CLEVELAND -Â The
National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) is proud to announce the participants selected for the 2025-26 Earl Edwards Inclusive Development Program. This initiative is designed to foster professional growth and create pathways for underrepresented groups within the athletics development profession, continuing Earl Edwards' legacy of leadership and inclusion.
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"The Earl Edwards Inclusive Development Program represents a critical step in creating opportunities for diverse voices within athletics development" said Grant Kelly, NAADD President and Senior Associate AD and Executive Director of Development at Johns Hopkins University. "These talented individuals embody the future of our profession, and NAADD is committed to providing them with the tools, mentorship, and network to thrive. We are proud to honor Earl Edwards' legacy by investing in the next generation of leaders."
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The program will begin in January 2026 providing participants with mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional development resources to prepare them for leadership roles in collegiate athletics development.
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The following individuals have been chosen for this year's cohort:
- Quentin Andrade – Stonehill College
- OD Anosike – Siena University
- Shay Baker-Watson – Ohio University
- Ashley Beach – Ohio University
- Karrington Childs – Georgia Institute of Technology
- Toni-Ann Derby – Austin Peay State University
- Alison Deville – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Gerard DeZutti – University of Minnesota
- Ventric Fletcher – Louisiana State University
- Nicole Gardner – Kenyon College
- Abby Gilbertson – University of Minnesota
- Jamari Herring – Temple University
- Aliyah Hill – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Justin Johnson – Oregon State University
- Merlin Joseph Jr – State University of New York at Oswego
- Anastacia Loukianoff – Saint Mary's College of California
- Quenton Moore – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Ruby Ochoa – University of Washington
- Jeremy Patterson – Rust College
- Makaila Riedel – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Ramona Riley-Bozier – Morgan State University
- Kelly Shepherd – West Virginia State University
- Ashley Summerset – University of Arizona
- Joshua Turner – North Carolina State University
- Taylon White – Mississippi State University
- DaDa Willis-Gregory – Pennsylvania State University
- Janiah Wilson – University of Arkansas at Pine BluffÂ
NAADD is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities, enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics, and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics development and fund raising. For more information about NAADD, please visit
www.naadd.com. NAADD is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 61st year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit
www.nacda.com.
