UIndy Athletic Director Kim Pate led the start of the Hounds Leadership Academy, a three-year program designed to allow student-athletes the opportunity to excel in the classroom, as individuals and in their sport.
Pate created a similar academy at her previous university, Lenoir-Rhyne, and observed its impact on student-athletes. She said she wants to bring the Hounds their own leadership academy because it is a pillar for student-athlete development.
“We want to prepare student athletes for success in life, and we talk about winning as students, as people and as athletes,” Pate said. “To me, I think leadership is one of the most impactful skills we can give to our student athletes.”
Pate said the HLA has begun to select members of their inaugural class, and the program is searching for student-athletes who have a strong desire to grow and become leaders. Coaches can recommend athletes of high character whom they believe are suitable for the program. Student athletes also have to complete a minimum of five service hours per semester and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, according to Pate.
“The first year [of the program] is foundational, learning the leadership concepts,” Pate said. “The second year is building on those concepts and starting to incorporate mentorship for the previous cohort. The third year is focused on helping them to discover how to transition to life after sport and how they will apply their leadership skills to their careers.”
Associate Athletic Director for Academics and the Senior Woman Administrator, Andrea Walker, brings a background of service to the program, having worked for AmeriCorps, according to UIndy Athletics. Walker said one of UIndy’s mottos is “service for impact,” which this program will fulfill as student-athletes continue to give back to the community through a local, non-profit organization called Team Impact.
“We have six athletic teams that work with Team Impact and essentially have adopted a younger person who may have some limitations that stop them from being able to participate in sports,” Walker said. “These Team Impact members get to really be a part of the team and an athletic experience they may not be able to have on their own.”
Walker said the HLA ties directly into the strategic plan of leveraging athletics to support enrollment, retention and student engagement. She added that the leadership program is strategically positioning UIndy to recruit and retain student-athletes who value that well-rounded experience.
The athletic department is looking forward to launching this new initiative and providing student-athletes with an opportunity that will benefit them in the future. According to Walker, that is ultimately what the HLA is all about, ensuring that student-athletes are invested in and are developed beyond their years at UIndy.
“It’ll provide a unique learning opportunity for professional and career development that will extend beyond the locker room to the campus and community,” Walker said. “It will give student athletes more skills and tools to use beyond their experience here at UIndy.”
