ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics/Senior Women’s Administrator Bethany Marren was one of 22 administrators from across the country selected for the 2025-26 NCAA Pathway Program–a yearlong initiative designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for their next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
Under the direction of NCAA leadership development, the Pathway Program is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. During the year, the participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, along with others in leadership roles.
“We are incredibly proud of Bethany for being selected to participate in the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program,” said RIT Executive Director of Athletics Jacqueline Nicholson. “This honor is a testament to her leadership, dedication, and the positive impact she continues to make within our department and the broader campus community. The Pathway Program is designed for those ready to take the next step in their careers, and Bethany exemplifies the talent and drive this initiative seeks to elevate. Her selection reflects not only her professional growth but also the strength of RIT Athletics and our commitment to developing future leaders in college sports.”
The program is structured to help cement their leadership purpose and enhance their skills in areas that focus on strategic planning; fundraising; message articulation; diversity, equity and inclusion; organizational leadership; hiring processes; and engagement with search firms. The 2025-26 cohort will meet June 22-27 for a weeklong education session in Indianapolis. Participants will return in the fall for more programming and to observe their divisions’ respective governance meetings. The program will conclude in the summer of 2026 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics conference in Las Vegas.
Marren enters her 10th season on the administrative staff at RIT, including the last eight as associate director of athletics for compliance after spending her first two years as assistant director. Named the department’s Senior Women’s Administrator during the 2023-24 academic year, Marren oversees the department’s NCAA, university, and governmental compliance requirements and NCAA team and individual eligibility processes while also managing the student-athlete conduct process along with rules education and enforcement for all student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Currently serving a four-year term (2022-26) on the NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee, she has previously completed the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Senior Mentoring Institute (2023) and the Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement 2018.
“I am honored to be selected for the NCAA Pathway Program,” said Marren. “This opportunity represents a pivotal step in my professional journey, and I am committed to upholding the program’s standard of excellence while contributing meaningfully to the future of intercollegiate athletics. I want to express my gratitude toward Jackie Nicholson for her nomination and encouragement to apply for the program!”
The Pathway Program was created in 1997 and has produced more than 300 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70% of the program alumni have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
“The Pathway Program remains a proven cornerstone of leadership development in college athletics,” said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. “It equips senior-level administrators with the tools, insights and network to take the next step in their careers. We look forward to another year of growth and impact with the 2025–26 cohort.”
The following have been selected for the 2025-26 NCAA Pathway Program:
- Sam Atkinson, associate athletics director for communications, Gallaudet.
- Shawn Bragg, director of athletics internal operations, Saint Michael’s.
- Shamaree Brown, senior associate athletics director for student services, Iowa State.
- Demetrus Caldwell, deputy athletics director, chief of staff, Cal State LA.
- Niesha Campbell, deputy director of athletics/chief operating officer/senior woman administrator, Austin Peay.
- Rick Canter, associate vice president/deputy athletics director, Jacksonville.
- Larry Earnesty, senior associate director of athletics, Millersville.
- Emily Fulton, associate athletics director for internal operations/senior woman administrator, VMI.
- Brittney Johnson, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator/chief integrity officer, Florida A&M.
- D’Ann Keller, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Buffalo.
- Kevin Kendrick, senior associate athletics director for compliance/deputy Title IX coordinator, Florida International.
- Bethany Marren, associate director of intercollegiate athletics/compliance/senior woman administrator, Rochester Institute of Technology.
- Carrie Michaels, senior associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Shippensburg.
- Paul Perrier, executive senior associate athletics director, Southern California.
- Ariel “AP” Pesante, senior associate athletics director for internal operations, Georgetown.
- Deidre Pierson, interim director of athletics/associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Hamilton.
- Davon Robb, senior associate athletics director of competitive excellence, Rice.
- Adam Skaggs, associate director of athletics, Suffolk.
- Christie Ward, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Catawba.
- Richard Warren, associate vice president for athletics, Hanover.
- Lori Williams, deputy athletics director for leadership and strategy, LSU.
- Abby Wilson, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, University of Central Florida.
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