PLANO, Texas – Fourteen individuals from various organizations have been selected to attend the fifth annual five-day Learfield Minority Academy, which will be hosted June 11-15 in Dallas, and held in partnership with the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA).
Considered to be a one-of-a-kind event, the Academy was designed to foster minority growth and development in the collegiate multimedia and sponsorship sector. The Minority Academy Selection Committee closely reviewed applicants in determining final selection of the following 14 individuals:
- Gloria Caples, Auburn University
- Timara Gore, Florida State University
- Alejandra Lopez, University of North Texas
- Jacqueline Mattson, University of Texas
- Solomon Randle, Louisiana Tech University
- Ronald Reeves, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
- Delaina Sarden, University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Edwin Servil, Florida State University
- Ludence Smith, ELCO Administrative Services
- D’minia Stokes, Florida State University
- Ngum Suh, NLS Consultants, LLC
- Keith Thurston, Delta Air Lines
- Kevin Williams, Queens College
- Tiana Williams, Howard University
Learfield will host the Academy, which features two and a half days of classroom educational sessions dedicated to sales training, best practices and professional development. The final two days allow attendees to shadow sales staff at a Learfield Division I collegiate property, providing for ultimate engagement in the actual day-to-day operations of Learfield’s multimedia rights relationships.
The mission of MOAA is to provide opportunities to exchange ideas, advocate increased participation and administrative opportunities for minorities in athletics. MOAA also promotes generating a sports culture that supports the values necessary to teach and learn respect for self and others.
About the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association: Administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association promotes equitable employment opportunities for minorities in the athletics industry through the exchange of ideas, the creation of networking opportunities and the avocation of an increase in employment for minorities in athletics administration positions at all levels of the sports industry. The association also promotes cultivating a sports environment that supports the values necessary to accept aspiring professionals from all walks of life. For more information on the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, please visit www.moaaweb.com.
About Learfield: An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. It manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for nearly 130 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic department’s at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.