Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport

BOWLING GREEN, Ky—A graduate assistant in the School of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport has been selected as a participant for the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar (ELS), which will be held January 27-29 and the NCAA national office in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Jacqueline McGill, a student in the Master of Science of Recreation and Sport Administration with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration program, was chosen as one of 200 participants in the highly competitive program.

           ELS is an annual professional development event, established by the NCAA’s Leadership Development department, that provides effective leadership, educational and transitional programming for graduate assistants and interns from NCAA institutions.  The three-day conference was designed to educate, develop and connect participants as a means to increase the likelihood for career progression within the field of collegiate athletics.

           “I feel like the ELS will not only help me develop into a professional leader, but will also assist me with building relationships in my chosen career field of collegiate athletics,” stated McGill.

            Dr. Evie Oregon, KRS faculty and coordinator for the Intercollegiate Athletic Administration program, noted that ELS will not only be a great professional development opportunity for McGill, but it will also be a tremendous start to her career.  “As a former student athlete, participation in her sport limited her ability to experience sport from an administrative level,” said Oregon.  “ELS will provide her with that needed involvement, as well as an chance to start a solid professional network.”

             All participants in ELS are provided with hotel accommodations, meals and program materials by the NCAA.  McGill will be responsible for the cost of transportation, but hopes to receive a travel grant from the School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport to assist with those expenses.

            “Western Kentucky University’s athletics department is extremely excited about Jacqueline McGill being accepted for participation in the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar,” said Lisa Schneider, Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant to the Athletic Director for WKU Athletics.  “We are really proud and supportive of this opportunity she has been presented with, and we are inspired by her desire to have a positive impact on the athletics industry.”

            For more information, please contact Amy Fitzpatrick at (270) 745-2710 or by email at amy.fitzpatrick@wku.edu.

            About NCAA Leadership Development:  The leadership development department coordinates and facilitates cutting-edge education and customized training for student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators from NCAA membership institutions, conference offices and the national office. The staff annually hosts more than 20 programs, at little or no cost to the membership, with expert curriculum designed to enhance the well-being and personal development of NCAA student-athletes, as well as provides on-going education and topical training to athletics professionals who identify and serve student-athlete needs. For more information on the NCAA’s Leadership Development Department, please visit http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/leadership-development-programs-and-resources.