Bryant University One of Ten Conference Schools to Take Part in NCAA Leadership Academy Sept. 23-25 in Boston

INDIANAPOLIS - Bryant University is one of ten Northeast-10 Conference schools that will take part in the Division II Leadership Academy to be held this weekend in Boston.  The Leadership Academy, consisting of student-athletes, athletics administrators and coaches, will convene to discus ways of developing leadership skills, become more familiar with divisional, national and institutional issues and generate ways to implement positive change on their respective campuses.  A total of 44 institutions nationwide will take part in this weekend's academy.

Bryant's head women's lacrosse coach Karen Healy will represent Bryant at the Academy along with student-athletes Caitlin Gardner (Shrewsbury, Mass.) of the women's lacrosse team and Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) of the Bryant men's basketball team.

Student-athletes selected to attend the Academy have exhibited impressive leadership qualities at their institutions. The goal of the Academy is to provide an educational experience that will nurture the leadership abilities of the participants and enable them to continue to make a significant difference on their campuses.

The mission of the Division II Leadership Academy is to engage participants in leadership education to enhance self-awareness and facilitate partnerships that will affect progress on campuses, within conferences, throughout Division II, and beyond the collegiate realm.

"The NCAA Division II Leadership Academy is one of the most important educational and learning opportunities offered by the national office for the Division II membership,” said Mike Racy, Division II vice-president. “The Leadership Academy is an event that celebrates the special attributes that exist in Division II, and provides student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administrators with tools to provide leadership at the local level."

Throughout the Leadership Academy, participants will reflect on their own leadership abilities and become more aware of the roles they play on their campuses as well as in the greater community. A significant part of the agenda will focus on the Division II model athletics program guidelines, governance structure and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

This Academy will mark a slight shift in focus from previous conferences. For the first time, participants will discuss the Division II model athletics program, a concept recently approved by the NCAA Division II Presidents Council. Principles of the model athletics program include: integration of the athletics department into the overall educational mission of the institution; involvement of CEO’s, athletics directors, faculty athletic representatives, senior woman administrators, coaches and campus SAACs; commitment to academic success; and promotion of citizenship, leadership and sportsmanship within the athletics community.

The culmination of the weekend involves the student-athletes and administrators from each institution coming together to discuss what they have learned and to identify something on their campuses they want to affect as leaders – with an emphasis on assisting their institution align with the principles outlined in the Division II model athletics program.

Leadership Academies are held twice each academic year with each Division II institution placed in one of five regions. Each institution must send one male and one female student-athlete, as well as one coach or administrator. The Northeast Region will conclude the Leadership Academy’s initial cycle with 44 institutions expected to attend, the largest number of attendees to date.

The 44 institutions are: Adelphi University; American International College; Assumption College; Bloomfield College; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; University of Bridgeport; Bryant University; Caldwell College; California University of Pennsylvania; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; Clarion University of Pennsylvania; C.W. Post Campus/Long Island University; Dominican College (New York); Dowling College; East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Felician College; Georgian Court University; Goldey-Beacom College; Holy Family University; Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; Mansfield University of Pennsylvania; University of Massachusetts at Lowell; Merrimack College; Millersville University of Pennsylvania; Molloy College; University of New Haven; New York Institute of Technology; Nyack College; Pace University; Philadelphia University; University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown; Post University; Saint Anselm College; Saint Michael’s College; College of Saint Rose; St. Thomas Aquinas College; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; Stonehill College; West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Upcoming Division II Leadership Academies include the South Region in February 2006; Central Region in September 2006; Mid-Atlantic Region in February 2007; West Region in September 2007; and Northeast Region in February 2008. Additional information may be found at www.ncaa.org/leadership.