After about 25 years, your circles seem to get pretty small and oftentimes come full circle.

Fast-forward to the present day. These women have found each other again and are determined to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes.

 

Dr. Kimberly O’Brien,  PhD. LICSW graduated from Harvard in 2000 and went on to Boston College for her Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) and received her PhD at BC. Kim has been instrumental in galvanizing communities of young athletes. Kimberly specializes in and works with youth through professional athletes. Dr. O’Brien specializes in depression, anxiety, disordered eating, compulsive exercise, injury recovery from injury, mental toughness, performance anxiety, and bereavement therapy. Dr. O’Brien has been in practice for 20 years and owns her private practice called Unlimited Resilience. 

 

When Kim isn’t managing her own caseload of athletes in her private practice, you’re likely to catch her at a professional women’s hockey game, reading or authoring a book, or managing her four children and their hectic academic and athletic lives.

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Maura McCarthy graduated from Salem State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports, Fitness, and Leisure studies with a minor in Psychology and Biology. She received her Master’s Degree in Health and Human Development with a concentration in Sports Medicine from Pennsylvania State University. Maura was a certified and licensed athletic trainer who worked at Colgate University, UMass-Dartmouth, and Harvard University. Maura, who also holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, most recently retired as a Sergeant from the Massachusetts State Police. She served on the Medical Staff at the Massachusetts State Police Academy, spearheaded the Law Enforcement Homeless Coalition in the Metro-Boston area, served as a Detective for the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, and was a Crime Scene Investigator and worked at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Maura also commanded the Human Trafficking Unit on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office. Maura can be found supporting and advocating for mental performance across sectors and supporting and mentoring athletes.

 

Outside of supporting young athletes, Maura prides herself on collaborating and building bridges by bringing people in her community together.

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Daphne Faldi graduated from Harvard in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology and played field hockey and lacrosse.  During her time at Harvard, she lost her best friend, Sarah Devens, to suicide. Sarah was a star athlete at Dartmouth and her sudden death shocked the college athletic community. Daphne has been a head lacrosse coach at the high school and middle school levels and 13 years as a member of the Administrative team at a  PreK-9th grade private school. She is a certified life coach and has worked tirelessly in the health and wellness space for high school and college athletes. Daphne serves on the advisory board at McLean Hospital and works closely with numerous non-profits: Athletes for Hope, The Hidden Opponent, Morgan’s Message, and One Love. 

 

When Daphne is not advocating for young student-athletes and connecting through conversation with others, she can be found planning fundraisers at one of her three son’s lacrosse games or walking with her friends. 

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Kelleigh Faldi brings deep roots in youth sports and a lifelong passion for mentorship to his role leading club relationships, partnerships, and mentor recruitment. A former collegiate lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania, he has coached youth lacrosse in Baltimore and Massachusetts, and currently serves on the board of Hamilton Wenham Youth Lacrosse. With experience across soccer, basketball, and flag football, Kelleigh is committed to building a thriving a community where student-athletes feel supported, celebrated, and connected for years to come. 

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Kelleigh brings over two decades of experience in financial services and strategic growth, having led equity sales, client partnerships, and business development across boutique firms and global capital markets. His focus on relationship-building and collaborative ventures now fuels his work expanding outreach, partnerships, and mentor engagement at Athletes Better Together.

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Anna Nilsson earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a focus in policy and management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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Anna believes that mental well-being is a key component of overall health and is passionate about creating organized, efficient, and supportive systems that help people and programs function at their best. At Athletes Better Together, she manages day-to-day operations and collaborates with team members to strengthen processes, support program delivery, and help create a positive and efficient environment.

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Outside of work, Anna enjoys an active lifestyle that includes strength training, boxing, running, hiking, biking, yoga, pilates, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and fishing.

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