Stanford University Partners with Katie Meyer’s Family for Mental Health Initiative

Stanford University has reached a settlement with the family of Katie Meyer regarding a wrongful death lawsuit filed after the talented soccer player's tragic suicide in 2022.

At the time of her passing, the 22-year-old Meyer was distressed due to the possibility of disciplinary action stemming from an incident where she defended a teammate, according to her father, Steve Meyer.

The lawsuit, submitted in November 2022 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, claimed that Stanford acted "negligently and recklessly" by sending Meyer a formal disciplinary notice on the night of her death. This notice reportedly included threatening language about sanctions and potential expulsion from the university.

This week, both the university and Meyer’s family announced their agreement through a joint statement, though they did not disclose any financial details of the settlement. They have committed to collaborating on a new initiative that emphasizes mental health and well-being for student-athletes, to be launched through the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.

Additionally, Stanford will create the Katie Meyer Leadership Award to honor an outstanding student-athlete each year. More information about this award and the mental health initiative will be shared soon.

Furthermore, Stanford plans to adopt the principles of Katie Meyer’s Law, which was enacted in 2024. This law enables students involved in disciplinary proceedings at public colleges and universities in California to select an adviser to assist them throughout the process.

To commemorate her legacy, the number 19 jersey worn by Meyer during her time at Stanford will be retired. Meyer served as a goalie and team captain, playing a pivotal role in leading her team to victory in the 2019 national championship game against North Carolina.