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CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
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Communicators Outside the Lines Feature Series
This is the next profile in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee. Read past profiles at
CoSIDA.com/CommunicatorsOTL.
WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Jeremy Rosenthal, Indiana University Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, at
jr359@indiana.edu.
Jessica Poole: Juggling new role at Chicago State and as a single mom
Chicago State University, Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer
by Chris Mitchell – Goodwill & Wellness Committee member
Editor's Note: We bring you this feature story on CoSIDA First Vice President Jessica Poole, the 2021 Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award recipient during Women's History Month. Poole will become the first Black female to lead the national organization in June when she takes the presidential gavel from current President Cindy Potter at the conclusion of the CoSIDA Convention in Las Vegas - as they also will be the first consecutive female presidents in CoSIDA history.
Chicago State University Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer
Jessica Poole has learned to juggle her new role as a collegiate administrator and a mom since her son William was born on January 19, 2021.
Poole spent 12 years in the athletic communications industry before transitioning to administration in 2019. She has been on the senior staff at Chicago State since 2020, and was recently promoted to her current role in March.
While being a high-level administrator and a great mom, Poole is still very focused on how to balance fitness and nutrition in her life.
"It looks different these days," she said. "I am learning to take advantage of the little pockets of time I have."
Poole's mom — Tonjia — has been her saving grace the past 14 months. She moved to Chicago from Ann Arbor, Mich. when William was born, and has provided daycare ever since.
The incoming 2022-23 CoSIDA President, Poole gets the majority of her exercise these days from chasing around a 14-month old.
Poole has taken advantage of a jogging stroller to push around William for a 1-2 mile run on occasion, and also gets a 15-20 minute workout in each morning to jump start her day.
Jessica's mother Tonjia and son William.
"It's important to continue to try and do it," she added.
Poole has also been intentional as of lately on how and what she gives her time. She has started to take the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train system - known as the 'L' - to and from work. This forces her to get more steps in.
She joined CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee member Chris Mitchell for five questions.
What's biggest challenge for you each day?
JP: The biggest challenge is finding time for me. I am really good at scheduling and finding time for other people, but I am not as good as taking time for myself. I am a single mom, so William gets most of my time. But it is really important to be able to take time for yourself.
What does a normal day look like for you?
JP: So I start my day at 5 a.m...and it's a grind..
5am - Alarm goes off, wake up
5:05am - do the wordle
5:15am - get the day going
6am - 15-minute workout
6:30am - shower and get ready
7:25am - get on the L
7:30-8:30am - William wakes up
8:30am - arrive at work
4:30-5:15pm - depart work
6:30pm - arrive home
6:30pm - change clothes and play with William
7:30pm - dinner
8:30pm - bath time for William
9-930pm - bedtime...for all three of us!
How do you continue to make fitness and nutrition a focus?
JP: I relish that 15-20 minutes in the morning that jump starts my day. I have been doing that since I found out I was expecting William. I knew I would have to have a lifestyle change. I knew it was not going to be that easy - just getting up and going for a 3-5 mile run each morning. I prepared myself for it during my pregnancy.
Another thing I try to do to on my commute to and from the office is read on my kindle and listen to podcasts. I used to be the person who left the office and then went home to work. I don't want to be that mom. I want to be laser focused on William.
How has becoming a mom changed Jessica Poole?
JP: When I was an SID, everyone called me a Mamma Bear because I was very protective of my coaches and student-athletes. I am now Momma Bear times 1,000! I don't sweat the small things anymore. It has given be a bigger global perspective. My focus has shifted from very detail oriented to compassionate.
What's biggest advice would you have for a single parent?
JP: Don't do it all on your own. Your village is strong. And let them show up for you. Our industry takes a lot of pride that "I can do this, I got this." That has been our role in college athletics ecosphere. As a single parent, I do need help. Let your village be your village, as you don't have to do this alone.
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