The Hidden Opponent - Bowdoin

About The Hidden Opponent (THO)

The Hidden Opponent (THO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to student-athlete mental health advocacy, education, and support. Through the Campus Captain ambassador program, THO offers accessible resources and connects a global network of athletes, empowering them to prioritize their mental well-being and break down the stigma surrounding mental health in sports culture. THO fosters lasting, systemic change in athletics. Campus Captains serve as key representatives of THO, and receive mentorship, educational tools, and guidance as they deepen their understanding and promote mental health awareness on their campuses.

The Hidden Opponent at Bowdoin

The Bowdoin chapter of The Hidden Opponent (THO) was founded in 2023 and works to cultivate THO's mission of advocating for, educating, and supporting student-athlete mental health within the Bowdoin College community. With support from the athletic department and Bowdoin's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, THO hosts numerous events each year, including mental health awareness games, mental wellness initiatives, and sports performance speakers. Over 70 student-athletes contribute to the success of THO at Bowdoin.

For more information about The Hidden Opponent at Bowdoin, email ksvahn@bowdoin.edu, mshunk@bowdoin.edu, ccollins2@bowdoin.edu, or mrainey@bowdoin.edu.

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Leadership Team

Kristin Svahn

Senior Officer & Campus Captain

Kristin Svahn is one of the senior officers of the Bowdoin Chapter of The Hidden Opponent and a defender on the Women's Lacrosse team. This will be her fourth year as a member of THO and second as a Campus Captain. She is a biochemistry major and gender, sexuality, and women's studies minor on the pre-med track. Kristin also volunteers at MidCoast Hospital and serves as a RADical Health Facilitator to a group of first year athletes. She is passionate about building a community to raise education and support for student athlete mental health.

Mary Rainey

Senior Officer & Campus Captain

Mary Rainey is one of the senior officers of the Bowdoin Chapter of The Hidden Opponent and a forward on the Women's soccer team. This will be her fourth year as a member of The Hidden Opponent and third as a Campus Captain. She is majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science with a Digital and Computational Studies minor. Mary works as a LA in the DCS and Computer Science departments. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and creating a culture of understanding and compassion in athletics and the greater Bowdoin community.

Melissa Shunk

Senior Officer & Campus Captain

Melissa Shunk is one of the senior officers of the Bowdoin Chapter of The Hidden Opponent and a defender on the Field Hockey team. This will be her third year as a member of The Hidden Opponent and second as a Campus Captain. She is a Biology and Education Major with a Psychology Minor. She works as a sports informationist for Bowdoin Basketball and Lacrosse in her off season. She is excited to contribute to The Hidden Opponent's mission of advocating, educating, and supporting student-athletes mental health.

Clare Collins

Senior Officer & Campus Captain

Clare Collins is one of the senior officers of the Bowdoin Chapter of The Hidden Opponent and a member of the Women's Squash team. This will be her fourth year as a member of THO and second as a Campus Captain. She studies Neuroscience and Sociology on the Pre-Health track, works as a Peer Educator with the Office of Gender Violence Prevention and Health Education, and sits on the Executive Board of the Bowdoin Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Through THO, she hopes to cultivate an environment for student-athletes to feel seen and supported by their peers, coaches, athletic staff, and broader Bowdoin community.