June 28, 2010

COLUMBIA, MO – Jaysen Spencer, Academic Coordinator in the Total Person Program at the University of Missouri, recently graduated from the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. He was selected earlier this year as one of 23 participants in this year's class from a pool of national candidates.

Spencer, who works with the Tiger football, soccer and gymnastics teams, attended four weekend development sessions and a week-long workshop at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis with the purpose of expanding their experience in leadership roles in intercollegiate athletics.

The Institute included sessions on leadership and administration, human resource management, finance and fundraising, booster, public and media relations and the inner game of leadership sessions.

"I would like to thank Mike (Alden), Bryan (Maggard), and Joe (Scogin) for the opportunity to participate in one of the NCAA's prestigious leadership development programs," Spencer said.  “During the institute, I truly learned a lot about myself as a person, a colleague, a co-worker, as well as a leader.   The things I learned and experienced over the last 9 months with my classmates in Indianapolis were invaluable to my growth not only as a person, but also as a young professional and leader in intercollegiate athletics.”

The Institute was designed to address the critical shortage of senior-level professionals of color in athletics administrative staff at NCAA member institutions and within conference offices. Mark Alnutt, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration is also a 2003 graduate of the program.

Spencer just completed his third year with Missouri and his seventh in the student support services field.  His responsibilities include tracking the academic progress of student-athletes toward their degree, monitoring of NCAA eligibility and University academic guidelines, and conducting informational sessions to prospective student-athletes and parents.

The Warren, OH native earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from Bowling Green State University in 2000. He completed his Master of Arts degree in Athletic Administration from Kent State University in 2004.