Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
McKayla Sluga
- Title:
- Associate Director/Director of Football Academics
(Football)
- Email:
- Phone:
- 734.487.3880
McKayla Sluga enters her first year in 2026 as the Director of Football Academics and Associate Director of Student-Athlete Support Services at Eastern Michigan University. In her role, Sluga works closely with the EMU football program to support student-athletes in their academic success and development.
Prior to EMU, Sluga spent three years with the University of Michigan Athletics Academic Success Program. She served as an Assistant Academic Counselor and Learning Specialist from 2024-26 after beginning with the department as an intern in 2023. During her time at Michigan, she advised student-athletes from football, softball, and women’s water polo while providing learning support to student-athletes across numerous programs, including basketball, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, rowing, lacrosse, swimming and diving, and wrestling.
Sluga was part of the academic support staff during Michigan football’s 2023-24 national championship season. She also worked with student-athletes who earned All-Big Ten honors, competed at Big Ten and NCAA Championships, and advanced to professional football.
Before her time at Michigan, Sluga worked with Michigan State University Student-Athlete Support Services as a learning assistant and tutor in 2023. She also held several academic and teaching positions at Michigan State from 2017-23, including roles with the Social Science Scholars Program, History Department, and Graduate School.
Sluga was selected for the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar in 2023-24. Her professional involvement includes Athlete Ally, N4A, NACADA, and several committees and working groups focused on academic support, student-athlete development, well-being, and learning services.
A native of Salamanca, New York, Sluga graduated from Salamanca High School in 2013, where she competed in softball, basketball, and tennis. She earned her bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies with a minor in Philosophy from Elmira College in 2017. Sluga later earned her Ph.D. in History and a Graduate Certificate in American Studies from Michigan State University in 2024.
Prior to EMU, Sluga spent three years with the University of Michigan Athletics Academic Success Program. She served as an Assistant Academic Counselor and Learning Specialist from 2024-26 after beginning with the department as an intern in 2023. During her time at Michigan, she advised student-athletes from football, softball, and women’s water polo while providing learning support to student-athletes across numerous programs, including basketball, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, rowing, lacrosse, swimming and diving, and wrestling.
Sluga was part of the academic support staff during Michigan football’s 2023-24 national championship season. She also worked with student-athletes who earned All-Big Ten honors, competed at Big Ten and NCAA Championships, and advanced to professional football.
Before her time at Michigan, Sluga worked with Michigan State University Student-Athlete Support Services as a learning assistant and tutor in 2023. She also held several academic and teaching positions at Michigan State from 2017-23, including roles with the Social Science Scholars Program, History Department, and Graduate School.
Sluga was selected for the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar in 2023-24. Her professional involvement includes Athlete Ally, N4A, NACADA, and several committees and working groups focused on academic support, student-athlete development, well-being, and learning services.
A native of Salamanca, New York, Sluga graduated from Salamanca High School in 2013, where she competed in softball, basketball, and tennis. She earned her bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies with a minor in Philosophy from Elmira College in 2017. Sluga later earned her Ph.D. in History and a Graduate Certificate in American Studies from Michigan State University in 2024.
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