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DII announces participants in AD mentoring program

The first round of mentors and mentees have been chosen for a new Division II program intended to develop promising minority and women athletics administrators.

The first participants were confirmed after an April 21 meeting of NCAA and Division II Athletics Director Association officials.

The first class of mentees will be:

• Linda Cimino, assistant AD/SWA, Caldwell
• Laura L. Clayton, assistant AD/athletics compliance officer, West Georgia
• Debbie DeJong, assistant AD for facilities/head softball coach, Dowling
• Shantey Hill, association AD/SWA/compliance, C.W. Post
• Kristene Kelly, associate AD/SWA, St. Augustine’s
• Brandi Laurita, SWA, Findlay
• Meredith Long, deputy AD/SWA, Chowan
• Jamie Moore, assistant AD for internal relations/SWA, Kentucky State
• Sandee Mott, associate AD, Metro State
• Tracee Passeggi, associate AD, Cal Poly Pomona

The athletics directors who will serve as the mentors are:

• Greg Bamberger, Kutztown
• Dennis Helsel, Chowan
• Denisha Hendricks, Kentucky State
• Joan McDermott, Metro State
• Larry Marfise, Tampa
• Jared Mosley, Abilene Christian
• Fran Reidy, Saint Leo
• Tom Shirley, Philadelphia U.
• Scott Weigandt, Bellarmine
• Sue Willey, UIndy

The program, which was announced last year, is intended not only to develop athletics administrators but also to increase the likelihood that they will pursue careers in Division II.

 “We want to identify those who might fit the bill of ‘shining stars,’ ” said Western State Athletics Director Greg Waggoner, president of the Division II Athletic Directors Association, when the program was announced. “We know they may be very attractive for Division I programs to recruit, but we want them to find it attractive to stay in Division II.”

The actual pairings of the mentors and mentees will be announced later. At the time the program was announced, Waggoner said the matches would be made with geographical considerations in mind to maximize the amount of face-to-face interaction, although much of the mentoring will take place online. Division II and the ADA have teamed to develop templates to assist with the process.