A team player on and off the field
Logan Anderson is a team player. Arriving at University of Richmond as a forward on the Spider soccer team, she had plans to pursue a degree in health studies–pairing her love of sports with an innate desire to help improve her community.
Having had prior injuries during her soccer career, Anderson suffered a devastating knee injury her freshman year which sidelined her for the season. Further rehab was required during her sophomore year. “I was really scared to keep playing,” she said. “Recovery from ACL surgery was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I’ve had to do it twice.”
After making the difficult decision to medically retire, Anderson remained on the team, attending practice and training with teammates, but said she felt a void that needed to be filled. “I took on some director of operations responsibilities, helping out with team logistics and travel,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t contribute on the field, so I had to find other ways to do so. I still do everything alongside my fellow players, only now in more of a leadership and support role.”
While her position on the field was changing, so were her studies. On a Spider Road Trip to NYC, Anderson toured public relations firms, met with alumni in the marketing and communications field, and visited Madison Square Garden. “That experience really confirmed what I wanted to do,” she said. Now as a marketing student, Anderson hopes to pursue sports philanthropy as a career. She is well on her way, having secured an internship with the Dallas Mavericks’ private foundation, the Mavs Foundation, focusing on corporate social responsibility.
“It’s all about helping the community and serving women, children, and families in need,” Anderson said. “There is so much opportunity there. I am really interested in learning how they operate and seeing their impact in action. I want to sit in on meetings and just be a sponge.”
During the interview process, Anderson said she leaned into her experience at Richmond to set herself apart. As the former diversity, equity, and inclusion co-chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she is now the incoming president, charged with looking for ways to enhance the student-athlete experience by facilitating opportunities for leadership, community engagement, personal development, and camaraderie. She also helped begin a Student-Athlete of Color Alliance (SACA) on campus.
Most recently, Anderson was recognized at Richmond Athletics’ annual SPIDYs Awards for her embodiment and promotion of the ideals of diversity, inclusivity, and belonging, receiving the Be the Change Award. Along with four other student-athletes, she also received the Outstanding Civic Engagement Award.
Through her involvement, Anderson has had a hand in establishing outreach with Richmond-area schools with plans to continue efforts next year. “I really want to help students get excited about their education and build relationships with those kids,” she said.
Anderson says that on paper, her internship is exactly what she thinks she wants to do after life at UR. “I am really excited about learning what’s behind the name,” she said. “My hope is that one day I can take what I am doing on an NCAA level to a professional level,” Anderson said. “I want to use my passion for sports to make an impact in things that are bigger than me.”
Check back this summer as Logan shares more about her time with the Dallas Mavericks!