Brianna Ward

Brianna Ward joined the Nebraska Athletic Department as an Assistant Director of Sport Psychology in September of 2022 and was named the Director of Sport Psychology in April of 2024. Dr. Ward is a Licensed Psychologist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC).

Dr. Ward directs a department of six performance and mental health providers dedicated to supporting Husker student-athletes throughout their collegiate sport careers. In her current role, she delivers psychological and performance services aimed at optimizing performance and promoting mental health. Dr. Ward primarily works with the Husker Volleyball and Basketball programs, providing both team-based and individualized support tailored to each student-athlete’s unique experiences and goals.

In addition, Dr. Ward provides educational outreach efforts for athletic department staff to strengthen support for student-athlete well-being and collaborates closely with coaches to foster optimal training environments where athletes can thrive and reach their highest performance potential.

Prior to Nebraska, Ward spent two years at Wichita State and one year at Illinois State. She previously worked as an athlete mental health coordinator/psychologist at Wichita State and completed a one-year APA accredited internship at Illinois State’s counseling center with a concentration in athletics consultation.

Ward graduated from Nebraska with a double major in biology and psychology, before earning her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Emporia State and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Iowa in 2020.