BALTIMORE – The Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) conducted their annual in-person meeting Tuesday and Wednesday at Under Armour’s Global Headquarters.
The two-day meeting included a professional development workshop, a community service event, discussion around national college athletics issues including name, image and likeness (NIL) and strategic planning regarding those issues.
A portion of the Wednesday schedule of the summit also included an interactive fireside chat with Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade and George Washington Associate Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Lipitz.
"This was a great opportunity for SAAC across the board. Their experience at Under Armour’s Global Headquarters and the connections they were able to make, and their question-and-answer session with Commissioner McGlade and Michael Lipitz was really important to the student-athletes,” said A-10 Associate Commissioner Candy Cage.
There were 13 representatives from A-10 institutions:
| Name |
School |
Year |
Sport |
| Jasmine Timmerson |
Davidson |
Jr. |
Women’s Basketball |
| Eleanor Monyek |
Dayton |
Sr. |
Women’s Basketball |
| Avery Wentzel |
Duquesne |
Jr. |
Women’s Lacrosse |
| Hope Nolan |
Fordham |
Sr. |
Women’s Swimming & Diving |
| June Johnson |
George Mason |
Jr. |
Rowing |
| Solange Skeene |
George Washington |
Jr. |
Women’s Tennis |
| Veronica Brewer |
La Salle |
Sr. |
Rowing |
| Maddy Hickey |
Loyola Chicago |
Jr. |
Softball |
| Alex Arboghast |
Rhode Island |
Jr. |
Men’s Track & Field |
| Maya Beasley |
Richmond |
Jr. |
Women’s Golf |
| Taylor Trowbridge |
Saint Joseph’s |
Sr. |
Softball |
| Daniel Jekov |
Saint Louis |
Sr. |
Men’s Swimming & Diving |
| Philip Daniel |
VCU |
Sr. |
Men’s Track & Field |
The professional development workshop began the meetings, and Jeremiah Brown, the CEO of the LEAD Company facilitated the program, which was titled “The EQ Advantage: How SAAC Leaders Build Culture and Lead with Emotional Intelligence.”
“This year’s A-10 SAAC meeting was truly transformational. It provided a powerful space for leadership development and thoughtful dialogue on the most pressing issues in college athletics,” said Daniel Jekov, a swimming & diving student-athlete at Saint Louis University. “Connecting with my fellow student-athletes from across the conference offered invaluable insight and inspiration. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together and even more energized by the vision SAAC is building for the future of the A-10.”
Jekov, who has served as SAAC Executive Board President, handed off the reigns to June Johnson, a rowing student-athlete from George Mason. Jekov will continue to serve as the A-10 representative to the NCAA National SAAC.
Tuesday’s events also included an in-depth tour of the Global Headquarters of A-10 partner Under Armour, and a video shoot with the Atlantic 10 Advance Media content team.
Following the first day of meetings, the SAAC participated in a second workshop on Tuesday evening, working with the Baltimore Improv Group for a team building, collaboration and creativity event.
“The opportunity for professional development with the improv group was a really fun sidebar activity for the SAAC to work on teambuilding as they prepare for the upcoming school year," added Cage, who serves as the A-10’s liaison with the conference SAAC representatives.
Wednesday’s activities included an update on the House vs. NCAA settlement from Atlantic 10 Associate Commissioner Michael Sainte’, and round table discussion on other national issues, including a national student-athlete letter to the United State Congress, NIL, the SAAC strategic priorities and a sharing of institutional SAAC campus initiatives happening across the league’s 14 members.
The meetings concluded with the fireside chat with McGlade and Lipitz, generating an important dialogue between the student-athletes, the league commissioner and one of the athletic directors for meaningful discussion on issues directly related to Atlantic 10 student-athletes.