The Center for Leadership and Service has partnered with Athletics and Undergraduate Education to offer a specialized track of the Academy of Leaders (AOL) for student athletes. The goal of this collaboration is to provide an educational opportunity for student athletes to build their leadership capacity for their sports, their careers, and their communities.

AOL is a semester-based leadership development program for emerging student leaders. It focuses on developing collaborative leadership skills, diversity awareness and inclusion, and civic responsibility. The student athlete track has been customized to connect with the students’ team roles, but also to provide an opportunity for them to expand relationships outside of their sport.

The Student Athlete track graduated 18 students in the Fall and has enrolled 19 students for the Spring. Four members of the Athletics Advising staff have also participated in the semester long program. Students and staff alike have praised the experience. One student’s comment expressed the sentiment of most who participated, “I believe I truly understand what it takes to be a leader on and off the field. Because of this experience I have become more confident communicating with others. I plan to use what I have learned in every aspect of my life.”

The Student Athlete track will be offered each Fall and Spring semester with the goal of including all sports programs.