The Adventures of the

Our author & creator Kiara McClendon is a graduate of Rutgers University with her Bachelor’s in Communication and Africana Studies and Master’s in Health Communication. She received her second Master’s of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University shortly after. A New Jersey native, McClendon is the CEO/Founder of AForEffort, LLC, a business committed to financial literacy and entrepreneurship education with an emphasis on empowering communities of color. McClendon is passionate about empowering and uplifting people of all backgrounds to believe they can achieve their goals through great financial decision-making and education. Learn more about her on her website www.kiaramcclendon.com.

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Athlete Development & Financial Literacy: By day, McClendon runs her consulting firm serving clients across sports & entertainment. Focused on strategic planning, project & event management, and client services, Kiara serves as a bridge connecting athletes and brands to make a huge impact through events in the community, launch outstanding brand campaigns, and ensure success outside of sport. She spent seven years as a Collegiate Athletic Administrator & Student-Athlete Development professional where she mentored Division I student-athletes. Through her mentorship, over 700 athletes received support and guidance in academic skill development, tracking their academic eligibility, and supporting their growth and holistic development from freshman year to graduation. McClendon worked at the Division I level at Florida State, Rutgers, Ohio State, Virginia Commonwealth University & Georgia Southern University throughout her athletic career. She was the first Director of Player Engagement for Atlanta's WNBA team and continues to impact professional & retired athletes through her services.

 

 

Forbes: McClendon's writing credits extend beyond our adventures. She was a contributing writer for Forbes covering content on sports, entertainment, culture, and financial literacy.