Nearly two dozen athletics administrators have been selected to participate in the 2009-10 NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females.

The 12-month leadership program is designed to address the shortage of senior-level athletics administrators of color at NCAA member institutions and conferences. During four professional-development sessions and one week-long workshop at the national office in Indianapolis, participants focus on leadership and administration; human-resource management; finance and fund-raising; and booster, public and media relations.

Institute facilitators include a diverse group of consultants and leaders in business, higher education and intercollegiate athletics. Participants met for the first time earlier this month. Additional sessions are set for October, November, February and June.

The following 23 administrators compose the institute’s class of 2009-10:

• Robert E. Carson, assistant director, student-athlete services, James Madison
• Phoebe T. Chalk, associate athletics director, Arizona
• Jonacani W. Damuni, associate director of academics, Arkansas
• Keisha R. Dunlap, assistant commissioner for sports services, Conference USA
• Michelle D. Edwards, director of basketball operations, Rutgers
• Shantey M. Hill, associate athletics director, C.W. Post
• Joi M. Irby, associate athletics director, Assumption
• Derrick A. Johnson, athletics operations manager and sports information director, Benedict
• Selina B. Kohn, associate athletics director, Paine
• Ericka S. Lavender, assistant director, North Carolina State
• Katreshia A. Louis, assistant director of compliance, Georgia Tech
• Renee N. Madison, assistant director of enforcement, NCAA
• George D. Midgett, compliance coordinator, Vanderbilt
• David R. Ortega, compliance director, California
• Bob H. Park, director of information technology, UCLA
• Lawanda S. Pearson, academic advisor and head softball coach, Clark Atlanta
• Cynthia E. Prieto, senior academic advisor, Washington State
• Juan (Jay) O. Rossello, director of legal affairs/assistant general counsel, NCAA
• Temeka D. Samuels, assistant director of ticket operations, Bradley
• Sean L. Simmons, assistant athletics director/student services and sports operations, Robert Morris
• Jaysen T. Spencer, academic coordinator, Missouri
• Morris E. White, director of athletics marketing, promotions and licensing, Northwest Missouri State
• Darrol J. Woods, assistant athletics director for finance, Grambling State

For more information about the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females click here.