The NCAA has selected 22 administrators across all three divisions for the 2025-26 Pathway Program, a yearlong initiative designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for their next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
ThePathway Program, led by NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. It is designed to prepare high-potential administrators for executive-level leadership roles within intercollegiate athletics. During the year, the participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, along with others in leadership roles.
Throughout the program, participants will engage in targeted leadership development curriculum focused on strategic planning, organizational leadership, resource generation, executive communication, hiring processesand stakeholder engagement. The experience includes structured mentorship with senior leaders such as athletics directors, conference commissioners and school presidents, providing personalized guidance and industry insight. Grounded in experiential learning, the program challenges participants to address current and emerging issues across the collegiate athletics landscape. This approach ensures they are not only prepared for the demands of executive leadership but also positioned to cultivate cultures of excellence within their organizations.
The 2025-26 cohort will meet June 22-27 for a weeklong education session in Indianapolis. Participants will reconvene in the fall for additional development and will attend their respective division's governance meetings for real-time observation and application. The program will conclude in the summer of 2026 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics conference in Las Vegas.
"The Pathway Program remains a proven cornerstone of leadership development in college athletics," said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA managing director of leadership development. "It equips senior-level administrators with the tools, insights and network to take the next step in their careers. We look forward to another year of growth and impact with the 2025–26 cohort."
The Pathway Program was created in 1997 and has produced more than 300 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70% of the program alumni have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
The following have been selected for the 2025-26 NCAA Pathway Program:
- Sam Atkinson, associate athletics director for communications, Gallaudet.
- Shawn Bragg, director of athletics internal operations, Saint Michael's.
- Shamaree Brown, senior associate athletics director for student services, Iowa State.
- Demetrus Caldwell, deputy athletics director, chief of staff, Cal State LA.
- Niesha Campbell, deputy director of athletics/chief operating officer/senior woman administrator, Austin Peay.
- Rick Canter, associate vice president/deputy athletics director, Jacksonville.
- Larry Earnesty, senior associate director of athletics, Millersville.
- Emily Fulton, associate athletics director for internal operations/senior woman administrator, VMI.
- Brittney Johnson, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator/chief integrity officer, Florida A&M.
- D'Ann Keller, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Buffalo.
- Kevin Kendrick, senior associate athletics director for compliance/deputy Title IX coordinator, Florida International.
- Bethany Marren, associate director of intercollegiate athletics/compliance/senior woman administrator, Rochester Institute of Technology.
- Carrie Michaels, senior associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Shippensburg.
- Paul Perrier, executive senior associate athletics director, Southern California.
- Ariel "AP" Pesante, senior associate athletics director for internal operations, Georgetown.
- Deidre Pierson, interim director of athletics/associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Hamilton.
- Davon Robb, senior associate athletics director of competitive excellence, Rice.
- Adam Skaggs, associate director of athletics, Suffolk.
- Christie Ward, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Catawba.
- Richard Warren, associate vice president for athletics, Hanover.
- Lori Williams, deputy athletics director for leadership and strategy, LSU.
- Abby Wilson, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, University of Central Florida.