Harkins Named Corrigan Family Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership and Mental Performance

HANOVER, N.H. – Filling an important role that has a broad impact across all student-athletes, Lorna Harkins has been named the Corrigan Family Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership and Mental Performance, as announced by Dartmouth Athletics and Recreation on Wednesday. Harkins comes to Dartmouth from the San Diego Wave Futbol Club out of the National Women's Soccer League where she played a major role in athletes' mental performance and wellbeing.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lorna Harkins to the Dartmouth as a distinguished leadership and mental performance expert," said Ian Connole, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Peak Performance. "With a proven track record working alongside elite athletes, and a comprehensive background in sport psychology, education and holistic development, Lorna is uniquely equipped to enhance the performance, resilience and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and teams. Her ability to connect, understand and elevate others will undoubtedly make a positive impact on our community."

"Dartmouth has a rare mix of tradition, excellence and curiosity," said Harkins. "That deeply aligns with my own commitment to ambition, purpose and growth. I was drawn to the opportunity to be part of something meaningful and to contribute to a program that prioritizes both performance and the development of the whole person. Supporting student-athletes during such a pivotal time in their sport, academics and lives is a true privilege."

Austin Driggers, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Peak Performance shared his perspective on the importance of Harkins' position.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"Lorna is incredible at supporting athletes, whether they're navigating transitions, facing tough moments or striving to become the best version of themselves. Her work helps build the mindset needed to handle high-pressure situations, overcome challenges and stay focused when it matters most. She understands the mental and emotional demands of performing under pressure and she leads with kindness and joy, creating a supportive environment where athletes can truly learn and grow!"

— Naomi Girma, Defender, Chelsea Women and U.S. Women's National Team

"Working with Lorna helped me develop the mindset to push to the next level. She helped me have trust in myself that I could handle any obstacle and challenged me in ways I didn't know I could be challenged to make progress. Her ability to simplify the mental side of the game and build trust makes her stand out. She helps you feel understood, more prepared and she genuinely cares. Our work together is something I'll be forever grateful for."

— Alessia Russo, Forward, Arsenal FC and England Women's National Team

"Lorna's work helps you evolve and grow to be your best. It positively changed my way of thinking, helped me balance everything professionally and personally, and I learned to be in the moment more than ever before. I performed better on the pitch with more confidence, and I also performed better in my life with more clarity and joy. I am so thankful for the time I got to know her and work with her."

— Jackie Groenen, Midfielder, Paris Saint German (PSG) and Netherlands National Team

"Lorna understands the demands we face as players and people and how it connects to performance. She is approachable, grounded and someone you can genuinely trust. Her work helps you reset and move forward quickly which is essential for performing under pressure day in and day out. Having her in our environment elevated us individually and as a team. As a captain, having Lorna as a sounding board throughout the highs and lows of a season was massive. She consistently goes above and beyond to support your growth. Dartmouth student-athletes are incredibly lucky to have her!"

— Kailen Sheridan, Goalkeeper, San Diego Wave FC and Canadian Women's National Team

"I've never seen someone in her role be so trusted and embraced across an entire program the way that Lorna is! She operates at an exceptionally high level in her role to make that happen, which allows her to truly support the human being behind the performance. She also understands what it means to lead, and what it means to be led. That makes her incredibly effective across a team. She redefined what a mental performance coach could be in our environment. Lorna brings a rare combination of credibility, care and clarity. She makes everyone around her better. She'll be a real asset to Dartmouth."

— Landon Donovan, former U.S. Men's National Team and Head Coach

"In my two years working with Lorna, I saw firsthand the impact of her leadership. Dartmouth isn't just gaining a highly skilled mental performance coach, but they're also gaining someone who brings people together, fosters trust and raises the psychological awareness of an entire program. Lorna understands both the science of human behavior and the art of supporting high performers. Her system-wide approach to mental wellness and performance ensures that athletes, coaches and staff are prepared to show up as their best selves every day."

— Dr. Brett Haskell, Director, Mental Health and Mental Performance, National Women's Super League

"Lorna brings high levels of professionalism, perspective and innovation to her work. She has an exceptional ability to collaborate and connect across different areas of a team, supporting others navigating complex challenges in demanding situations. This is matched by her strategic understanding of how mental performance fits into the broader culture of high performance. She will no doubt bring the same excellence in her work to Dartmouth!"

— Jill Ellis, Chief Football Officer at FIFA

"Thanks to the generosity of Fritz Corrigan '64 and his family, the Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership and Mental Performance is an incredibly unique position in college athletics," he said. "Lorna's mental performance expertise, paired with a deep understanding of how to thrive in high performance environments, uniquely positions Dartmouth Peak Performance (DP2) to provide proactive mental training and leadership development for our varsity teams."

Harkins assumes an important student-athlete facing role, impacting the entire athletics department.

"In addition to her impact on performance, Lorna's role is vital to the primary prevention of mental health concerns for Dartmouth student-athletes," said Dr. Mark Hiatt, DP2's Director of Sport and Counseling Psychology. "This includes helping students develop psychological skills for resilience through the ups and downs of sport, managing the pressures of competition and academics, as well as fostering healthy team environments in which students can flourish. I am thrilled to have her as a teammate."

Dartmouth Athletics supports the full spectrum of student-athlete needs — from mental health to mental performance — through two specialized service areas: Sport and Counseling Psychology, and Leadership and Mental Performance. By ensuring a foundation of mental health care is in place, this structure allows professionals like Connole and Harkins to focus their expertise on team and culture building, resilience and mental skills training through targeted support for individuals, groups and staff.

"After meeting the Dartmouth Peak Performance staff, I felt excited about the opportunity to work alongside other mental performance coaches, psychologists and dedicated professionals within a nationally-respected DP2 program," said Harkins. "Throughout this process – meeting student-athletes, coaches and department leaders – I knew I wanted to be part of this community.

"I hope to contribute in a way that builds on the strong foundations already in place, supports others and helps student-athletes and teams be at their best."

While with the San Diego Wave (2021–2024), Harkins built and delivered the club's mental performance program in its expansion year. She established the structure and delivery of psychological services for athletes and sporting staff. Her work supported players through key performance moments, transitions and long-term development, while also contributing psychological expertise to a multidisciplinary performance staff.

Before her time in San Diego, Harkins led the creation of the mental performance and wellbeing system at Manchester United Women (2019–2021), spanning both the First Team, U21 Academy and Youth Academy teams. As the program's founding Performance and Wellbeing Coach, her work became foundational to the team's evolution and psychological approach during a period of rapid growth.

"Lorna is an incredibly skilled leadership and mental performance practitioner who emerged as the ideal fit for Dartmouth," said Connole.

Harkins earned her master's degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Manchester Metropolitan University, where her work focused on the mental and emotional demands of elite athletic environments. She also holds a postgraduate degree in Teaching, Physical Education and bachelor's degree in Sport Science, where she began her career coaching and teaching young athletes. Her academic foundation is matched by a decade of applied experience across youth, education and professional sport systems.

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