Former NCAA postgraduate intern Therese Pitman leads by following three guiding principles.
One, put yourself in others' shoes so you can understand how they experience the world.
Two, show up exactly as yourself so everyone else can show up as themselves.
Three, ask how you can serve those around you and leave a place better than you found it.
The seeds of Pitman's leadership style — empathy, authenticity and service — were planted as a student-athlete and watered as an NCAA postgraduate intern. They now have blossomed in her role as a director of student-athlete development.
Growing up, Pitman admired her older brother, who played Division I basketball while double majoring in math and chemistry. Trying to model her life after his, Pitman began her undergraduate career playing DI lacrosse at Binghamton as a neuroscience major. Her freshman year felt like what sheshouldbe doing, yet Pitman struggled to perform on the lacrosse field and in the classroom, also struggling to find a community on campus.
Pitman decided to change her mindset going into her sophomore year. She committed to becoming a great teammate. She joined the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She started to create her own path, on her own terms.
After her sophomore year, Pitman transferred to Siena, changed her major to English language and literature and committed to the lacrosse team as a walk-on. Putting herself first quickly paid off. Her teammates nominated her as captain, and she earned her conference's All-Defensive first-team honors. She continued as a SAAC representative and thrived in her new coursework.
"All of these amazing things started happening when I realized I don't have to have the pressure of being like anybody else," she said.
After earning her undergraduate degree at Siena in May 2020, Pitman had anadditional year of COVID eligibility. Siena did not have her desired master's program, so she entered the Transfer Portal again. Then, she received a call that changed the course of her life.
The Pittsburgh coach, Emily Boissonneault, had been hired to start Pitt's lacrosse program for the 2022 season and wanted Pitman to help spearhead the effort.
"Come here and help me lay the foundation for the inaugural women's lacrosse team," Boissonneault said to her. "Recruit student-athletes to come here. Figure out what our team values are going to be, what kind of program that our legacy is going to leave, how we're going to build this."
Pitman quickly said yes. Empowered by her coach, Pitman embraced the grind of creating the program with her teammates.
"I grew so much in my people skills, in my sense of worth, in my ability to understand that, yes, college is about getting a degree and getting a job afterward, but college is also about the memories you make with those around you, and the impact, the legacy that you leave behind."
Pitman also became involved with Pitt's Life Skills program. She joined the "Panthers to Pro" mentorship program, which connects athletes with a professional in their desired career. The program paired Pitman with Katie Stumpp, the associate athletics director of administration at Pitt.
"(Stumpp) is somebody that is an inspiring, powerful woman, and I just again wanted to be like her, but in my own way," Pitman said.
As a former NCAA postgraduate intern herself, Stumpp encouraged Pitman to apply for the internship at the national office. She mentored Pitman, meeting regularly to go over her application and practice for interviews.
After getting her Master of Public Administration degree, Pitman accepted a position as an intern in the NCAA leadership development department.
The internship transformed Pitman's personal and professional career. She traveled around the country and created transformational programs for hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. The staff members in leadership development challenged her, pushing her outside her comfort zone while giving her responsibility and autonomy.
"The NCAA PGIP is so different from other internships because you have endless opportunities to experience once-in-a-lifetime moments," she said. "I knew my voice and ideas truly mattered."
After the yearlong internship, Pitman received an opportunity to go back to the place that changed her life: the University of Pittsburgh. Within a year, Pitman was promoted from assistant director of leadership development to director of student-athlete development. This past April, she began a doctorate program in education.
In the future, Pitman can see herself becoming either an athletics director or a dean of students. Whatever path she takes, her vocation is empowering students.
"I just want to make an impact and be around young people. I want to help them understand their value and their worth and be able to have transformative experiences to make a difference in their community," she said. "My dream is someday to continue to be in a position where we can make effective change by inspiring young people."
Pitman credits her time at the NCAA as a springboard for the rest of her life.
"The NCAA PGIP was an experience that absolutely prepared me for my full-time role afterward. The internship was necessary for my professional growth, and I am confident in my ability to add value to any team I join because of what I learned throughout the internship."
Now, as Pitman empowers, supports and develops students, athletes and young people, she reflects on her own journey as a blueprint to have faith in oneself.
"I've made many changes in my young career. I'm a two-time transfer. I've had three different jobs since I graduated from school, and each time, I never underestimate myself, and I also am never afraid of change.
"Just go for it. Take the risk. Do it."