Student Athlete Development
David Calderon
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Athletic academic support professional with experience advising Division I student-athletes through individualized educational planning, progress monitoring, and learning strategy development. Proven ability to manage caseloads, collaborate with coaches and academic staff, and support students with learning disabilities while maintaining NCAA compliance, FERPA standards, and confidentiality. I have a student-centered approach to retention and success.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Learning Specialist (Student-Athletes)
University of Utah
08.2025 - Current
- Develop, coordinate, and implement individualized academic support plans for assigned student-athletes (Mainly football)
- Conduct one-on-one and group academic meetings, focusing on learning strategies and academic skill development
- Provide targeted instruction in reading comprehension, writing, study skills, and time management
- Collaborate with the Director of Football Academics on course scheduling and major selection aligned with student goals
- Partner with the Director of Football academics and prepare academic progress for the coaching staff
- Work closely with Learning Specialists, advisors, and academic staff to continuously improve learning support services
- Oversee required study hall programming for assigned caseload
- Coordinate with the Center for Disability & Access and Psychology & Wellness staff to identify learning needs and secure accommodations
- Prepare and distribute daily academic progress reports for football student-athletes to educational leadership and coaching staff
- Maintain accurate student-athlete files and documentation in compliance with FERPA
- Meet with prospects and families during recruiting visits to explain academic support philosophy and expectations
- Utilize academic tracking systems, including TeamWorks, ObserveED, Arms, Box, and related platforms
- Support academic orientation and transition of first-year football student-athletes into the university learning environment
- Serve as Academic Liaison, coordinating and maintaining records for students eligible for scholarship-covered textbooks and required academic resources
- Trained extensively [Number] hours per week for upcoming competitions to perform at top-level.
New Student Orientation Intern
Utah Tech University
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Assisted in planning and executing New Student Orientation programs supporting student transition and retention
- Designed and facilitated training sessions for orientation leaders and coordinators
- Supervised 2 coordinators and 25 student leaders, providing feedback and leadership development
- Evaluated first-year transition programs to improve academic success outcomes
- Monitored online orientation completion and maintained accurate student records through Slate
Assistant Learning Specialist (Student-Athletes)
University of Southern California
10.2024 - 06.2025
- Managed a caseload of 12+ at-risk student-athletes
- Created and implemented individual learning plans
- Taught study skills and time management strategies
- Monitored grades and prepared academic reports for advisors and coaches
- Organized academic resources and onboarding materials for incoming student-athletes
Education
Master of Education - Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA07-2026
Bachelor of Arts - History
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, CA05-2023
Skills
- Athletic Academic Advising
- Academic Monitoring & Reporting
- Study Skills & Time Management Instruction
- NCAA Academic Support Services
- Retention & Student Success
- Google Workspace & Data Tracking
- Student-Athlete Case Management
- Individual Learning Plans
- Learning Disabilities & Accommodations
- FERPA & Confidentiality
- TeamWorks, ObserveED, Arms
- Blended learning strategies
Websites
Affiliations
History Honor Society
Interests
Timeline
Learning Specialist (Student-Athletes)
University of Utah
08.2025 - Current
New Student Orientation Intern
Utah Tech University
06.2025 - 08.2025
Assistant Learning Specialist (Student-Athletes)
University of Southern California
10.2024 - 06.2025
Master of Education - Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts - History
California State University, Northridge
RESEARCH & PRESENTATIONS
- University of Southern California – PASA Research Symposium | May 2025
- Exploring the Visibility of Mental Health Resources for Undergraduate Students
- Conducted qualitative research on student mental health access and post-graduation uncertainty
Honors
4x Deans List Student
Honors Graduate Student