From Team USA to the Classroom
Through DU’s partnership with Guild Education and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, athletes are earning graduate degrees at the College of Professional Studies—drawn by flexible programs and robust academic and career support.
For elite athletes, the pursuit of excellence doesn’t end when competition does—but returning to school can feel like an entirely different challenge. At the College of Professional Studies (PSC), Team USA athletes are finding a pathway to graduate education that fits their fast-paced lives, thanks to DU’s partnership with Guild Education and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
Since 2017, DU has partnered with Guild, an education benefits company that connects employers and organizations with colleges and universities to provide tuition-free access to degree and certificate programs. Over the years, employers ranging from Walmart and Target to Hilton and Disney have offered DU programs to their employees through Guild. Today, DU partners with 65 organizations through the platform.
USOPC became one of those partners in 2024, when Guild identified DU as an institution well suited to the needs of Team USA athletes—largely because of PSC’s online graduate programs, which are designed to accommodate complex schedules and multiple commitments.
“Our programs really cater to working professional and nontraditional students,” says Jessica Rayman, director of enrollment experience at PSC. “For athletes who are balancing demanding schedules and their courses, the flexibility of the programs and the support they receive helps them be successful.”
To date, 11 Team USA athletes, including Olympians and Paralympians, have enrolled at DU, studying across four graduate programs: arts and culture management, environmental policy and management, nonprofit leadership, and supply chain management. One student, Paralympian Billy Lister (2016; Paracycling), graduated from the nonprofit leadership program in summer 2025.
Lister, whose competitive career ended in 2023, now serves as executive director of Bend Endurance Academy, a youth sports organization in Bend, Oregon. To him, pursuing a degree through Guild and DU was a “no-brainer.”
“There's no reason why an athlete shouldn’t take advantage of this program,” Lister says. “The only cost is time and time management—and as athletes, we are exceptional at that. It’s an opportunity to shore up any weaknesses, improve translatable skills, and improve your resume through degrees and certificates. Every athlete should do it—and do it as consistently as you can.”
Meeting athletes where they are
PSC’s flexible approach includes offering courses asynchronously, which allows students to engage with coursework when they can—whether that means logging in between training sessions, during travel, or after competitions. Students can enroll part time or full time and adjust their course load as their athletic and professional commitments evolve.
Another benefit for USOPC students—and all PSC students—is a high-touch support model that ensures they get frequent, personalized guidance. Each program has a dedicated academic advisor who helps students map coursework that aligns with their schedules and long-term goals. Student success teams are available for everything from help with registration questions to early outreach when students need extra support.
PSC students also have access to the full range of DU resources, including the Office of Career and Professional Development and the Writing Center. Rayman notes that PSC’s adjunct faculty bring additional value by sharing industry-specific expertise and helping students build professional networks.
Lister says DU’s support services were key to his transition to an executive career. “I thought I could enter the workforce and pick up where I left off, with the experience I had before my Paralympic career, but that wasn’t the reality,” he says. “DU helped me identify the gaps in my search and how to enter the executive workforce from where I was.”
DU’s reputation as a top-tier institution adds further value for athletes preparing for their next chapter, Rayman adds. A graduate credential from the University of Denver can help open doors long after competition ends.
Overall, the partnership reflects a shared belief among DU, Guild, and the USOPC: Athletes deserve pathways to success beyond sport—and with the right support, graduate education can fit into even the most demanding lives.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with the students who come to us through Guild,” Rayman says. “Being able to support them is what makes the job fun.”
