Volleyball Alum Christine Happel Starts OwlSports Summer Series

For this year's Summer Series, Temple Athletics is highlighting a handful of alumni in profile stories that feature their accomplishments in life after their time at the University. These individuals have taken the time to share their experiences and memories from Temple and reflect on their involvement as a student-athlete.

Our first feature of the series is volleyball alumna Christine Happel ('02).

When you think back on your time at Temple, what do you recall most vividly?

While I loved my time as a student-athlete at Temple University, the thing I recall most is the people. I can't remember the number of games won and lost, or the scores, but I remember the people. As a student-athlete you spend many hours with your teammates, and my former teammates are still some of my best friends. The shared experiences of being a student-athlete and working toward a common goal forged a lifelong bond. The diversity of Temple University was also reflected on the volleyball team, so I have had the pleasure of knowing people from all over the world, and I have benefited from learning from them. While I have many wonderful memories from my time as a student-athlete, my coaches, teammates, and the support staff that I interacted with on a daily basis were the best part of my time at Temple.

Talk about your post-Temple professional career. What are you doing now and what was your path to your current position?

After my time as a student-athlete at Temple University, I went on to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University where I earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics from the Fels Institute for Cancer Research. I work in the field of biomedical research and I am currently a Scientific Program Manager and the National Center for Advancing the Translational Sciences (NCATS). NCATS is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I manage the Extracellular RNA Communication Program. The goal of this program is to understand extracellular RNAs and unlock the transformative potential that this new area of research holds for human health, disease diagnosis, and treatment.

How did Temple University, and in specific Temple Volleyball prepare you for life after graduation?

My experience as a student-athlete at Temple University opened my eyes to a world that I was not aware of, both in the classroom and on the court. I remember walking into the gym on my first day as a freshman and being amazed at the level of volleyball. It was a level that I didn't even know existed. Being a member of the Temple University volleyball team allowed me to see possibility, and that possibility can be found anywhere. I am very grateful for my time as a student-athlete at Temple University and I try to support the current Temple University volleyball team in their journey as they strive for success.

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

While I have many accomplishments to be proud of, my proudest accomplishment occurred when I was a student-athlete at Temple University. As a high school student I hoped to play Division I volleyball while working toward a degree in the sciences, however, my volleyball skills were not quite at the Division I level. I was recruited to play volleyball by mostly Division II and III schools. The coach at Temple University was willing to let me play but did not have a scholarship to offer me, so I took a shot and walked onto the team. I put in extra hours to improve and little by little I gained skills, grew stronger and earned a little playing time. I was committed to improving and being the best volleyball player that I could be. This was the 1998 volleyball season and my freshman year. That year we won the A10 Conference championship and made it to the NCAA playoffs. I also earned a full volleyball scholarship for the next three years. I am very proud of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that I put in to earn an athletic scholarship. That experience always reminds me that dreams are earned.

What advice would you give to current student-athletes?

I would say that many of the skills required to excel in a sport are the same skills required to accomplish great things in any arena. Dedication, drive, and grit may not be great skills to list on a resume, but they are skills that help you succeed whether it be in your education, career, hobbies or in your personal life, the skills for greatness are the same.

Temple University Athletics

Volleyball Alum Christine Happel Starts OwlSports Summer Series

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