DePauw’s Pickett selected to NCAA Pathway Program

Asaundra Pickett, DePauw associate athletics director for internal operations and director of the Welch Fitness Center, has been selected to the NCAA’s 2022-23 Pathway Program, which is a yearlong initiative designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for the next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. She is one of 22 individuals chosen, including just five in Division III.

Under the NCAA leadership development direction, 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. Throughout this year-long program, the 22 participants are paired with and regularly connect with a campus or conference mentor. The Pathway Program is designed to help participants solidify their leadership purpose and strengthen 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 Pathway Program continues to be a signature offering that is highly impactful across the college sports landscape,” said DeeDee Merrit, NCAA director of leadership development. “We are looking forward to embarking on a transformational journey with the 2022 cohort. I want to thank the Pathway selection committee for taking on the arduous task of steering an evaluation process that was filled with outstanding applicants.”

Pickett, who was promoted to her current role in 2019, joined the DePauw athletics staff in August 2014 as assistant director of the Welch Fitness Center and assistant director of strength and conditioning. She oversees budgets, handles transportation, and assists in managing facilities and events. Along with supporting an athletics program of 600 student-athletes and 23 varsity sports, Pickett has volunteered for DePauw’s Posse Scholars program, mentoring cohorts of 10 students from Chicago.

She was recognized by the DePauw student body as a Staff Member of the Year recipient for the 2020-21 academic year and has been an active member of the NCAA student-athlete Leadership Forum as a facilitator since 2019. In 2019 Pickett was selected as a recipient of the Emerging Athletic Administrator Award by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA). She also served on the NCAA Division III field hockey regional advisory committee during the fall of 2021.

The Pathway Program was established in 1997 and has produced more than 100 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, over 70% of the program alumni have earned some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.

This year’s cohort is meeting in Indianapolis, June 5-9, for a weeklong education session, with the program concluding in the summer of 2023.