I began college as a teenager and earned my first bachelor’s degree at 17 while training and performing in classical ballet. From 2013 to 2015, I studied at the University of Arizona School of Dance, ranked Top Five Nationally and #1 Public University Program at the time. The program’s standards shaped my approach to performance and teaching through precision, consistency, and mastery built through repetition.
In 2017, I qualified as the only American dancer for the Genée International Ballet Competition in Lisbon, Portugal—one of the world’s most selective classical competitions. I later danced professionally for a year before returning to school to pursue my long-term academic goals.
During this period, I earned an Associate of Fine Arts in Dance from Chandler/Gilbert Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Literacy, Learning, and Leadership with a Fine Arts minor in Dance from the University of Arizona Honors College.
Early Academic & Artistic Foundations
For my honors thesis, I conducted original research on neurofeedback and vagus nerve stimulation in elite archery performance.
The project was funded by Barrett Honors College and conducted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, in collaboration with elite archers and sport scientists. That experience solidified my interest in how mental focus and physiological regulation influence precision-based performance.
While at ASU, I received the Phil Mickelson Excellence in Psychology Scholarship, served as Vice President of Philanthropy for Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, and contributed to the Arizona Twin Project Research Lab.
Psychology and Human Performance
Graduate Study and Future Direction
I am completing my Master of Education in Coaching Leadership at the University of Rio Grande, where I serve as a Graduate Assistant for the University’s Archery Program. The program integrates leadership, communication, and applied coaching science to prepare coaches who teach with strategy, empathy, and purpose.
Outside of graduate study, I operate my own coaching business, Archery by Eleanor, where I train athletes of all ages and experience levels. This hands-on experience allows me to apply research on leadership, motivation, and learning theory in real-world environments. It also gives me a direct understanding of how communication and feedback influence athlete growth and confidence.
My academic work focuses on how leadership, feedback, and team culture drive athlete motivation and long-term performance. I combine this with my competitive experience to create training that develops both technical skill and mindset.
Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a PhD in Sport Pedagogy or Sport Management, studying how leadership and communication shape athlete learning and team dynamics. My goal is to bridge academic research and applied coaching to create stronger, more human-centered systems for athlete and coach success.
