BATON ROUGE, La. – Amy Werdine and Marciel Whitehurst, two graduate assistants within the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes, have been selected to participate in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar at the national office in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 27-29, 2016.
The seminar is an annual professional development event providing effective leadership, educational and transitional programing for more than 200 current graduate assistants and interns from NCAA membership institutions, conference offices and affiliate organizations. The three-day program educates, develops and connects selected participants, and can increase the likelihood for rapid career progression within college sports.
“It means a great deal to me to be selected to attend the 2016 Emerging Leaders Seminar. I attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum Conference in 2012 and learned so much about opportunities in sport and about my leadership abilities, it will be exciting to go back to Indianapolis and continue to learn and grow as a young professional,” Werdine said. “I am looking forward to attending the ELS to learn more about myself and careers in collegiate athletics.”
The primary function of the event is to allow attendees to explore the roles of NCAA governance, including the differences in the divisions and the role of conference offices, as well as getting the opportunity to identify, and network with, key decision makers within college athletics.
“Being selected as a participant in this seminar is an amazing accomplishment for my career. This is an elite professional development program especially for graduate assistants,” Whitehurst said. “Having been bestowed this honor is a testament to the mentorship and training I’ve received from Kenneth Miles, Walt Holiday and the football advising staff. I look forward to collaborating with my peers and growing as a young professional during this seminar.”
Topics such as self-awareness and group dynamics are discussed, as together the attendees will evaluate their impact on the leadership within athletics departments. Through this exposure, you will return to your current role with the applicable skills and knowledge that will help you succeed in the next steps to becoming a college athletics professional.
The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes is a 54,000 square foot facility comprised of an academic affairs, student affairs and an information technology team, serving more than 530 student-athletes. The purpose is to provide an all-inclusive, student-centered support structure for all student-athletes from matriculation, through graduation and life beyond.