Twenty-two minority and female administrators committed to advancing their careers in college sports have been selected to participate in the 2016 NCAA Leadership Institute.
A committee that includes current administrators and past seminar participants across all NCAA divisions selected the participants.
The institute provides professional development programming over the course of a calendar year from NCAA leadership development, including one-week programs at the beginning and conclusion of that year. For the administrators who participate, the program provides insight into every facet of an athletics department, preparing them to become well-rounded leaders who are equipped with the tools an effective athletics administrator needs.
“The Leadership Institute is an unmatched opportunity, exposing qualified minority athletics administrators to the latest information and robust experiences, delivered by practiced experts in the field,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer. “Administrators who complete the program not only gain technical knowledge, but graduate with confidence and quality decision-making skills.”
The participants gather July 9-15 in Phoenix for the first in-person sessions. Along with continuing-education activities throughout the year and the extensive alumni group, participants not only enhance and master skill sets, but also explore and plan for future career goals and paths.
“The alumni network is what makes the program special,” said Brian Baptiste, deputy athletics director at Northwestern University, who completed the program in 2011. “Being able to grow and see the fact that you went through the same challenges those individuals went through – and they’ve been able to succeed and do great things, and they want to be able to push you to do great things.”
The second year of programming will take place July 7-15, 2017, in Tampa.
The leadership development department of the NCAA national office, located in Indianapolis, coordinates and facilitates education and training for student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators. The staff hosts programs at little or no cost to members, using expert curriculum designed to enhance the well-being and personal development of college athletes. The staff also provides ongoing education and topical training to athletics professionals who identify and serve student-athlete needs. For more information, visit ncaa.org/leadershipdevelopment.
2016 NCAA Leadership Institute participants
| Dori Armstead | Director of human resources | NCAA |
| Michael Bazemore | Associate athletics director | Truman State University |
| Lauren Cevis | Director of student-athlete services | Jacksonville University |
| Eric Coleman | Assistant athletics director of student-athlete services | California State University, Fresno |
| Chris Evans | Academic counselor | University of North Texas |
| Ragean Hill | Associate athletics director of student-athlete academic services | Old Dominion University |
| Anthony Holman | Associate director of championships and alliances | NCAA |
| Brittney Johnson | Athletics compliance officer | Prairie View A&M University |
| Nancy Lake | Associate athletics director for compliance/senior woman administrator | Shaw University |
| Jason Linders | Senior associate athletics director for student-athlete development | Grand Canyon University |
| Randy Loggins | Associate athletics director for operations | Tusculum College |
| Angela Marin | Assistant athletics director/senior woman administrator | University of Texas at Dallas |
| Suzette McQueen | Associate director, athletic fund | Davidson College |
| Dino Pollock | Associate director of law, policy and governance | NCAA |
| Sherraine Pencil | Assistant director of compliance | Grand Canyon University |
| Erienne Roberts | Assistant to the athletics director for compliance | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania |
| Danielle Rosario-Mullen | Assistant athletics director for student-athlete services/senior woman administrator | Upper Iowa University |
| Nicole Smart | Associate director of leadership development | NCAA |
| Justin Thaxton | Associate athletics director | Illinois College |
| Reginald Thomas | Assistant athletics director for compliance | Bethune-Cookman University |
| Ryan Watley | Assistant director of development for athletics | University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff |
| Kellynn Wilson | Associate director, student-athlete programming/academic counselor | Pennsylvania State University |