FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2014
Written by GNAC Specialist Ben Bradley
Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee
members come together to develop leadership
skills
WINTHROP, Mass. – This past Sunday, October 19, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) hosted its 2014 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Conference at Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass. The SAAC event aimed to help student-athletes recognize and develop their leadership skills.
Donald Brooks, Assistant Athletics Director for Peak Performance at Dartmouth College, spoke to the 50 GNAC student-athletes about what makes a good leader. Brooks also facilitated discussions centered on the DiSC assessments the SAAC members took before the event. A DiSC assessment is a tool that helps individuals understand and identify their leadership style, dominance, influence, steadiness and conscientiousness.
The student-athletes had the opportunity to learn about both their own and others’ leadership styles. They worked on applying this understanding to make themselves more effective leaders, on and off the playing field.
“Everyone gets motivated differently and it’s really important to consider that,” said Simmons College women’s lacrosse senior Symonne Fontenot. “I think this would help you find a way to work together.”
Others learned a great deal as well and were excited to use their new skills.
“This was good, really informative,” said Mount Ida football senior Andrew Miller. “Being a captain, I definitely feel like that’s something I need to know. It helps you understand how to communicate.”
“I think it just opens up people eyes,” said Emmanuel College track & field junior Sheila Drakely. “I already knew what our team needs to work on, but I feel like with this, everyone can now be open-minded”.
Mount Ida head softball coach and Senior Women’s Administrator (SWA) Katie Zuman, who serves as the chair of the GNAC SAAC, organized the event along with GNAC Assistant to the Commissioner Rebecca Mullen.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement.
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