With only two years of working with the Alabama A&M University's student-athletes, Dr. Carlquista Slay has greatly impacted former and current AAMU students.
Slay is a two-time alumnus of AAMU. As a student she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 2006 and her Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology in 2010. Upon finishing her Master's, Slay still wasn't quite sure the demographic she wanted to work with.
"I continued my education, pursued my Masters in counseling psychology, and from there knew I wanted a job in the field but really had no idea of what demographic I wanted to work with, I was just out to find a job," said Slay.
However, when she returned to AAMU and worked in the Health and Counseling Center after working as a therapist at Wellstone Behavioral Health for 10 years, Slay realized she had a passion for helping college students.
"I came to Alabama A&M and worked at the Health and Counseling Center as a counselor and realized, I loved college students…being here around emerging adults, kind of put me in the space of the counselor,mentor, aunt, mom, etc, especially for students that are away from home," says Slay.
Athletes at AAMU who have visited Slay have seen significant growth both on and off the field. Junior wide receiver Braxton Toliver says meeting with Dr. Slay has helped develop him into a better communicator.
"I've learned to communicate better and not just hold it in because when you're holding it in, it gets worse and worse. She explains to us that you have to talk it out even if you might not like it," said Toliver.
Senior Ryann Tolbert, a member of AAMU's Volleyball team, highlighted Slay's ability to listen attentively and uncover the root of any issue, noting that she digs deeper without making athletes feel judged or accused.
"She listens before anything and I respect that to the highest degree because a lot of people try to advise before they understand the issue or the problem…she tends to ask questions to make people dig deeper into themselves. It's not even like she's trying to accuse you and she doesn't get you in a state of defense. She also lets you open up at your pace and it's just a very slow and steady approach," said Tolbert.
Slay's impact also extends beyond athletes as she collaborates with their coaches. She plays a pivotal role in helping coaches effectively communicate with players who may be struggling with the mental aspects of their sport.
"They may have a student-athlete that may have ADHD. With that, sometimes there are some learning barriers and we're talking about learning plays and that could affect their ability to learn those plays. Also,in terms of how you communicate with certain individuals, everybody has their communication style, everybody has their leadership style, and so understanding how to best coach a particular student-athlete, that they may be getting a little bit of resistance with and not necessarily how to coach, but how to reach that individual, how to make them a better athlete. So that is where I work with the coaches in that space," said Slay.
For students who leave and graduate from AAMU to pursue their dreams, Slay remains a constant source of support, highlighting her deep commitment to their well-being. By staying accessible and connecting graduates with counselors in their new communities. She ensures that her guidance extends far beyond their time at the university. Through her dedication, Dr. Slay leaves a lasting impact that empowers student-athletes to thrive both on and off the field.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), Twitter (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
