In the second episode of Season One of Longwood GradCast: Beyond the Degree, host Dr. Sarah Tanner Anderson welcomes Maddie Hommey B.S. ’21, M.S. ’22, a proud Double Lancer and Health & Physical Education alum whose Longwood journey embodies resilience, leadership, and the power of embracing opportunity.

Maddie reflects on her path from undergraduate student-athlete to graduate assistant, sharing how an ACL injury redirected her plans and ultimately opened the door to pursue her master’s degree in Health & Physical Education. Through a graduate assistantship in marketing, she gained valuable professional experience outside her discipline, diversifying her skills and forging mentorships that continue to shape her career.

Beyond the classroom, Maddie stayed deeply engaged with the Longwood community. As a member of the women’s soccer team and representative on the NCAA National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she learned to balance competing priorities and thrive in what she calls “organized chaos.” These experiences cultivated a strong sense of leadership and advocacy that now informs both her teaching and her service.

Today, Maddie is in her first year as a health and physical education teacher, while continuing to wear many hats as a soccer referee, marketer, mentor, and citizen leader. She reflects on how her additional year at Longwood, made possible by her graduate assistantship, broadened her horizons and shaped her career trajectory. Her story highlights the transformative power of graduate assistantships and the lasting influence of the Longwood community.

This episode is filled with themes of perseverance, mentorship, and giving back, offering inspiration to students and alumni alike.

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