The 'From The Heart' feature series takes an in-depth look at St. Bonaventure student-athletes, coaches and staff. Named for the beloved Merton's Heart that overlooks campus, this series will tell the stories of Bonnies athletic programs on and off the field. Click here for previous features in the series.

In the fall semester, 393 St. Bonaventure student-athletes produced a 3.48 grade point average as a department. A key factor in the Bonnies' student-athlete academic success comes from the assistant director of student-athlete support services, Beth Freedman who brings a background of education and athletics to the role.

Freedman joined St. Bonaventure in October 2024, served as a Michigan public school teacher for nearly a decade, and has spent time as a higher education professor including positions at Stony Brook University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Robert Morris University.

During her time in education lies Freedman's love of sports. While in college, she played field hockey at Central Michigan University where she earned a bachelor's degree in sports medicine, and served as a high school athletic trainer for over a decade. Freedman said that passion began while she worked as an athletic trainer in high school.

"In high school, I had an internship that was half physical therapy and half with the athletic trainer from Rochester Institute of Technology," Freedman said. "I fell in love with athletic training, and when I was a high school athletic trainer, I realized I loved being around student-athletes."

Freedman took an unconventional path to St. Bonaventure. The summer before St. Bonaventure hired Freedman, she visited Olean as a Spanish interpreter.

During that time, Freedman lived with long-time friend Pamina Abkowitz, an assistant childhood education professor at St. Bonaventure, who came home one day with news. She announced, 'Your job [that you're looking for] is at [St. Bonaventure],'" Freedman said. "I applied and [management] recognized my personal and communication skills, and that's how I ended up here."

Freedman spends the majority of her day working with student-athletes from the men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, women's basketball, men's lacrosse, and swimming and diving teams. She makes sure her athletes attend class, understand the material being instructed, and helps make their academic schedules.

For Freedman, she credited the athletes' achievements as the most fulfilling part of her job.

"To see the athletes succeed is my favorite part," Freedman said. "They are going to be our future.  I kind of give them the tools they need to be successful, and they get the accolades. I get joy from watching the athletes progress and succeed."

Freedman doesn't do her job alone. Comet, Freedman's dog trained for panic attacks and anxiety, also joins her at St. Bonaventure twice a week.

"The kids love Comet," Freedman said. "From the kids saying they miss their dog from home to a young lady I had crying in here, and Comet got in her lap and started kissing her, and by the end of the session, she was smiling."