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Episode 9- Mission: Intentional

In this episode of Driven By The Mission, Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison are joined by Tori Niemann Lukens, Assistant AD and Director of Student-Athlete Development at Clemson University, for a powerful conversation on intentional leadership, identity, and human development in college athletics.

Tori reflects on her journey from Division I student-athlete to senior administrator, sharing why sport is a vehicle—not the destination. She discusses the impact of the “final buzzer,” the danger of over-identifying with sport, and how intentional programming, relationship-building, and real-world reps prepare student-athletes for life beyond competition.

A must-listen for leaders, coaches, and practitioners committed to developing the whole student-athlete.

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Episode 8 - Mission: Annoying Uncle

Courtney “Skip” Skipper has spent 19 years at Arizona State quietly changing lives—first as a GA who “just wanted to do development,” now as Assistant AD for Academic Services. In this episode, Skip, Jean, and Raymond unpack the power of language (“we’re products of expectations, not environments”), why authenticity beats authority with today’s athletes, and how a coach’s-kid childhood across three states became the perfect training ground to connect with anyone in the room. Skip breaks down the NIL/portal era’s new reality—transactional relationships, early money, and shrinking hunger—and shares how he stays effective by playing the “annoying uncle”: present, honest, relentlessly consistent.

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Episode 7- Mission : Forever Fueling

Former Washington State tennis standout and UCF Director of Sports Nutrition Aneta Miksovska joins Driven By The Mission to pull back the curtain on what sports nutrition really is — and why it’s about far more than food.
Aneta traces her journey from the Czech Republic to the Palouse, becoming an NCAA Tournament athlete and three-time Pac-12 All-Academic pick, then shifting from tennis coach to trailblazing sports dietitian — including serving as the first full-time dietitian in her conference at Lamar. Now at UCF, she oversees nutrition for the entire department while working directly with football.
Aneta explains why she refuses to be seen as a “snack babe,” and breaks down the true scope of her role: collaborating with strength coaches, sports medicine, mental health, and performance staff; building individualized plans around in-season vs. off-season demands; and teaching life skills through grocery store tours, cooking demos, and simple, sustainable habits.

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Episode 6- Mission: Strength

On this episode of Driven by the Mission, Jean Boyd and Raymond Harrison sit down with Karl Holmes Jr., Director of Player Engagement for Oregon Football. Karl opens up about a non-linear path—from arriving at Arizona State with his belongings in trash bags, to JUCO detours, seven concussions, a cleared arrest that still echoes, and a degree earned at Grand Valley State. He explains how those chapters forged his purpose: advocating for student-athletes as whole people in a high-pressure NIL/revenue-share era.
Karl breaks down “Flight School,” his 8–10 week onboarding for freshmen and transfers, why radical authenticity beats any budget, and how he pushed for due process when a player was prematurely dismissed. He also shares a powerful story supporting a transfer navigating his mother’s illness and draft-night grief—reminding us that money and accolades can’t replace community.

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Episode 5 - Mission: Find Your Fuel

Dr. Ron Moses, Deputy AD for Internal Operations at Old Dominion, cuts through the NIL/transfer noise and gets back to the backbone of college sports: academics, outcomes, and human development. From an unconventional path—Youth Challenge Academy, the military, Georgia Military College—to building outcome-driven cultures (3.0 team standards, mental-health staffing, athlete dining), Ron shows how discipline and accountability travel from the barracks to the locker room. He breaks down the new era’s realities—revenue share, portal churn, real financial literacy (LLCs, taxes, philanthropy)—and why departments must align beyond silos to truly serve students. Bottom line: remember your why, “find your fuel,” and build systems that change lives, not just scoreboards.

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Episode 4 - Mission: Value Add

Saul Luna, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Texas A&M’s Track & Field & Cross Country programs, has dedicated his life to preventing injuries, restoring performance, and building trust in the moments when athletes hit the edge. In this episode of Driven by the Mission, Saul pulls back the curtain on the grit behind the scenes—nights in the training room, the delicate return-to-play decisions, and the human stories hidden under tape and protocols. We talk legacy, resilience, and how his journey—from humble beginnings to a key role in elite sports medicine—fuels his passion to guide athletes not just back into competition, but into lives of well-being and purpose.

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Episode 3- Mission: Iron Will

Joe Connolly, Arizona State Football’s Director of Sports Performance, has built a career around developing athletes who are powerful on the field and prepared for life beyond it. In this episode of Driven by the Mission, Joe shares his philosophy on building trust, fostering discipline, and creating environments where athletes thrive. From strength training to leadership development, his approach is about more than sets and reps—it’s about shaping resilient young men ready to compete at the highest level.

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Episode 2 – Mission: Possible

Kim Durand, Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Washington, has spent over 30 years helping student-athletes realize they’re more than the sport they play. From guiding them through the chaos of COVID-19 to navigating leadership transitions and conference realignment, Kim has remained anchored to one mission: comprehensive student-athlete success. Recently honored with the 2025 Women in Higher Education Achievement Award, she shares her journey, her philosophy, and the joy of sparking those “light-bulb moments” that shape lives beyond the game.