Nov. 1, 2007

Cleveland, Ohio - The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) will launch a Female Mentoring Program beginning in January 2008. The program is geared to assist NACMA female members who are looking to pursue a career in athletics administration.

A growing trend in intercollegiate athletics shows that most women who begin careers in athletics administration do not stay in the industry long-term. The Female Mentoring Program will encourage those females to stick with it and help them through the "growing pains" of being a young athletics administrator.

"This new venture with NACMA is right in line with NACDA's mission of providing educational opportunities and serving as a vehicle for networking, the exchange of information and advocacy on behalf of the profession," stated Joan Cronan, NACDA 1st Vice President and women's athletics director at the University of Tennessee. "With the growing trend of women not staying in athletics administration long-term, the Female Mentoring Program will help show the younger administrators how to excel in the industry, while balancing life away from the office."

The mentor will be asked to: share experiences and advice about how to excel in the industry, while balancing life outside of work; encourage the mentee to reach her professional/personal development goals; and provide professional and technical instruction, while also providing additional resources to help the mentee gain confidence to move ahead professionally.

"Both NACMA and NACDA are dedicated to the growth and advancement of women in collegiate athletics," said Mary Pink, NACMA President and assistant athletics director for marketing and promotions at Iowa State. "By forming this mentoring program, we can now offer new professionals positive role models to assist in their professional growth."

About NACMA: NACMA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics marketing administrators. 

About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 43rd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,400 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 10 professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.