HADLEY, Mass. – Trinity College, in conjunction with the NESCAC, recently hosted the NESCAC Future Leaders Forum. The two-day forum was a professional development and networking event aimed at promoting the growth of underrepresented coaches and administrators in the early stages of their careers in athletics, while exposing participants to NCAA Division III principles.

NESCAC administrators and coaches offered insight into their institutions and career, and highlighted the conference’s commitment to diversity and development of the next generation of leaders in college athletics.

“The NESCAC Future Leaders Forum provided me with the opportunity to meet coaches, athletic directors, and other administrators, all with different backgrounds and experiences,” said Smith College Cross Country and Track & Field Graduate Assistant Coach Laura Broderick. “I learned tangible skills such as goal setting, as well as heard from panels about the importance of building communities and supporting those around you. I left the event with ideas and skills that will directly influence the athletes, coaches, and administrators at Smith College and beyond.”

Trinity College President Joanne Berger-Sweeney kicked off the event by welcoming the group to the campus. She encouraged participants to use their time to learn, grow, and establish new connections while highlighting the commitment to diversity shared by each NESCAC President.

Anthony Andino, Megan Bartlett (founder) and Christine Bright of the Center for Healing & Justice through Sports shared presentations on how trauma impacts student-athlete performance, mental health, and diversity experiences and how neuroscience applies to personal and athlete wellness. Other guest speakers included Joe Miller, Teamworks General Manager, and Julie Muller, an instructor for Stony Brook University in the School of Professional Development, Graduate Coaching Certificate and Higher Education programs and for Castleton University's MS Program in Athletic Leadership.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in topics such as networking best practices, professional and personal branding and interviewing in the current employment landscape. Members of the NESCAC Coaches of Color group provided insight on multiple topics, including mental health among BIPOC coaches and administrators, creating communities of belonging, and the importance of allyship. NESCAC athletic directors, senior woman administrators, and coaches shared their experiences in their career paths. Participants gained knowledge of the skills needed to advance in their careers, as well as be successful in their current positions. Participants had several opportunities to put these concepts into practice as they built their professional networks with NESCAC administrators and coaches, in addition to fellow attendees, and cultivated new perspectives.

"The NESCAC Future Leaders Forum underscores the NESCAC's commitment to providing opportunities for coaches and administrators from underrepresented populations,” said NESCAC Executive Director Andrea Savage. “With the last Future Leaders Forum canceled due to the pandemic, we were excited to host it again and provide participants the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the industry and enhance their skillset to advance their careers.”