Jan 7, 2010 11:18:09 AM

The NCAA will sponsor an exhibit at the 2010 Convention in Atlanta January 13-16 that highlights the diverse people athletics administration attracts.

The exhibit, developed in conjunction with an NCAA Champion magazine feature on the varied background of athletics administrators, will spotlight individuals who work in each division and hold different position, from presidents to athletics directors, commissioners and faculty athletics representatives. A short video illustrating the administrators' background and shared passion for their new vocation is included, as well as quotations from people throughout the membership answering the question "What do you love about intercollegiate athletics?"

Featured in the exhibit and video are:

• Eva Dean Folkert, athletics director, Hope College
• Maritza Jones, Division II, NCAA national office
• Gregg Kaye, commissioner, Commonwealth Coast Conference
• Kelvin Koong, faculty athletics representative, Oregon State University
• Eddie Moore, president, Virginia State University
• John Stanley, athletics director, University of Evansville

The six administrators will be featured in the January print issue of the NCAA's Champion magazine with profiles detailing their lives before they became involved with intercollegiate athletics and what drew them to the profession. The exhibit grew out of the magazine piece.

The administrators come from vastly different backgrounds – one was a state treasurer, another an immigration and labor lawyer, a third was a bank president. Two grew up outside the United States, and were introduced to the American idea of sport as education as young adults. But the thing that tied them all together was a love of sports and an appreciation for the collegiate model.

Eva Folkert talked about her life's journey that brought her to the athletics director's chair at Hope after stints as a newspaper reporter, in public relations and with the college's registrar's office.

"We don't always walk a straight line in our lives through our calling to be in a career, or a mother, a daughter, whatever," she said. "We think of our lives as taking a straight path, when indeed you'll come to a point where it will zag to the right and then left. I didn't get into athletics administration until I was in my early 40s. It finally dawned on me that my avocation really could be my vocation – and that I wanted it to be."

Another aspect of the exhibit will highlight the thoughts of people throughout the membership – including current and former student-athletes – about their love for intercollegiate athletics. Ted Bulling, a psychology professor and track and field/cross country coach at Nebraska Wesleyan, appreciates the intertwining of athletics and academics he experiences every day.

"I get to work with the brightest, most motivated, talented, goal-oriented people around every day in the classroom and out on the track," Bulling said. "As far as the athletics part of it, I love helping athletes truly reach their potential, which is always a bit more than what they think it can be, really taking their athletics ability to its absolute maximum potential and yet doing that in an academic environment, where we really do understand what the No. 1 priority is."

The exhibit will be at the Marriott Marquis. It may be replicated at the Hall of Champions in Indianapolis later this winter. The January issue of Champion magazine will be distributed the week of Convention (and at the Convention) and will be available online by January 19.