CLEVELAND – In conjunction with the new calendar year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has officially launched its enhanced Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute program for 2024 and is now accepting applications for participants through the NACDA U professional development grant. 
 
For the last 16 years, the Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute has been a staple to close out the NACDA & Affiliates Convention and has assisted many senior-level athletics administrators in their career path to the AD chair.

To continue to enhance the pipeline of administrators who are ready to take the next step in becoming an athletics director, NACDA recently announced the Association would be expanding the Mentoring Institute to provide year-round programming for its participants.
 
In addition to the traditional two-day in-person programming at the 2024 Convention in Las Vegas, Mentoring Institute participants will have another in-person meeting in the fall of 2024 for an additional educational experience on a university campus. Attendees will also meet virtually throughout the year to continue to network, share best practices, and interact with current AD mentors.
 
The Convention programming will once again be guided by Desireé Reed-Francois, director of athletics at the University of Missouri, while the inaugural fall meeting will be hosted on campus at Stony Brook University by Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron.
 
Heilbron and Reed-Francois commented on the value of the Mentoring Institute as it has evolved over the last decade, and particularly now as the program expands, allowing administrators to adapt during this pivotal time in college athletics and higher education.
 
"In our roles as leaders, it is important that we continue to learn, grow and connect within our industry as we face some of the most dynamic times in the history of intercollegiate athletics. It is also crucial that we prepare the next generation of leaders as they prepare to serve as directors of athletics. Growing to a year-round program, NACDA's Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute provides aspiring athletics directors with essential resources and insight shared by the industry's best leaders, and affords priceless opportunities to connect with colleagues, search firms and other experts. Those experiences and relationships can extend well beyond the program and help position the next class of campus leaders to advance along their career paths. As we prepare the Institute's curriculum for 2024, we are inspired by the individuals who will be participating, our colleagues who will be presenting, and we are appreciative for NACDA pouring into this valuable program."
 
The comprehensive Mentoring Institute is available for interested and qualified individuals for an additional registration fee of $500, however, administrators must apply and be selected to participate through the NACDA U professional development grant. CLICK HERE to access the application. Senior-level administrators should apply with the understanding and intention of attending both in-person Mentoring Institute events at the NACDA & Affiliates Convention (June 12-13, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV) and the additional fall meeting at Stony Brook University (Late September/Early October 2024 – Stony Brook, NY).
 
The grant will be managed on a reimbursement basis to the recipient's institution (grant funds cannot be reimbursed to the individual) and will allocate $1,000 to be used to support the individual's involvement in the Mentoring Institute enhanced program. Individuals will be notified of their selection to participate prior to Convention registration going live in February.  A total of 150 senior-level administrators will be selected as Mentoring Institute attendees.
 
Questions regarding the Mentoring Institute program can be directed to Katie Hein in the NACDA Office at khein@nacda.com.
 
About NACDA: Now in its 59th year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 18 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts six major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.