Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Year: 2022

Julia Harbaugh

Swimming

Swimming (para)

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  India
  • 2023  –  Vietnam

Julia Harbaugh is a lifelong swimmer, surfer, high tech saleswoman, and is avidly involved in philanthropy in San Francisco with frequent international trips focused on service and inclusion. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Global Politics from Washington and Lee University and studied developing economics at the University of Cape Town. Julia has completed various Alcatraz crossings and placed in triathlons since she was 14 years old. Locally in San Francisco she started the SF Achilles chapter which guides impaired athletes in mainstream athletic. She is a core surf coach volunteer for the MeWater Foundation. Julia currently resides in California and is an advocate for underserved communities in sport and technology.

Sally Roberts

Wrestling

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Azerbaijan

Sally Roberts is a former elite wrestler and Combat Veteran and the Founder and CEO of Wrestle Like a Girl (R) whose mission is to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. Sally is living proof that girls can do anything and that through sport they can realize their full potential. She is the youngest of three children and was the first person in her family to graduate high school, graduate college, and earn an advanced degree.

Sally was a resident at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center for eight years during which time she was a Three-Time National Champion, a World Cup Champion, a Two-Time World Bronze Medalist, and an Olympic alternate. She served six years in the Army as a Special Operations soldier where she volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan. Sally was also a member of the Army’s prestigious World Class Athlete Program and represented both the U.S. Army and Team USA in elite athletic competitions. As a passionate veteran and military advocate, Sally was recently featured as the cover story in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) magazine and appeared on the VFW National Campaign video.

Sally was the recipient of the 2016 Women in Sport Award on behalf of the United World Wrestling Sports Governing Body and the International Olympic Committee and was extremely honored to be named USA Wrestling ‘Woman of the Year’ for 2018. Sally was also selected as one of 25 elite women representing seven nations and 23 sports who were chosen to participate in the EY Women Athletes Business Network, a mentoring program designed to prepare and propel high-potential women leaders to greater heights of achievement through mentorship and leadership training, provided by the International Women’s Forum and its Leadership Foundation.

She is an ambassador for TrueSport, the grassroots organization for the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Sally participated in the Global Goals World Cup Activist Soccer Tournament playing for Team Sports Equality Enforcers that promoted the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Sally is also a highly sought-after speaker and author. She spoke at the United Nations ‘Global Good’ Summit, was a guest speaker on Coldwell Banker’s Speakers Series on Portraits of What Moves Her: Overcoming Obstacles, and Sally and Wrestle Like A Girl were featured on Megyn Kelly’s Today talk show. Sally recently wrote Op-Ed columns for USA Wrestling entitled The power of engagement in State Sanctioning efforts for Girls Wrestling and United We All Rise; the Power of Unity and Collaboration in Sports.

Sally earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from University of the Rockies. She earned a certification in nutrition from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

Louise McGirt

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Benin

Louise McGirt is a French and American citizen who started her passion for soccer at the age of 3. She led her high school team at Chamblee with 22 goals and 12 assists as a junior. After leading Atlanta International School in scoring (12 goals) as a freshman. She captured the Soccer Bulldog Award in 2013 after an All-Star Game selection for 2 years running and a spot on the All-Region 6 AAAA team. She captained the Chamblee Charter team in 2014 and also helped club teams, Chiefs FC Elite 96 and the Georgia Olympic Development Program to a slew of championships, including three USYS Region III Premier League titles.

Jaimel Johnson

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Benin

Jaimel Johnson’s illustrious coaching career has allowed her the opportunity to interact with players on various levels of age, ability, and acumen over the last decade. Jaimel spent 4 years as an assistant coach at The University of Texas. During her tenure she was instrumental in helping both the Longhorns and former Utah Royals goalkeeper, Abby Smith, to a record 30 shutouts and a .82 goals against average. Before joining the UT staff, Jaimel spent 2 years at the University of Iowa as an assistant coach. Jaimel was drafted in the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league to the Boston Breakers, and she was later traded to the Chicago Red Stars. Her professional career also boasts time with the Washington Freedom.

Not only a standout in the coaching arena, Ms. Johnson was a 3-year starter at the University of Tennessee where she was an NSCAA All-American and 3-time All-SEC First Team honoree. Jaimel made 4 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament with the Volunteers, won 2 SEC Championship titles (one being a Triple Crown), and she still holds the record as the only Tennessee Lady Vol soccer player to receive the SEC Tournament MVP Award.

As a Lady Vol, Jaimel was nominated as the NCAA Woman of the Year and placed on the Herman Trophy Watch List. Jaimel played club and academy soccer with the Dayton Soccer Academy (DSA) and the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy. Recognized as one of the premier goalies during her playing days, Jaimel spent time with the US National Teams on the u17, u19, and u20 teams. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business from the University of Tennessee.

Jaimel currently resides in the Atlanta area where she is president and CEO of “The Goal Standard”, her private goalkeeper training academy. Additionally, Jaimel is the ECNL goalkeeper’s coach at Concorde Fire Soccer Club in Atlanta. She serves as an assistant coach for field players, the goalkeepers coach for the entire club, and she also is responsible for directing the majority of the club’s fitness training. Jaimel places an emphasis on overall health and wellness for her players, and she dedicates much of her down time researching methods in which an athlete’s performance can be enhanced. When Jaimel is not on the soccer field she continues to work in the fitness arena as a personal trainer specializing in sports performance, weight loss, and weight gain.

Edniesha Curry

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Palestinian Territories

Edniesha Curry is currently an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers in 2021-22. Curry joins the coaching staff from the University of Maine where she was an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team from 2018-21. She previously served as a player development and assistant coach for the Maine women’s basketball program from 2015-17. Curry is a graduate of the NBA Assistant Coaches’ Program where she gained experience working at the NBA Draft Combine and the NBA G League Showcase. In 2019, Curry served as a guest coach for San Antonio’s summer league team and assisted with Minnesota’s pre-draft workouts. She has also coached and done player development work internationally in Vietnam, China, Israel, and Palestine. As a player, Curry played in the WNBA for Phoenix and Los Angeles along with teams overseas in Greece, Poland, Israel, and Hungary from 2002-09. Curry is a graduate of University of Oregon, where she played the final two seasons of her college career. She is the proud daughter of Edward and Bertha Curry and Jenoah Haywood-Curry and sister to five siblings.

Over her long coaching career, Curry has consistently delivered leadership, training, and mentoring to student athletes as well as former professional NBA and WNBA athletes. This experience comes from Curry’s work with FIBA, NCAA, and NBA programs. Curry’s expertise on collaborating business and basketball has afforded opportunities to interface with key marketing and leadership staff within these organizations. Curry is a dedicated advocate for the physical, mental, and social development of sport organizations, people, and athletes all over the world.

Christy Halbert

Boxing

Served as envoy

  • 2021  –  Timor Leste
  • 2022  –  Tajikistan

Coach Christy Halbert is a sociologist, coach, advocate, educator, and internationally recognized expert on boxing. She believes that sport can bring people together for positive social change, enhance lives, and build communities.

 

Halbert values a multi-disciplinary approach to improve human performance, the social experience of sport participation, and overall wellness.  She coaches athletes and coaches in the U.S. and abroad, in programs ranging from development to high performance through collegiate, Olympic, and professional pathways.

 

Her work spans research-based athletic development and injury prevention, mental health and preparedness, athlete advocacy, strategic initiatives, engagement through the lifecourse, administration, and educational design.  Halbert has worked for national and international sport federations, universities, and nonprofit agencies.

 

She is a public speaker and academic lecturer, and author of educational materials and academic publications, as well as her instructional book The Ultimate Boxer: Understanding the Sport and Skills of Boxing.

 

In 2011, Halbert was a recipient of the United States Olympic Committee’s Torch Award for her humanitarian efforts to bring women’s boxing into the Olympic Games and to advance women athletes.  She was inducted into the inaugural class of the Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, and finished her professional boxing career with an undefeated record.  She was an assistant coach and technical advisor for the gold-medal and bronze-medal winning U.S. Boxing team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

 

Halbert was a Division I college athlete in volleyball and track.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University, and a Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.

 

Christy Halbert is curious, committed, and passionate about helping people reach their full human potential within the collaborative space of larger society and community.

Lacey Henderson

Track & Field Paralympics

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Peru
  • 2023  –  Mexico

Lacey was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma at the age of 9 that resulted in the amputation of her right leg. Despite her disability, she pursued sports cheerleading in high school and college.

After a Division I athletic scholarship for cheerleading, Lacey discovered the world of disability. Only until she started Paralympic track and field did she realize she had been not only avoiding her disability but a huge part of herself. It was a long journey of therapy, finding resilience and a lot of time training on the track, she became an American Record Holder and a Rio Paralympian. She works now as a disability advocate having conversations that normalize being and feeling different and how it is our differences that truly unite us.

She is the host of her own podcast, Picked Last in Gym Class. She has also hosted for Microsoft’s InCulture season on Accessibility and for Ottobock Healthcare’s Fireside Chats.

Justin Forsett

American Football

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Morocco

Justin Forsett is a former 9yr NFL Pro Bowl running back and now a successful entrepreneur and the founder / CEO of Hustle Clean. His business has been featured on Shark Tank, Fox, CBS, NBC and Cheddar with products available at every Target store across the country. The Hustle Clean mission is to inspire the next wave of Clean Hustlers towards holistic greatness, believing that the cornerstone of this mission includes a commitment to give back.

Seth Taylor

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Kyrgyzstan

Seth Taylor is an author, Life Coach, and expert in psycho-education regarding trauma and healing. His work with athletes and their coaches in many sports and at many levels is to educate people regarding the nature of trauma and healing and how to bring that understanding to communities around the world.

Seth coached soccer professionally for 20 years, working with youth of all ages as well as at the college level. His current clientele consists of pro and college athletes in a variety of sports.

Seth is 46 years old and lives with his wife and 2 children in Seattle, WA. He holds a Masters Degree in Theology and Culture and has authored several books, including “Feels Like Redemption – The Pilgrimage to Health and Healing” and “On Frame – Exploring the Depths of Parent.”

Stephen Howard

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Palestinian Territories
  • 2022  –  Virtual
  • 2023  –  Indonesia

Stephen Howard: NBA player, Leadership Expert, ESPN & FOX Sports College Basketball Analyst, Collegiate All-American.

Stephen coaches leaders, organizations, and executives an astonishing game-changing plan for breakthrough success. If you’re ready to take your team to the next level you’ll want to hear the extraordinary story of how Stephen discovered the three steps that position sports teams and business organizations to become the leading edge, champions in their field even in times of dynamic change.

Stephen received accolades early in his career and made it to the top in academics, athletics, and as a leadership expert. At DePaul University, he was the first and last member of the men’s basketball team to be named First Team Academic All-American and as a senior earned the prestigious Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award which is given annually to the nation’s premier scholar-athlete. Stephen played four years in the NBA for the Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs, and the Utah Jazz, including the 1996-1997 Jazz team that went to the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

After the NBA, Stephen lived in 12 different countries including France, Spain, China, and Israel immersing himself in the unique cultures of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He then joined ESPN and FOX Sports as a college basketball analyst, earned a Master of Organizational Leadership, and travels the world empowering individuals and organizations with strategies and concepts to enhance their performance, productivity, and profitability and leave a legacy. In 2021, Stephen began working in the DE&I space as a consultant with the NBA Academy and MLS (Major League Soccer) in addition to his work as a Sports Envoy to the Sports Diplomacy Division of the U.S. Department of State.