Make Mansfield Yours Homepage

Make Mansfield Yours is a weekly feature on GoMounties.com that highlights a current Mansfield University student-athlete or alumni on why they chose Mansfield and what makes the university special to them. The feature aligns with NCAA Division II's brand of Make It Yours that allows student-athletes to shape their athletic and academic experience to be exactly what they want it to be.

Kelsey (Carlsen) Peterson
Class of 2016
Geography: Environmental Science
Track & Field

Why did you choose Mansfield University?
In my sophomore year I transferred to Mansfield University from Louisiana State University. This was primarily an academic choice, as Mansfield offered the major I was looking to change to. Dr. Dodson gave me a great first impression on how helpful all of the professors are in the Department of Geosciences. I am so grateful for all of the professors I had. They were always so helpful and truly cared.

What makes Mansfield University special to you?
What makes Mansfield University so special to me is all of the friendships I made along the way. Everyone was so welcoming right from the beginning. It's hard to find a place that feels like a home away from home, but that's how Mansfield was for me.

How did your experiences at Mansfield University benefit your career/personal life following graduation?
My experiences at Mansfield allowed me to quickly find a job related to my degree, although I have chosen to not work at this time so I can stay home and care for my beautiful daughter. The friendships I took away from Mansfield were truly life changing. I'm not sure where I would be without my "MU Crew".

Favorite memory at Mansfield
My favorite memory at Mansfield is throwing a PR in the javelin in what would have been the final meet of my career. Instead I qualified for nationals with the 13th best throw in Division II. It was an amazing feeling to finally PR for the first time in nearly 4 years, and it definitely made for a dramatic finish to my athletic career. I was so honored to be named an Academic All-American and have the opportunity to represent Mansfield at the NCAA National Championships.

Advice you would give to a current Mansfield student-athlete
It's important to find balance as a student athlete. It's easy to become stressed or overwhelmed when so many aspects of your life are calling for your attention and time. Lean on your support system and don't forget to appreciate each moment!


If you are a current or former Mansfield University student-athlete and would like to be featured on Make Mansfield Yours, please fill out the submission form