Division of Student Affairs > About > Staff Directory > Kate O'Brien

Kate O'Brien, PhD

Athletic Academic Advising helps student athletes maximize their academic potential by mastering the dual pressures of participating in a sport and earning a college degree. The staff provides time management training, tutoring, registration assistance and other academic support services. The department also coordinates the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Life Skills Program for student athletes.

Kate O'Brien has been with DePaul University since 1997, and in her current role of director, she is responsible for the daily operation of Athletic Academic Advising, which includes overseeing the office staff, monitoring tutoring sessions and study tables and implementing DePaul's NCAA Life Skills Program. Kate is also responsible for department planning and goal setting in line with the divisional and university strategic plans. She also teaches in the Chicago Quarter Program at DePaul.

Prior to taking her current position, Kate held positions as an athletic academic advisor, an academic advisor for DePaul's College of Commerce and as an adjunct faculty member in the University Internship Program and the Marketing Department at DePaul.

Kate earned her earned her PhD in higher education from Loyola University Chicago, an MBA from DePaul University and her BA in movement and sports science from Purdue University.