Makenna (McAteer) Vacek joined the Georgia State staff as the athletic trainer and mental health resource coordinator in July 2022, after serving as an athletic training graduate assistant for two years.
Vacek currently works as the athletic trainer for women's soccer, and is the mental health resource coordinator for all athletics.
Vacek comes to GSU from the University of Indianapolis, where she worked as the assistant athletic trainer for women's soccer and baseball from 2019-22. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also served as the mental health resource coordinator, and worked toward her master's of science in mental health counseling, while working with the Greyhounds. In this position, Vacek significantly improved mental health access and resources, which she has carried into her work at Georgia State.
Before moving to work in her home city for three years, Vacek served as an athletic training graduate assistant at GSU from 2017-19. She worked primarily with women's soccer while attending graduate school. Vacek graduated with a master's degree in exercise science in 2019, and is currently working to obtain her mater's in mental health counseling from GSU.
Vacek got her start in athletics at the University of Pittsburgh, where she participated on the rowing team for two years while earning her undergraduate degree. She graduated with a bachelor of science in athletic training in 2017.
