DETROIT -- Wayne State University Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA Dr. Candice L. Turner attended the Women Leaders Executive Institute (EI) earlier this week in Kansas City, Mo.

"The opportunity to attend Women Leaders Executive Institute has truly been a highlight of my professional development path!," remarked Turner.  "I appreciate our Director of Athletics Erika Wallace, for  encouraging me along this process!  Wayne State Athletics is going through a huge transformation and I am so proud to be part of the change!  Our city, our campus, our student-athletes and now our culture is our competitive advantage!  Looking forward to using the skills learned in this institute in a number of ways! 

Women Leaders Press Release is below.

Kansas City, Mo. – Women Leaders in College Sports (Women Leaders) held its 2023 Women Leaders / NCAA Executive Institute (EI) with some of the most respected leaders in intercollegiate athletics in attendance.  The Institute ran from June 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Held every other year and organized in partnership with the NCAA, EI provides an immersive development experience that coaches women on executive leadership skills and career strategy.  The intention of the program is to advance high-level women athletic administrators to the top leadership positions — including directors of athletics, conference commissioners, or executive directors/CEOs — within the next two to four years.

The advancement success rate for EI attendees illustrates the program's impact.  One in every two women advances in their career within one year of attending a Women Leaders Institute.  Of the 73 women in the last three classes (2017, 2019, 2021), 80% of the Women (58 of 73) have advanced either to the athletic director position or through other promotions.  Twenty-three (32%) have been named to the Athletic Director position!

"The purpose of EI is to provide a platform for women to enhance their executive presence and leadership brand, understand the nuances of the search process, gain connections with key industry influencers — and ultimately, win executive-level jobs" said Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports.

EI prepares and positions women for advancement to the highest level and features highly influential and experiences faculty including sitting Athletic Directors and Commissioners, executive coaches and search firm representatives.  The full list of faculty is noted below.  Candidates are selected through a comprehensive two-part process that requires an application and a qualified recommendation.  Participants gain access to resources and programming throughout the year following the in-person experience in Kansas City.

The supporting sponsors for this event included, the NCAA, Spelman Johnson, Shine Consulting LLC, Global Prairie, and Generator Studio.

2023 EI attendees are:
Femi Alao, Assistant Director of Athletics/SWA, Roberts Wesleyan University
Brynna Barnhart, Managing Director (Investigations & Processing), NCAA
Rachel Blunt, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Student-Athlete Development & Championship Performance/SWA, University of Missouri
Stacey Bunting, Senior Associate Athletic Director - External Relations, Princeton University
Jessica, Carmack, Assistant Athletic Director/Head Women's Basketball Coach/SWA, Christian Brothers University
Renia Edwards, Interim Athletics Director, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Kristin Fasbender, Director of Championships & Alliances, NCAA
Jessica Grasso, Deputy Commissioner/Chief Financial Officer/SWA, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Ursula Gurney, Deputy Athletic Directors/SWA, University of Missouri – Kansas City
Chelsea Herman, Deputy Athletic Director/SWA, California State University - San Bernardino
Lynn Holleran, Deputy Athletic Director - Administrations, Pennsylvania State University
Paula Jackson, Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, Norfolk State University
Lisa Liotta, Senior Associate Athletics Director/SWA, Canisius College
Jeanette McKillop, Associate Athletic Director/Adjunct Professor/SWA, Franklin Pierce University
Kelli Myers, Canisius College, Georgetown University
Courtney O'Clair, Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, Plymouth State University
Natasha Oakes, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration/SWA, West Virginia University
Sarah Otey, Commissioner, Ohio Athletic Conference
Monica Polizzi, Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Courtnie Prather, Senior Associate Athletic Director - Internal Operations & Physical Education/SWA, University of California - Santa Cruz
Sarah Pruess, Deputy Director of Athletics, Western Illinois University
Chesney Sallee, Vice President of Membership Value & Governance, NAIA
Jennifer Saxon, Executive Associate Athletic Director/SWA, University of Mississippi
Katie Stumpp, Associate Athletic Director of Administration, University of Pittsburgh
Candice L. Turner, Deputy Athletic Director/SWA, Wayne State University (Michigan)
Christie Ward, Deputy Athletic Director/SWA, Catawba College
Emily Wollet, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, University of Illinois Chicago 

2023 Faculty are:
Sandy Barbour, Retired - Penn State
Angie Bennet, Dardis Communication
Jill Bodensteiner, St. Joseph's University
Jen Cohen, University of Washington, Shine Consulting
Herb Courtney, Renaissance Search & Consulting
Julie Cromer, Ohio University
Sheri Fella, Bloombase
Jocelyn Gates, TurnkeyZRG
David Gingerella, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Danielle Harris, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Grant Higgison, Parker Executive Search
Anne-Marie Kenney, Spelman Johnson
Allison Kern, California State University - East Bay
Jenna McLaughlin, Collegiate Sports Associates
Kurt Patberg, Mammoth Sports Consulting
Dena Freeman Patton, Morgan State
Kelley Peatross, Alma College
Keiko Price, Emory University
Desiree Reed-Francois, University of Missouri
DeLaina Sarden, Parker Executive Search
Meg Stevens, Averett University
Gene Taylor, Kansas State University
Angie Torain, University of Chicago
Natalie Winkelfoos, Oberlin College

About Women Leaders in College Sports
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women leaders working in intercollegiate athletics and beyond.  More than 5,000 members strong, Women Leaders promotes the growth, leadership and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches and student-athletes.  Follow Women Leaders on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @WomenLeadersCS.

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From June 25-27, WSU Assistant Athletic Director/Compliance & Student-Athlete Support Coordinator Kayla Papp attended The Institute for Advancement program by Women Leaders in College Athletics.  The institute accepted just over 70 applicants of women working in athletics into their program, which consisted of immersive professional development seminars put on by women leaders in the sports industry.

The NCAA/Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Advancement (IA), formerly known as Institute for Administrative Advancement (IAA) is the premier "level one" leadership development program for women in sport.  An engaging faculty — including leaders representing all NCAA divisions, industry trailblazers, and executives in women's sports prepared, empowered and inspired participants to elevate their performance and advance within the industry.