BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes has added Kydani Dover to serve as a Learning Specialist Thursday as announced by the ACSA’s Executive Director Kenneth Miles.
“I’m extremely excited and humbled to step into the role of Learning Specialist at LSU’s Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes,” Dover said. “It’s an honor to work with such a committed staff that has high expectations for all of their student-athletes. I look forward to encouraging and teaching student-athletes to meet and exceed their academic potential. I want them to connect with their innate capacity to learn and to succeed in a supportive and strong academic environment. I’m proud to be part of a Student Learning Program team that is dedicated to individual student-athlete’s educational success. I too have high expectations for the students I will be working with and want to have a positive impact on their holistic student-athlete experience. I’m proud to be a part of the LSU family and I’m thankful to Mr. Miles and the search committee members for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the success of the ACSA.”
Dover will design and implement academic support plans for learning challenged student-athletes. She will work collaboratively with relevant constituent groups and individuals, including academic counselors, faculty, and the Office of Disability Services, Psychological Services, and coaches, to enhance the academic success of student-athletes.
Dover comes to LSU from UCLA where she served as a Football Learning Assistant during the 2009-10 academic year. She assisted in the daily operation and management of UCLA’s Community of Learners Program to assess the educational needs of freshman football players.
Prior to UCLA, Dover spent two years as a program officer at the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart Program. She facilitated and managed an academic enrichment program for student-athletes at 45 high schools based out of Dallas, Texas.
“It’s truly a great day for the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes. We’re proud to have Kydani join us,” Miles said. “Her qualities and experience fit nicely with our philosophy of being the premier center in the country. She brings a level of knowledge and expertise that will enhance the total experience of our student-athletes. Being a former student-athlete coupled with her passion and commitment, she will add credibility and undoubtedly assist us in improving our graduation rates in the near future. Again, we’re pleased to hire such a talent.”
Dover graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in human development and family studies in May 2005. Two years later, she earned her master’s degree in Education with a concentration in sport management and society from UConn. In the process, Dover was an assistant to the academic advisor for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s track and field and women’s soccer.