Carissa is a 2008 Olympian in weight lifting, earned a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in Nonprofit Management, and is a fair play and clean sport advocate.

Carissa Gump has spent her life in sport as either an athlete, advocate, or in an Executive Leadership position. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (“NSCA”) Foundation and is founder of Lifting You Up, L.L.C., which is focused on supporting nonprofits at the policy and process level to help to advance their respective mission. Her previous roles were at the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Weightlifting.

As an athlete Carissa was a 2008 Olympian in weightlifting, an American Record holder, National Champion, Pan American Champion, All-American, World Team Member and was inducted into the New England Weightlifting Hall of Fame Member. 

Carissa holds a B.S. in Business with an Emphasis in Sport Management and a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in Nonprofit Management. She currently serves on the USA Weightlifting Foundation Board of Directors. Carissa is married to former teammate Jason Gump and has two children- Camille and Alexander. They reside in Essex, Vermont.