Marques Dexter
University of Georgia
Athens, GA USA
"At the end of the day, have fun. If you’re not having fun, regardless of where you are and what you’re doing, why are you doing it?"
Career Roadmap
Marques's work combines: Education, Sports, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Your path must be unique, intentional, and informed by your experiences, identities, and skills. There's no such thing as one way to pursue a career path. I'm a career changer and this career path took me into my 30s to realize this is the type of work I love to do and the environment that I truly thrive in.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Sport Management
Robert Morris University
Graduate Degree
Kinesiology
University of Georgia
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I started my academic journey excelling in a gifted program, but it took me years to realize the privilege of that early experience.
2.
In high school, I dreamed of a career in finance and international banking—until I realized I couldn’t sit at a desk all day.
3.
My passion for track and field led me to change my major to sport management and I later became a coach and recruiter.
4.
After six years coaching at SUNY Cortland, I felt unfulfilled and knew I needed a career shift to truly make an impact.
5.
The Black Lives Matter movement and faculty discussions on student-athlete activism reignited my love for research and learning.
6.
I left my coaching career, moved to Georgia, and pursued a Ph.D. in kinesiology, focusing on Black male student-athletes' experiences.
7.
Now at the University of Georgia, my work centers on creating a sense of belonging for students, ensuring they see themselves represented and supported in their academic journeys.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Making the decision to change careers was huge for me. I looked to my mother and grandmother for guidance and after receiving their support, I went for it. I look back now at how happy and free I felt that I got to start anew.
Finding my sense of belonging included becoming comfortable publicly identifying as a queer Black male. You can't give yourself to someone else (those you're trying to support) if you're not showing up as your true authentic self.