College Counseling Hosts an Evening Conversation with Jill Bodensteiner 

The MBS College Counseling Office hosted Jill Bodensteiner on Thursday, September 19, for a spotlight discussion on college athletics. After an impressive 20-year career at the University of Notre Dame, Ms. Bodensteiner transitioned to her current role as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s University. Recently honored as the Nike Division I Executive of the Year, she is a prominent figure in the field.

Ms. Bodensteiner shared her journey from Notre Dame to St. Joe’s, recounting both exciting milestones and personal and professional setbacks. Her message was clear: don’t be misled by titles or social media. Despite the polished image many present, there’s always more beneath the surface. Success is never a straight shot to the top; it’s more like a rollercoaster ride.

With a background in labor and employment law, combined with extensive experience in college athletics, Ms. Bodensteiner is recognized as an expert on the future of college sports—particularly regarding recent developments in NIL (name, image, and likeness) and athlete employee status. Accordingly, she also touched on how these changes might affect high school athletes aspiring to compete at the college level.

Concluding her remarks, she offered valuable advice for aspiring college athletes, emphasizing not only performance but also body language, outreach to college coaches, and self-promotion. She even shared a few tips for parents.

Attendees left with life lessons learned through sports, as well as practical steps for navigating athletic recruitment.