CLEVELAND – N4A is now accepting applications for the 2027 Steve McDonnell Professional Development Institute (PDI). Named after the program's founder, PDI's mission is to create and maintain a learning community that transmits, creates, and preserves the knowledge that defines the profession. After completion of the program, PDI continues to educate its graduates as it is designed to provide continuous professional development. The 2027 edition of PDI will be held June 11-13, 2027, in Orlando, FL.  

APPLY HERE FOR THE 2027 N4A PDI

2027 Important Dates & Deadlines:

• Monday, November 9, 2026 | Application goes live on N4A website
• Friday, December 18, 2026 | PDI application closes
• Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | Notices go out to all applicants

  This year's PDI will host the following tracks:

Leader/Manager

• The Leader/Manager Track is designed for professionals who have been hired as or have demonstrated the potential to serve as an associate/assistant athletics director or director of student-athlete support services soon. Topics include staff and budget management, leadership and management, campus climate & culture, and strategic planning among others. Curriculum and mentoring are provided by current sitting directors and associate & senior associate athletics directors. 

New Practitioner

• This track seeks to ascertain and enhance the foundational knowledge, skills, and attributes owned by those embarking in the profession. The programming is designed to train and meet the professional development needs of individuals who have been working in the field less than three years yet want to explore, experience, and excel with their professional peers. 

 
Student-Athlete Development

• Throughout the Student-Athlete Development Track, professionals will have an opportunity to look deeply at the challenges and issues they face in their athletics departments and the expertise and solutions necessary for implementing programming to address them. 

If you are interested in applying for PDI, please submit the following materials through the online application HERE by Friday, December 18, 2026.

• Current resume
• Letter of recommendation/nomination from your current supervisor/director
• One-page personal statement (350 words maximum) explaining why being a participant in PDI is significant to you and addressing how you feel your participation in PDI will support your professional aspirations.

For more information, please see our PDI FAQs!

About N4A: N4A, which has been in existence since 1975, is a diverse educational service and professional non-profit organization. Membership of N4A includes academic support and student services personnel who are committed to enhancing opportunities for academic, athletics and personal success for student-athletes. For more information on N4A, visit www.nfoura.org. N4A is administered by NACDA, which is in its 62nd year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.