DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University Department of Athletics has established a Leadership Academy that is open to all student-athletes with a directive to provide emerging student leaders with the opportunity to develop the technical and practical skills necessary for leadership on their teams, campus community, and beyond.
 
"The Leadership Academy is a program focused on our student-athletes and developing their leadership and life skills over their four years at North Carolina Central University," said Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, NCCU Director of Athletics and the driving force behind the new program.
 
The Leadership Academy, which rolled out at the beginning of the fall semester, is an extension of NCCU's Winning Initiatives to Nurture Growth & Success (WINGS) program that was created to assist student-athletes with balancing academics, athletics and personal growth.
 
As a certification program, Eagles will enroll in the Leadership Academy as freshmen and will be expected to accomplish several programming events throughout their time on campus in order to complete the Leadership Academy. The events will be hosted by the WINGS staff and/or be in conjunction with other campus partners or hired facilitators. 
 
"The Leadership Academy is centered around providing our student-athletes with the technical and practical skills necessary to be leaders on their teams, in the classroom, in the campus community, and in the greater Durham community and beyond," said NCCU Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development Lucy Mason.
 
Each participant will be required to complete eight core curriculum events and eight elective curriculum events for an average of one core and one elective event per semester, along with two special event programs during their four years to successfully graduate from the Leadership Academy.
 
With the program launching in 2020-21, NCCU upperclassmen and transfers will have an opportunity to participate in the Leadership Academy and graduate from it if they meet a proportional number of core and elective curriculum and special programming events based upon their class designation.
 
Core curriculum programs are targeted at building and reinforcing their leadership foundation, including guest speakers and events with alumni, faculty and staff. Elective curriculum programs are aimed at providing additional support in a variety of areas and interests, while also allowing student-leaders the opportunity to gain practical experience like internships and leadership groups. Special event programming will be larger events aimed to promote collaboration, such as career fairs and Women in Sports Day programming.
 
"It all centers around empathy and your communication and negotiating skills," said McCree. "So now we have them thinking about what is going to happen to themselves off the field of play. One of the purposes is to make you think beyond athletics and even academics, and think about life."
 
The basis of the program is to help each participating Eagle understand self-awareness and provide support that is needed to succeed. As a freshman, the Leadership Academy will help student-athletes advocate for themselves, including getting to know who they are and what is important to them while they get acclimated to the campus. It will also provide a space to ask questions. As they progress at NCCU, the Leadership Academy will also assist the student-athletes in building their brand. By their junior year, the program will focus on providing experiences like internships, job shadowing opportunities, resume building, and mock interviews. The Leadership Academy will then focus on helping the student-athletes transition from college to career their senior year, as they jump from a structured environment to independence.
 
As a former student-athlete who oversees the NCCU Leadership Academy in her role as PSP Coordinator, Mason knows the importance of having support along the way in order to succeed. She acknowledges the support she received from NCCU Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Support Services Kwadjo Steele helped her as an undergraduate.
 
"I've been in their shoes before," said Mason. "I understand the difficulties that come with those transitions. It's our hope with this Leadership Academy they will be able to refine their skills, make those connections and meet new people, have new experiences, and ultimately be able to graduate knowing they have all the tools necessary to be successful."
 
McCree also referenced the importance of having mentors like her college volleyball coach Pat Sullivan in helping her develop her leadership and life skills needed as she transitioned from being a student-athlete to a coach and eventually a Director of Athletics.
 
"I understand the benefits of a program that is more centered on developing life skills," said McCree. "For me, when I see those students that have gone through this program already. I've seen some life changing results."
 
The eventual goal of the Leadership Academy is to have all participants certified from the program, giving the student-athlete the skills necessary to succeed after graduating NCCU.
 
"Use your resources," said Mason about her advice to student-athletes. "You have tons of people on campus and within the Athletics Department and Durham community that want to support you, so utilize those people."