This week on Standard Deviations with Dr. Daniel Crosby, Dr. Crosby is joined by Dr. LaKeitha Poole. Dr. LaKeitha Poole is in her seventh season leading LSU’s Sport Psychology & Counseling unit under a newly appointed title of Assistant Athletic Director, an administrative promotion from Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health for the last six years. She also recently served as the Interim Senior Advisor to the Athletics Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion from March 2020 – July 2021. In this role, she worked to implement various initiatives including a climate survey, hiring practices, diversity supplier policies, supporting racial equity, and assessing communication and developing educational programming for student-athletes, coaches and staff. Poole played numerous roles on campus before moving over to the Athletic Department in 2016. She spent six years in LSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), serving as an Assistant Director and as the Coordinator of the LSU African American Cultural Center. As the Assistant Director, and complementary to her programming and student development roles, she was responsible for creating and managing the mental health services of the department. In addition to her primary roles at LSU, Poole serves as an adjunct instructor in the College of Human Sciences and Education, was a board member for the Baranco-Clark YMCA in Old South Baton Rouge, and owns a private practice, Small Talk Counseling & Consulting. Her private practice allows her to have a broad range of clinical experiences ranging from athletes and working professionals, couples and families, universities and professional organizations, including Brown University, the NCAA, Women Leaders in College Sports, as well as professional leagues and clubs, including the NFL, Team USA and, most recently, the 2021 – 2022 World Champion Golden State Warriors. A 2009 graduate of Florida State University, Poole was honored as a 2018 Notable ‘Nole, an award that recognizes FSU alumni ages 35 or younger for their significant contributions to their professions, communities or alma mater. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from LSU and her doctoral degree in Counselor Education & Supervision from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.