Hamilton, Ont. — McMaster Athletics & Recreation is proud to welcome Jamila Abrams, Benjamin Greaves and Kiarra Kelly as the department's newest Black Graduate Interns for the 2026-27 season.

Now entering its sixth year at McMaster, the Black Graduate Internship Program continues to provide recent Black graduates with meaningful, full-time opportunities to launch careers in university athletics. Designed to increase representation across coaching, administration and student-athlete services, the program offers hands-on experience, mentorship and professional development while helping shape the next generation of leaders in sport.

This year's cohort brings experience in athletic therapy, varsity event management, and coaching, with each intern joining a different area of the department. Abrams will serve as the Athletic Therapy, Strength & Conditioning Intern, Greaves joins as the Varsity Events & Operations Intern, and Kelly joins the Marauders women's basketball program as an Assistant Coach.

Jamila Abrams, Intern, Athletic Therapy, Strength & Conditioning

A Certified Athletic Therapist, Jamila Abrams, joins McMaster after building experience across university and professional sport environments. Abrams earned a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Wilfrid Laurier University before completing a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College. She is currently expanding her clinical expertise by completing a Massage Therapy diploma at the Ontario College of Health & Technology.

Throughout her education, Abrams gained hands on experience supporting athletes across a variety of sports. Her placements included men's and women's rugby and basketball at Laurier, Toronto Metropolitan University's men's basketball team, League1 Ontario soccer, and training camps with both the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts.

The opportunity to apply her athletic therapy training in a university sport environment made McMaster an ideal fit as Abrams begins her professional career.

"What really drew me to this position is that I can actually use my degree and certification in athletic therapy and work in that environment in university sports," Abrams said.

Since joining the department, Abrams has quickly learned just how much collaboration takes place behind the scenes to support varsity teams.

"There's a lot of moving parts," she said. "There's a lot of background work and information that has to come together for the success of athletes and their teams."

As she continues through the internship, Abrams hopes to grow as both a clinician and collaborator.

"I'm really hoping to learn how to be efficient and delegate and work collaboratively with other people," she said. "There are so many moving parts that I didn't really realize until being here, and I really hope to build my confidence in that."

Benjamin Greaves, Intern, Varsity Events & Operations

A graduate of Brock University with an Honours degree in Sport Management, Benjamin Greaves joins McMaster after building a strong foundation in varsity and professional sport operations. Throughout his time with the Brock Badgers, Greaves served as the student lead for home basketball games, overseeing game day staff, coordinating with coaches, officials, and facility personnel, and helping execute major events, including Brock's "Paint the Meridian Red" game in front of more than 2,500 fans. His experience also extended to OUA volleyball championships, U SPORTS wrestling championships, and esports events, providing him with a well-rounded background in event management.

Greaves also gained professional experience as a Basketball Operations Intern with the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, where he supported player travel, accommodations, equipment logistics, and game day operations. Earlier in his career, he spent several years coaching youth soccer, developing leadership skills while mentoring young athletes between the ages of six and 14.

The opportunity to continue learning in a new varsity environment made McMaster an easy choice.

"With my previous experience, I really liked working in the varsity athletics space and environment," said Greaves. "I love collaborating and working with different student athletes, coaches, as well as department heads. When the opportunity came to work at a different athletic department and open myself up to more opportunities, it just felt like the perfect fit."

Since arriving at McMaster, Greaves has gained an even greater appreciation for the extensive planning required to deliver varsity events.

"I already knew there was a lot of planning that went into it," he said. "But coming in and looking at all the different events, not just basketball, you really see how far in advance everything starts. We've been planning football and basketball games months before they happen. There are just so many moving pieces."

Looking ahead, Greaves hopes to absorb as much knowledge as possible while broadening his understanding of the sport industry.

"I'm just hoping to be a sponge and absorb everything," he said. "Every game and every event is different, so it's about learning from those experiences, meeting new people, and opening myself up to different opportunities while becoming the best version of myself."

Kiarra Kelly, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball

A graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in Kinesiology, Kiarra Kelly joins the Marauders after an accomplished playing career with the Thunderbirds. During her time at UBC, she helped the program capture back to back Canada West silver medals while earning two appearances at the U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championship, including a fourth place national finish in 2024-25 and a Top 8 finish the following season. Kelly was also recognized as a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, reflecting her commitment to excellence both on the court and in the classroom.

Kelly's coaching experience began with Girls' Athletic Basketball, a Toronto based nonprofit where she first participated as a young athlete before returning years later as a coach. Working with girls between the ages of nine and 18, she designed lesson plans, led basketball training sessions, and helped create a positive environment focused on skill development and confidence. She has also coached at UBC Basketball Camps, mentoring young athletes between the ages of five and 16.

The opportunity to join McMaster through the Black Graduate Internship Program was one Kelly embraced as she transitioned directly from university into coaching.

"I think just the opportunity to work right after school," said Kelly. "It's not an opportunity that a lot of people get, so I'm excited to just get right into things."

Already, Kelly has gained a new appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes of a varsity basketball program.

"There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that, as a player, I never knew about," she said. "The coaches did a good job of hiding that, but now I'm seeing all the inner workings of things."

Looking ahead, Kelly hopes to discover the type of coach she wants to become while continuing to prioritize the development of her student athletes both on and off the court.

"I'm trying to be a holistic coach," she said. "Not just thinking about the player, but the person as well."

Together, Abrams, Greaves, and Kelly represent the next generation of leaders in Canadian university sport. Through the Black Graduate Internship Program, each will gain valuable experience while contributing to the continued success of McMaster Athletics & Recreation and helping create a more diverse and inclusive future for the sport industry.