Representation matters.
This is what motivates Camryn DeBose, a former basketball student-athlete at New Haven, as she looks to pursue a career in mental health counseling.
"You don't see a lot of Black counselors," she said. "There is not enough representation in the field of mental health. As an aspiring counselor, I hope to change the narrative of mental health in the Black community by speaking on it and challenging systemic barriers."
A two-year team captain of the women's basketball team, DeBose graduated from New Haven in 2023 with a degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. She finished her career as the second all-time 3-point shooter in program history and was named the 2022-23 Northeast-10 Conference Woman of the Year. While she received numerous athletic accolades throughout her college career, DeBose found her time spent off the court to be even more valuable.
"I initially came to New Haven with just basketball in mind, but I have quickly come to realize that my purpose was bigger than me and basketball," she said. "New Haven amplified a voice I didn't know I had. I am a Black student-athlete with a voice dedicated to advocacy and service."
DeBose was an active member of her campus community, serving as the president of New Haven's advisory board and the secretary of her campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Using her student-athlete platform, she dedicated her time to advocating for marginalized groups and promoting diversity awareness. DeBose organized her school's first Black Lives Matter game in 2021. As a result of its success, the game became an annual event.
"I (wanted) to show students who look like me that they belong and they're welcome," she said. "It was really to show that we recognize our Black students, we recognize Black people in our community, and we want to uplift (them)."
DeBose's success in the classroom and on the court did not come without facing and overcoming challenges. Throughout her college career, she often felt a pressure to prove herself to others and experienced impostor syndrome.
"With the intersectionality of being a Black student-athlete, there's struggles that you go through," she said. "Being a Black woman in sports and in higher educational settings comes with many challenges, systemically and interpersonally."
Recognizing that these feelings are not uncommon within marginalized communities, this is what now motivates DeBose as she looks forward to beginning her professional career.
"Everyone struggles with mental health in their own way," she said. "Specifically in the Black community, it's not really talked about. By having more representation in the field, maybe more people who look like me may want to take that initiative to seek professional help."
DeBose, for her work on the court, in the classroom and community, was honored as a top 30 honoree for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year in January at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix. While this honor was meaningful for DeBose on a personal level, she recognizes that its impact extends far beyond just her. As she continues to lead by example, she encourages others to continue to break barriers within their communities and be the change that they wish to see.
"The mere nomination for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award serves as a beacon of hope for many Black girls who want to pursue a higher education and sports," she said. "I hope I can inspire other members of my community to persevere and relish in that resilience. Don't be afraid because you don't see many people who don't look like you. Maybe you should be the first person to go out and do it. Sometimes it's hard to take that first step, but believe in yourself … and you'll see it come to fruition."
