medicine staff after spending the past two years at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. She will work directly with women's basketball and rowing at Seattle U.
A 2017 graduate of Washington State and a Seattle native, Manus received her bachelor's degree in athletic training with a minor in psychology, before recently attaining her Master of Public Administration degree from LMU. During her time at Washington State, Manus worked in the Cougars' athletic training department where she mainly assisted the rowing and football teams.
While a graduate assistant at LMU, Manus provided clinical services for multiple teams, including working with cross country, track and field, women's soccer and men's and women's tennis. Most recently she worked with LMU's women's soccer and men's and women's track and field programs.
Mikolajewski, also a Pacific Northwest native, has previous athletic training experience at Seattle Pacific, University of Washington, University of Puget Sound and St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. She has worked with a variety of teams, evaluating injuries, creating and managing treatment and rehabilitation plans and collaborating with healthcare professionals.
Mikolajewski earned her bachelor's degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her master's degree from University of Idaho.
"We are looking forward to bolstering the strength of our healthcare team by adding two clinicians with high communication skills and similar passion towards addressing and preventing issues holistically," said Sarah Pfau, Director of Sports Medicine. "The confidence, professionalism and positivity they bring with them has already been evidenced in their interactions, and we are proud to welcome them into the Redhawk family."
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