Michigan Tech

Sarah Dowd was hired as the Director of Student-Athlete Wellness and Clinical Counselor in July 2019 and added Senior Woman Administrator duties in April 2021. She was named the Assistant Athletic Director - Counseling and Sport Psychology in July 2024.

Dowd serves as an in-house therapist to counsel student-athletes in balancing mind, body, and sport for optimal mental health and well-being and will be expanding services to include sport psychology. She also works with coaches and athletic trainers on best practices for the health and well-being of the Huskies and provides preventative education.

Dowd received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Youngstown State University in August 2016 and completed a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Addiction in December 2018. In June 2024, she completed a Doctorate of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States.

Dowd also serves on the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport (CSMAS) since February of 2023. The mission of CSMAS is to provide expertise and leadership to the NCAA in order to promote a healthy and safe environment for student-athletes through research, education, collaboration and policy development. Dowd was recently appointed as the committee's vice-chair for the 2024-25 academic year. She will then serve as committee chair for 2025-26 before her term expires.

Dowd holds her professional counselor license (LPC) in Michigan. Prior to her current role, she worked clinically in Ohio.  She previously spent time as a graduate assistant at Youngstown State, focusing on mental health research. Dowd has done research on the impact concussions have on the mental health of athletes.  She is currently a Level 2 member of the Clinical & Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA) and is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), American Counseling Association (ACA), and American College Counseling Association (ACCA).

Dowd was a decorated softball student-athlete at YSU from 2014-17. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-American, a three-time All-Horizon League selection, the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, Horizon League All-Academic, a four-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, and the Penguins' all-time home run, RBI, and grand slam record holder.