Mission Statement:
The CIAA Leadership Academy (CLA) seeks to cultivate and empower transformative leadership across all levels of CIAA athletics. The program aims to enhance professional competencies, foster inclusive leadership, and align athletics leadership development with the broader mission of member institutions and the conference.
The CLA will build a legacy of effective, equitable, and collaborative leadership across the conference. Through strategic, cohort-based programming to every core leadership group within the conference, this initiative will support CIAA’s mission, elevate professional practice, and contribute to long-term excellence in collegiate athletics.
The program is designed to:
*Build leadership capacity across diverse functional areas.
*Advance strategic thinking and equity-centered leadership.
*Support career advancement and staff retention.
*Promote collaboration and shared vision across institutions.
The Academy will include representatives from the following leadership roles within the CIAA:
1. Athletic Directors
2. Senior Woman Administrators
3. Sports Information Directors
4. Athletic Trainers
5. Compliance Directors
6. Faculty Athletic Representatives
7. SAAC Campus Liaisons
8. Coaches
Two groups will participate annually, one in the Fall and one in the Spring over a four-year period:
| Year |
Fall Session |
Spring Session |
| 1 |
Campus SAAC Liaisons |
Senior Woman Administrators |
| 2 |
Faculty Athletic Representatives |
Athletic Trainers |
| 3 |
Compliance Directors |
Sports Information Directos |
| 4 |
Athletic Directors |
Coaches |
Participants will:
*Identify their leadership style and adapt to varying team needs.
*Build skills in strategic communication, planning, and problem-solving.
*Navigate key challenges in collegiate athletics & student athlete well-being.
*Develop actionable leadership development plans aligned with institutional and CIAA goals.
*Strengthen relationships and networks across institutions.
Projected Outcomes:
1. Enhanced leadership competencies and confidence among participants.
2. Stronger alignment between athletics and institutional missions.
3. Increased leadership retention and upward mobility within the CIAA.
4. Cross-campus collaboration and shared leadership practices.
5. Improved student-athlete experience as a result of stronger leadership systems.
Measurement of Success:
*360-Degree Feedback
*Follow-Up Surveys
*Participant Satisfaction Scores
2025 | Year 1 | Fall Session | Campus SAAC Liaisons