The NCAA has selected 23 athletics administrators to participate in the 2008-09 Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. 

The 12-month program will emphasize leadership and administration; human resource management; finance and fund-raising; booster, public and media relations; and leadership during four weekend sessions and one week-long meeting in Indianapolis. In addition, participants will be exposed to valuable networking opportunities and gain insight into other opportunities within athletics.

The institute is facilitated by a diverse group of consultants and leaders in business, higher education and intercollegiate athletics.

The following individuals were chosen for the 2008-09 Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females:

• Omar Banks, director of ticket operations, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Gordon Bayne, assistant athletics director-event management, University of California, Berkeley
• Jean Boyd, associate athletics director in student-athlete development, Arizona State University
• Deedee Brown-Campbell, assistant athletics director in academic support, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• Mary Clark, director of athletic academic services, Saint Louis University
• Cornelius Clark, academic counselor, Vanderbilt University
• Sherie Cornish, assistant athletics director for business operations, Norfolk State University
• Derek Cowherd, associate director of academics, Louisiana State University
• Stephanie Ellison, assistant athletics director for compliance service, Clemson University
• Reginald Garrett, director of marketing, University of Virginia
• Adrien Harroway, director of academics for football, University of Virginia
• Eric Hart, assistant director of academic services, Appalachian State University
• Mary Hill, internal operations/special events and assistant academic enhancement coordinator,South Carolina State University
• Derrick Magee, assistant athletics director for finance and internal affairs, University of the Pacific
• Chevonne Mansfield, assistant sports information director, Howard University
• Ruquel McKinnie, academic counselor, University of Michigan
• L. Renae Myles, assistant athletics director, Southwest Baptist University
• Tyra Pryor, human resources coordinator, NCAA national office
• Harry Stinson III, director of communications and marketing assistant, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
• Shera White, director of public relations, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• Jason Wilson, assistant athletics director, George Washington University
• Eric Wood, director of student-athlete programs and compliance, Atlantic Coast Conference
• Douglas Wright, regional director of development, Oregon State University

Charlotte Westerhaus, NCAA vice president for diversity and inclusion, called the leadership institute a stellar example of a highly competitive professional development program that supports the Association's charge to enhance the diversity of and inclusion of athletics administrators.

“As a result of this institute, which is led by respected college presidents, conference commissioners and directors of athletics, these talented administrators will be fully prepared to successfully lead intercollegiate athletics departments throughout the NCAA,” said Westerhaus.

The institute was established in 2001 following a recommendation from the Minority Opportunities and Interests and is designed to address the critical shortage of senior-level ethnic minority females and males in athletics at the campus and conference levels. According to the NCAA’s latest study of race demographics in intercollegiate athletics, minorities hold just 13.2 percent of positions in athletics administration.

Eligible participants must be nominated from NCAA institutions and athletics conferences. The applicants chosen were required to submit a current resume, a personal statement and a letter of recommendation.