The NCAA leadership development office, in partnership with the Board of Governors Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity, has selected 22 senior-level administrators to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program, with the goal of preparing these individuals to attain positions as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
The Pathway Program spans the course of a year, providing participants with many engagement opportunities through experiential learning. The program focuses on advancing participants to the top role in an athletics department or conference office, while building their skills to thrive in their current duties.
The diverse curriculum features case study assignments, exploration of culture development, sessions led by higher education and athletics leadership, and a thorough mock interview and selection process.
"The Pathway Program represents one of our most impactful offerings in NCAA leadership development. Through our engaging, immersive and practical curriculum, we equip our participants with the skills and network they need to best transform the lives of their student-athletes," said DeeDee Merritt, director of leadership development. "The program has a long history of elevating participants to achieve their career aspirations and a vast alumni base containing the most influential leaders in college sports."
The lingering precautions related to the global pandemic have prevented the group of administrators from meeting in person this summer, but they will dive into an engaging stretch of virtual programming and connection June 21-30. Esteemed speakers will join each day to facilitate critical conversations on an array of personal and professional development topics.
After their initial virtual meeting, participants will be separated divisionally, with Division I administrators and Division II and III administrators receiving division-specific programming throughout the remainder of the academic year.
"The 2021-22 Pathway cohort represents a phenomenal, diverse group of administrators who have demonstrated impressive leadership capabilities and potential to flourish as college athletics' next wave of capable decision-makers," Merritt said. "We are immensely excited to play a role in facilitating the professional journeys of our 22 cohort members."
Over the past 24 years, the acclaimed Pathway Program has produced nearly 200 alumni. Sixty-three of those participants (31%) have become directors of athletics or conference commissioners, including 55 (87%) who identify as minorities, women or both.
The 2021-22 NCAA Division I Pathway Program participants:
- Kristen Brown, deputy athletics director, student-athlete experience/senior woman administrator/chief diversity officer, Texas A&M.
- Lauren Cevis, deputy athletic director/senior woman administrator, Jacksonville.
- K. Renia Edwards, senior associate athletics director for compliance and student-athlete affairs/senior woman administrator, Mississippi Valley.
- Carl Hairston, associate director of athletics for external affairs, North Carolina A&T.
- Raymond Harrison, senior associate athletics director, NC State.
- Byron Hatch, assistant commissioner, Southeastern Conference.
- Carl Heck, senior associate athletics director of capital, events and facilities, Penn State.
- Lisa Liotta, associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Canisius.
- Jeff Mitchell, deputy director of athletics, Southern Mississippi.
- Alison Quandt Westgate, associate athletics director for academics and student services, UMass Lowell.
- Kurt Svoboda, associate athletics director for external communications and public relations, Michigan.
- Jaunelle White, senior associate director of athletics, internal operations/senior woman administrator, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
The 2021-22 NCAA Division II and Division III Pathway Program participants:
- TJ Budd, assistant athletics director for athletic communications, Palm Beach Atlantic.
- Gregg DiNardo, associate director of athletics for facilities and finance, Amherst.
- Stephanie Dollar, senior associate director of athletics for internal operations/senior woman administrator, Massachusetts Boston.
- Betsy Feutz, assistant vice president/senior woman administrator, Lindenwood (Missouri).
- Chelsea Herman, senior associate athletics director/senior woman administrator, Cal State San Bernardino.
- Summer Hutcheson, senior associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Washington University in St. Louis.
- Sara Higley, senior associate athletics director, internal operations/senior woman administrator, Ferris State.
- Marie Stroman, associate executive director, Middle Atlantic Conferences.
- Alexandra Vernon, associate director of athletics for compliance, business and internal operations/senior woman administrator/director of club sports and intramurals/assistant softball coach, Knox.
- Terrence Warren, associate athletics director for external affairs, Queens (North Carolina).