Emily keenan

Growing up, Emily Stauffer Keenan always felt most at home on the soccer field.  She grew up playing with the boys, and continued to pursue every opportunity available to her as Title IX expanded opportunities for girls to play in the 1980s and 1990s.  She was a three-time All-American at Harvard University.  She was a finalist for the Herman-MAC award which honors the Division 1 Player of the Year, a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year, and won the NCAA Top Eight Award honoring the most accomplished student-athletes in the NCAA.  She still holds the Ivy League record for most career assists, which sums up her play as she was always looking to set up her teammates for success.

​While at Harvard, she studied government and women's studies, and eventually would return to Harvard for graduate school to earn a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government.  Keenan was particularly interested in educational equity, and focused her work and her studies on providing all kids with the opportunity to reach their full potential.  Keenan worked at Teach For America for many years, first as a corps member as a 3rd grade teacher in Jersey City, and then later as a Managing Director of Recruitment on Teach For America's National Staff.  Keenan also played professional soccer from 2000-2002 in the first ever womens' professional soccer league (WUSA) for the New York Power.  

Keenan is exceedingly grateful that she came of age in the wake of Title IX.  She is passionate about sharing her love of soccer, and her love of sports with the next generation.  She was a long-time youth coach in her hometown of Rye and serves on the Rye Youth Soccer Board.  She also remains involved with the Friends of Harvard Soccer.  She served on the board of Arbor Rising for thirteen years, served on the Volunteer Advisory Board at Yonkers Partners in Education, and seeks to dedicate her time to organizations expanding kids' opportunities in the classroom and on the playing field.  She is passionate about the mission of STEER and has been volunteering at STEER for the last four years. 

Keenan and her husband, Jimmy, are raising four children in Rye, NY. Together they all share a love of soccer, lacrosse, and basketball and value the incredible life lessons that are learned through participation in youth sports.