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As Interim Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Services, a portion of my job is to develop the Student-Athlete Affairs Programming for the year.  This includes programming in the five areas of excellence as noted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): career development, personal development, community service, academic excellence, and athletic excellence.  This year, after being appointed into the role late in the first semester, I have worked hard to make a substantial difference in our programming for student-athletes. 
 

Through my leadership, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and other student-athletes have found a rejuvenated connection with and commitment to the areas of excellence.  This includes a significant increase in participation in community service, Falcons Fighting Hunger (annual food drive), Networking Night, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.  Throughout each of these events we have seen not only more student-athletes participate, but also highly engaged student-athletes as well.
 

My work with student-athletes in these areas has encouraged them to come to me to seek service opportunities, résumé critiques, internship advice, and other opportunities for growth.  The artifacts shown include pictures of student-athletes engaging in community service and participating in Networking Night as well as our Community Service Score Board.   The Community Service Score Board has been a new initiative to stimulate our student-athletes competitive side and channel that energy into positive civic engagement.  Throughout this year, we have seen our reported community service hours more than double while also having a higher number of male student-athletes participating than ever before.