Houston Selected to Participate in NCAA Pathway Program
6/26/2023 3:30:00 PM | Athletics
Year-long program helps prepare participants for roles as athletic directors or conference commissioners
HANOVER, N.H. — The NCAA has announced its group of senior-level athletics administrators who will take part in its Pathway Program, which is designed to prepare individuals for the next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. Taurian Houston, Dartmouth's Executive Associate Athletics Director for Administration, is among the 21 administrators chosen to be a part of the 2023-24 cohort.
"I am extremely honored to be selected for this amazing professional development opportunity," Houston said. "I have had the pleasure of working alongside several past participants in the NCAA Pathway program, including Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity (2018-19 Pathway Program participant), who speak to the transformational influence it has had on their respective careers. I am excited to be challenged in a variety of areas to help me become a better administrator and positively impact the lives of the student-athletes we serve here at Dartmouth."
The Pathway Program, under the direction of NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. During the year, the 21 participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, among others in leadership roles.
"I am so excited for Taurian to embrace this valuable opportunity to learn and grow alongside fellow rising stars in the industry," Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity said. "The NCAA Pathway Program was a transformational experience for me, and I am excited to actively support his continued development and refinement as an executive."
The Pathway Program is designed to help cement their leadership purpose and enhance their skills in areas that focus on strategic planning; fundraising; message articulation; diversity, equity and inclusion; organizational leadership; hiring processes; and engagement with search firms. The 2023-24 cohort will meet June 25-30 for a weeklong education session in Indianapolis and will return in October for more programming and to observe their divisions' respective governance meetings. The program will conclude in the summer of 2024.
"The 2022-23 cohort saw four learners ascend into the director of athletics or conference commissioner role, as well as five additional learners promoted into elevated positions that bring them one step closer to leading an athletics department or athletic conference," said DeeDee Merritt, director of leadership development at the NCAA. "The Pathway Program continues to illustrate why it is a signature developmental opportunity for senior-level administrators in the membership. We are excited to embark on another year of transformative change with the 2023-24 cohort and extend sincere thanks to our selection committee for their work."
The Pathway Program was created in 1997 and has produced more than 282 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70% of the program alumni have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
"I am extremely honored to be selected for this amazing professional development opportunity," Houston said. "I have had the pleasure of working alongside several past participants in the NCAA Pathway program, including Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity (2018-19 Pathway Program participant), who speak to the transformational influence it has had on their respective careers. I am excited to be challenged in a variety of areas to help me become a better administrator and positively impact the lives of the student-athletes we serve here at Dartmouth."
The Pathway Program, under the direction of NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. During the year, the 21 participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, among others in leadership roles.
"I am so excited for Taurian to embrace this valuable opportunity to learn and grow alongside fellow rising stars in the industry," Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity said. "The NCAA Pathway Program was a transformational experience for me, and I am excited to actively support his continued development and refinement as an executive."
The Pathway Program is designed to help cement their leadership purpose and enhance their skills in areas that focus on strategic planning; fundraising; message articulation; diversity, equity and inclusion; organizational leadership; hiring processes; and engagement with search firms. The 2023-24 cohort will meet June 25-30 for a weeklong education session in Indianapolis and will return in October for more programming and to observe their divisions' respective governance meetings. The program will conclude in the summer of 2024.
"The 2022-23 cohort saw four learners ascend into the director of athletics or conference commissioner role, as well as five additional learners promoted into elevated positions that bring them one step closer to leading an athletics department or athletic conference," said DeeDee Merritt, director of leadership development at the NCAA. "The Pathway Program continues to illustrate why it is a signature developmental opportunity for senior-level administrators in the membership. We are excited to embark on another year of transformative change with the 2023-24 cohort and extend sincere thanks to our selection committee for their work."
The Pathway Program was created in 1997 and has produced more than 282 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70% of the program alumni have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
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