About Marcus
He built what
he needed
Founder and Executive Director of Alston for Athletes, a nonprofit advocating for student-athlete mental health through policy change and access to care.
Activist · Leader · Lived experience · Former student-athlete
The story
From the inside
of the system
Marcus Alston is the Founder and Executive Director of Alston for Athletes, a nonprofit that advocates for student-athlete mental health through policy change and access to mental health services.
He turned his own experience with mental health challenges into the work of bridging athletics and mental well-being — starting with the gap he lived through as a student-athlete, where the support that existed on paper wasn't the support that reached players.
Under his leadership, Alston for Athletes has helped pass legislation in multiple states requiring mental health training for coaches. He speaks at high schools, universities, and organizations nationwide, and serves on national policy bodies shaping how mental health reaches young people.
Awards & recognition
Recognized work
- April 2025Sports Business Journal Rising Leader FundJumpstarted by Underdog.
- October 2024Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40Honoree.
- April — May 2022MTV's Mental Health Youth Action ForumSelected youth delegate.
- Sept 2020 — Mar 2021Mental Health America's Young Mental Health Leaders CouncilNational council member.
Service
Boards & committees
| Role | Type | Organization | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Committee | Committee | Mental Health America | 2023—Present |
| Student-Athlete Leadership Council | Advisory | Under Armour | 2023—2025 |
| Youth Impact Team | Advisory | IDONTMIND | 2023—2024 |
| Youth Judge | Panel | U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services | 2023 |
| Board of Directors | Board | NAMI Maryland | 2022—2024 |
Booking
Put Marcus on your stage
Keynotes, panels, workshops, and campus visits. Tell us the audience and the date, and you'll hear back with availability and fee.
- Athletic departments & conferences
- High schools & universities
- Coaching staff trainings
- Mental health & policy convenings
- Corporate and brand programs