Kirsten McCowan Selected for Prestigious Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Big South Conference Senior Associate Commissioner
Kirsten McCowan was recently selected to participate in the NCAA’s prestigious
Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, a two-year program that aims to elevate participants' leadership skills to accelerate their professional growth while enhancing their ability to excel within their current roles.
McCowan was among 19 selected national athletic administrators that took part in a week of professional development programming July 12-19 in Tampa, Fla. Additionally, 18 athletics administrators who started in the Leadership Institute in the Summer of 2024 took part in the programming in Tampa and were recognized at a graduation ceremony attended by program alumni.
"The Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute is truly the epitome of what leadership development is all about," said
DeeDee Merritt, managing director of leadership development at the NCAA. "This program is designed to be a home and a safe space for our learners, built to allow space for growth and to challenge them. This is where it all comes together. The community that is manifested through the institute goes beyond the year we have them for; it's a lifetime bond."
McCowan is in her third year with the Conference office in 2025-26 and also serves the league’s membership as Senior Woman Administrator. As a first-year program participant, McCowan began with days of activities and learning focused on exploring career aspirations and enhancing essential skills. Attendees explored goals, clarified values and looked closer at their behavioral styles, as well as those of their peers. Administrators also took part in an intensive budget activity, allowing them to engage fellow learners and refine problem-solving skills.
Additionally, those in year one engaged with a variety of subject matter experts and gained knowledge in several areas, such as the challenges of leadership within college athletics, student-athlete welfare issues, strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, compliance, human resources and performance management.
"Being selected for the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute is both a privilege and a pivotal opportunity,” stated McCowan. “This program is known for shaping leaders who drive meaningful change in collegiate athletics, and I’m energized by the chance to grow alongside such an inspiring cohort. My personal mission through this experience is to sharpen my leadership skills so I can more effectively serve the Big South staff and membership, ensuring our work reflects both excellence and purpose. I’m ready to lean in, learn deeply, and lead boldly."
Participants had the opportunity to explore the internal workings of an athletics department with a campus visit to South Florida, where they actively engaged athletics department staff members with discussions of campus culture, organizational structures and communications best practices.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Kirsten has been selected for the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute,” said Big South Commissioner
Sherika Montgomery. “This prestigious leadership development opportunity will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in her continued professional and personal growth. We look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish through this transformative experience.”
Participants graduating from the Leadership Institute in Tampa focused on in-depth personality and leadership assessments aimed at providing them with valuable insight into their strengths and areas of improvement. They worked with a consultant to dissect assessment results and walked away with tangible applications for self-reflection. Additionally, they were assigned an intensive case study activity to hone their skills in collaboration and communication.
The graduating administrators also completed a comprehensive DiSC 363 assessment combining peer and mentor feedback to provide an assessment of their leadership strengths and weaknesses.
More than 400 administrators have graduated from the Leadership Institute since it started in 2002, and more than 60 percent of those individuals have gone on to hold senior leadership positions in college athletics.