PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Office of Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships (LDSP) unveiled a four-year, credit-based Leadership Academy curriculum to pilot this Spring 2019 semester. The academic curriculum, developed by Dr. Kristina Navarro, Senior Associate AD Leadership Development and Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Graduate School of Education, presents an intentional holistic program with learning outcomes specifically focused on identity development, career development and leadership development of the student-athlete.

"Providing our student-athletes the opportunity to earn credits within a leadership development curriculum is innovative and at the forefront of providing a best in class experience," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "It's also an example of how Rutgers Athletics will seek to partner with our faculty and schools in the future."

"I am thrilled to embark on this partnership with the Graduate School of Education and specifically the Department of Learning and Teaching with Interim Dean Chinn and Dr. Alisa Belzer," said Navarro. "As a former tenured faculty member, and now professor of practice with the GSE, the scholar-practitioner mindset is at the forefront of every program partnership I have developed between athletics within the higher education setting. 

"In partnership with the GSE, we will work to holistically develop and support both student-athletes and university students that are interested in the impact of athletics in the higher education setting. My life's work has focused on how to best develop, challenge and support this subset of the higher education student body and I am thrilled to work with the GSE as we foster intentional data driven programs."

In the first year on campus, the initial course, Identity Development of the Student-Athlete, will focus on student development theories that help individuals understand dual roles as students and athletes upon entering college. The sophomore year course, Career Development of the Student-Athlete, focuses intentionally on the process of career exploration, choice and preparation while building on the concept of career identity.

The junior year turns towards leadership development, honing in on skills and strategies to develop one's leadership identity in team and professional contexts in life after sport. The final year will incorporate peer-to-peer leadership opportunities in partnership with the Office of Experiential learning.  Here, student-athletes will concentrate on transformational leadership and mentorship in a team environment.

Each course is 1.5 credits and will serve all Rutgers University student-athletes, as the course load caters toward the student-athlete experience and development of life skills after graduation. The courses will also be open to University students with an interest in the impact of athletics on student-athlete development.

"We are excited to partner with LDSP on the Leadership Academy curriculum. With this academically rich curriculum, we're leveraging the expertise of the GSE in the development of educational leaders and shaping the leadership experience that occurs organically in sports teams. This program will empower student-athletes to be strong leaders in educational settings inside and outside of sports and will better prepare them for future opportunities," stated GSE Interim Dean Clark Chinn.

"I am very excited to see the progress of the Office of Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships to develop and foster relationships across the entire Academy.  As the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative I can say that this is at the forefront of intentional collaborative campus and athletics relationships and practices nationally," said Tom Stephens, Rutgers' Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) to the NCAA. 
 

The announcement of the academic-centered Rutgers Leadership Academy comes as part of the restructure of the department to the Office of Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships. LDSP aims to influence the lives of the student-athletes at Rutgers University in their relentless pursuit of career, academic and personal success during college and in life after sport.

 "This holistic development program will continue to enhance how the academy and athletics works in partnerships to best prepare, challenge and support our young men and women who represent Rutgers as student-athletes in the campus, community and in life after sport," said Navarro.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates on the LDSP, follow @RULeadDev on Twitter and Instagram.