Carson Seeman (Indiana State baseball) and Kendee Hilliard (Missouri Valley Conference Director of Community Relations) represented the league office at the 2025 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Dallas, Texas, Nov. 20-23. 

Across the four-day program, 245 student-athletes, administrators and coaches all embarked on a journey to learn more about navigating the ever-changing tides of leadership.

Organized and hosted by the NCAA leadership development staff, the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum annually provides participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their core values, develop emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability, grow their personal network and develop leadership skills. Division I and II conference offices and Division III schools nominate select student-athletes and administrators to attend the forum.

Building relationships was a key focus of the program and was encouraged through small-group activities. Learners were each assigned to a color team with about 30 other student-athletes, coaches and administrators, as well as two trained facilitators, who serve as college athletics administrators on campuses throughout the NCAA membership.

This year's program theme, "Adjust Your Sails," aimed to equip student-athletes with leadership skills and empower them to take on greater responsibilities and apply the lessons learned when they are on campus and out in the world.

In day two's opening session, Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement, spoke with learners about how their values anchor the decisions they make in life. Student-athletes also had the opportunity to attend division-specific governance sessions and participate in a community service activity to support domestic violence survivors.

For administrators and coaches, Lamarr Pottinger, CEO of Determined To Be Great Consulting, facilitated an interactive workshop with administrators and coaches on the leadership pipeline framework, addressing the different levels and responsibilities of leadership. 

All learners attended sessions surrounding their well-being during day three. Angel Brutus, president and CEO of Synergistic Solutions, talked with student-athletes about the importance of monitoring their well-being and overall health, while Nyaka NiiLampti, vice president of wellness and clinical services for the NFL, led coaches and administrators through discussions on maintaining their mental health.

Keynote speaker Will Baggett from Emergent Executives closed out the program on the final day by speaking about the best ways to overcome adversity and how to position yourself for success. He challenged learners to not wait for the change they want to see, but to step outside their comfort levels to lead that change.