Assistant AD Santiago Pinzon Participates in NCAA Leadership Institute

TROY, Alabama – Troy Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance Santiago Pinzon was selected as one of just 18 minority athletics administrators from across the country to participate this week in the annual NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute in Tampa, Florida.

The Leadership Institute, which is directed by the NCAA leadership development group, aims to elevate participants' leadership skills to accelerate their professional growth while enhancing their ability to excel within their current roles.

"What an amazing opportunity for Santiago this week at the NCAA Leadership Institute," Troy Director of Athletics Brent Jones said. "Santiago is well respected across the Sun Belt Conference and the country within the compliance community, and the Leadership Institute is a tremendous resource for him to broaden his knowledge base which will benefit not only himself, but also Troy Athletics."

The Leadership Institute provides tailored programming to assist ethnic minorities in strategically mapping and planning their careers in athletics administration by providing professional development programming over the course of a calendar year, including five-day programs at the beginning and conclusion of that year. Participants spend time exploring goals, clarifying values and looking closer at behavioral styles.

A native of Cali, Columbia, Pinzon began his career at Troy as a graduate assistant and returned as the Assistant Director of Compliance in 2014. He quickly rose through the ranks and was named Director of Compliance in 2015 and Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance in 2016.

Leadership Institute participants will have the opportunity to explore the internal workings of an athletics department with a visit to a local university, where they will actively engage athletics department staff members with discussions of campus culture, organizational structures and communications best practices. Participants also will gain knowledge in a variety of topic areas, such as student-athlete welfare issues, diversity and inclusion issues at all levels of college athletics, strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, compliance, human resources and performance management within the organization.

Pinzon will be invited back next year for the second phase of the programming which includes an experiential learning opportunity surrounding decision-making and group communications, a session on business strategies and stakeholder engagement within collegiate athletics, preparation in conveying one's personal narrative in the interview setting and a group project aimed at helping administrators think critically about branding and marketing.

Troy University Athletics

Assistant AD Santiago Pinzon Participates in NCAA Leadership Institute

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