NCAA Establishes Leadership Institute For Ethnic Minority Males.

Citing the critical shortage of senior-level ethnic minority males in intercollegiate athletics administration, the NCAA, with support from its Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, has created the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males.

Twenty-five males representing NCAA member institutions and conferences have been selected to participate in the 14-month leadership training and skills development experience. The NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males is designed to enhance job-related competencies in selected areas through the completion of four professional development sessions, practical work experiences and an intensive final workshop. The program will be led by a diverse group of recognized leaders in business, higher education and intercollegiate athletics.

The first of the four professional development sessions will focus on Human Resource Management, June 29-July 1, at the NCAA national office located in Indianapolis. The 25 participants will enhance their skills on recruitment, supervision and training of employees; working with people in high-profile positions; multicultural and diversity issues; human resource legal issues; and mentoring student-athletes.

The second of the four sessions will be Leadership and Administration, November 2-4, 2001, in Indianapolis, which focuses on the impact of leadership within an organization including the shaping of the organizational vision, climate, culture and behavior; managing change; strategic planning; and working with boards and committees.

The third session will be Finance and Fund-Raising, February 8-10, 2002, in Indianapolis, which concentrates on budget management including contingency funding for postseason and unforeseeable events and the execution of contracts. An overview of developing fund-raising goals and strategies will also be explored.

The fourth and final session will be Booster, Public and Media Relations, June 28-30, 2002, in Indianapolis. This session focuses on the multifaceted areas of booster, public and media relations and related staffing needs; serving as an information source; direct public contact situations; involvement of players and teams with the community; and overall coordination and management of athletics relations efforts.

After the participants complete the four sessions, they will take part in an intensive workshop that will cover the practical implications of all four sessions with a thorough review and discussion of case studies. Core competencies necessary for success, including teamwork, drive, perseverance, influence and communication, will also be examined.

“The Institute is a comprehensive initiative to provide ways for ethnic minorities at any level to advance within college sports administration,” said Rochelle M. Collins, NCAA director for professional development. “Most participants have a pretty good idea of what effective leadership is-we’re just trying to enhance their level of understanding to develop ways in which they can promote their skills.”

The NCAA also supports the advancement of ethnic minority women through partnerships and financial allocations to the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA)/HERS Administrative Advancement Institute.

“The NCAA has allocated funds for NACWAA to expand its Institute to two sites annually,” Collins said. “So the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males is designed to address another under-represented group within athletics administration.”

Candidates for the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males were nominated by their member institutions and/or conference offices. Nominations for the 2002-03 NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males will be solicited in March 2002.

Participants in the 2001-02 NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males are:

Benjamin Adams, business and operations manager, Ramapo College; Michael Ansarra, associate director of athletics/compliance and student services, Central Connecticut State University; George L. Bright, assistant director of athletics, Lafayette College; Patrick C. Carter, assistant commissioner, Southwestern Athletic Conference; Robert C. Collins, associate athletics director, Northern Illinois University; Craig B. Curry, assistant athletics director/compliance, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Anton E. Goff, associate director, Michigan State University; David L. Graham, academic coordinator, Miami University (Ohio); Patrick O. Hairston, assistant commissioner, Western Athletic Conference; Darren J. Hamilton, assistant athletics director, Bowling Green State University; Samuel A. Hanger, associate athletics director, Fayetteville State University; David W. Harris, director of academic support, University of Mississippi; Arthur J. Hightower II, academic counselor, University of Houston; Corey L. Holliday, coordinator of student-athlete development, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Mitchell B. Kendall, assistant commissioner, Atlantic 10 Conference; Damani Leech, membership services representative, NCAA; Joseph Manhertz, associate director of development for athletics, Syracuse University; Warde J. Manuel, associate athletics director, University of Michigan; Demetrius H. Marlowe, associate athletics director, Michigan State University; Jon K. Oliver, associate athletics director, external affairs, Washington State University; Duer M. Sharp, sports management administrator, Big Ten Conference; Thornton E. Shelton Jr., assistant athletics director, Washington University (Missouri); Leon Smith, assistant director of championships, NCAA; Gregory M. Turner, director of marketing and television, Ohio Valley Conference; and Gerald L. Young, associate professor/associate athletics director, Carleton College.

For more information at http://www.ncaa.org