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Leadership Academy

ITHACA COLLEGE SPORTS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
 
“Developing Leaders for Success in Sport and Life”
 
Director of Athletics: Susan Bassett 
Academy Director:  Greg A. Shelley, Ph.D.
 
 
Mission:  As one of the premier leadership development programs in college athletics, the Ithaca College Sports Leadership Academy challenges, mentors, and develops Ithaca’s student-athletes and coaches in the ongoing pursuit of individual and team leadership. The Ithaca College Sports Leadership Academy provides tailored programming via interactive workshops, experiential activities, observational feedback, one-on-one coaching, peer mentoring, as well as certificate of completion recognition for all graduating program participants.  A primary goal of the Ithaca College Sports Leadership Academy is to prepare students to excel in all areas of their lives during and after college, enhance Ithaca College’s outstanding reputation, as well as provide athletics with a distinct advantage in competing at a high level nationally. 
 
Benefits of the Ithaca College Sports Leadership Academy
Effective leadership plays a critical role in the overall success of any athletic department.  For Ithaca College, the benefits of the Leadership Academy are both numerous and long ranging.  Benefits of the Academy include but are not limited to:
 
  • assuring Ithaca College as one of the premier sports leadership programs,
  • attracting and retaining talented student-athletes and coaches,
  • providing coaches with committed and responsible student-athlete leaders and captains,
  • advancing student-athletes with marketable (life-long) leadership skills,
  • facilitating the transitions of first-year and transfer student-athletes into the Ithaca Family,
  • educating against self-destructive and inappropriate behaviors (e.g., alcohol, drugs, social media, etc.),
  • enhancing the national reputation and competitive success of Ithaca College Athletics,
  • maintaining and enhancing student-athlete academic performances and graduation rates,
  • strengthening alumni relations,
  • developing head and assistant coaches to be more effective leaders and mentors, and
  • building positive and trusting relationships with student-athletes, coaches, and administrators
  • strengthening values of respect and integrity to better contribute to an overall campus climate of diversity and inclusion.

STUDENT-ATHLETE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TESTIMONIALS

"I think it has really helped me from a self-assessment standpoint. As a student, I've definitely improved, as an athlete I've improved, but you don't think about the leadership piece until you really look at yourself in the mirror and realize that everything you are doing is actually affecting your teammates. It was a big lesson for me and I think I've definitely matured over the past few years into a great player and a pretty good student, but a good leader as well." - Eli Gobrecht '17 - Men's Lacrosse

"The Leadership Academy creates a community because we're all in this together. We're all on the same page and we realize not only are we leaders on the field for our respective teams, we're also leaders on campus, too. I've become a better leader on campus. I'm able to recognize when I should say something versus when I should lead by example. It's great for all student-athletes to get together in one place and talk about the issues we face on campus. The group discussions we have are the most beneficial aspect." - Holly Niemiec '17 - Women's Soccer

"Leadership Academy made me a better leader and it made me more confident in my leadership skills. Being able to make an impact through communication, through character, and through leading by example. Those are the little things the Leadership Academy has taught us along the way. A lot of what we learned will stay with us beyond our time at Ithaca as we can take this into the work place." - Malik Morris '16 - Football

"It was good to meet other athletes from other sports. There is a lot of interaction at the Academy with athletes from other sports and we can learn a lot from each other." - Kimberley Wong '17 - Golf

"We are definitely trying to lead by example, which is the biggest lesson we learned in Leadership Academy. It has been a big adjustment this year as we have a whole new team, but from the first day we have all been working hard and working well together." - Marni Blumenthal '16 - Women's Tennis

"The program that Dr. Shelley has created and implemented with Susan Bassett here at Ithaca College is just tremendous. Not only do I get to work with Dr. Shelley within that program, but I am also lucky enough to sit down with him afterwards. He has been a huge mentor for me in leadership as a coach, as a person and even as an athlete." - Cait Finn - Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant
 

PAST RELEASES ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Sept. 17, 2014 - Ithaca College Launches Leadership Academy

Dec. 3, 2014 - John Felker '78 Presents at Leadership Academy

Jan. 28, 2015 - Leadership Academy Welcomes New Class

March 25, 2015 - Hunders of Athletes Attend Leadership Panel

January 28, 2016 - Malik Morris Embraces Role as Leader on Campus

February 4, 2016 - Holly Niemiec Grows Into Well-Represented Leader at IC

February 24, 2016 - Cait Finn Helps Student-Athletes Reach Their Potential

April 8, 2016 - Eli Gobrecht's Stellar Play on Defense Sparks Men's Lacrosse

December 1, 2017 - Leadership Academy Hosts "Voices of Experience" Event