PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Athletics announced Monday the additions of Janelle Nguyen, and Stephanie Cho as part of the Student-Athlete Development unit.

Nguyen will take on the role of Student-Athlete Development Coordinator where she will be responsible for the coordination of career, leadership, and personal development as part of the Cougar Pursuit program. She will also serve as an advisor to the Black Student-Athlete Association.

She joins WSU after spending the previous year as an academic specialist at Lamar University. During her time at Lamar, she was responsible for student-athlete development programming for the department's 17 sports while serving as the academic specialist for the football team. Nguyen also developed and taught the department's first year experience program and served on the athletic department's Champions on Racial Equity (CORE) Committee.

Nguyen began her career in academic affairs at Tulane University as a football academic services graduate assistant. She had oversight of study hall and worked closely with the team's at-risk student-athletes. A graduate of UNLV with a degree in Hospitality Management, Nguyen was a swimming student-athlete who served as team captain her senior year and as SAAC Vice President her junior and senior year. Nguyen is currently finishing her masters in Sports Studies from Tulane University.

"I would like to thank Shelby McKay and the hiring committee for this opportunity," said Nguyen. "I am excited to serve the student-athletes at WSU through the Cougar Pursuit program."

Cho will assist as the newly appointed Student-Athlete Development Graduate Assistant where she will provide support for the Cougar Pursuit program, focusing on community service and career programming.

Cho, a standout for Cougar Track & Field during her time at WSU, most recently was named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team. She represents the Cougs on this prestigious list as a student-athlete who has excelled both in the classroom and during competitions. Of the 46 total student-athletes selected to the Academic All-America Division I women's track & field team, 19 of those individuals posted a perfect 4.0 grade point average, and Cho is included within that prestigious group. A Kinesiology major, she previously earned CoSIDA First Team All-District honors as well. 

A recent WSU graduate from Vancouver, B.C. Canada, Cho capped off her career with the Cougars with one of the most impressive outdoor seasons that could be done. She went on to post top 10 finishes at both the Pac-12 Championships (sixth), and at the NCAA West Preliminary Round (10th). Stephanie qualified for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400m hurdles, advancing into the finals after running a 57.64 overall. Cho then finished her career in remarkable fashion, placing eighth overall in the finals and ran a 57.48, earning a First Team All-American selection as well. That time of 57.48 would see her climb the Washington State Track all-time ranks in the 400m hurdles to third best in the program's history. 

Stephanie's WSU academic career is just as impressive, finishing her Kinesiology degree while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. Cho is looking to return to Washington State also to begin work in the university's Kinesiology Master's program with an Exercise Physiology focus, thesis option. While attending Washington State she has done internship work with the Exercise Physiology & Performance Laboratory (EPPL) with Dr. Connolly as well. 

"After six years as a WSU student-athlete, I am extremely excited for the opportunity to translate my skills to working in Student-Athlete Development," Cho discussed. "I am looking forward to helping improve the WSU student-athlete experience using my previous experience to bring a unique perspective. WSU athletics has opened so many doors for me over the years. I am incredibly grateful to have the ability to do the same for other student-athletes."