Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Wellesley Field Hockey’s Azzi Attending NCAA Career in Sports Forum

Alex Berman Photography
Alex Berman Photography

WELLESLEY, Mass. — Wellesley College field hockey senior Alex Azzi (Rye, N.H.) is attending the NCAA Career in Sports Forum this weekend, June 4-7, in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the sixth-straight year, more than 200 current student-athletes and NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipients with an interest in working within sports were invited to attend. Azzi is one of three representative from the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), as both Billy Schmid of Springfield College men's soccer and Rebecca Olivieri of the Wheaton College women's basketball are also in attendance this weekend. 

Participants who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in sports, and who were viewed as leaders on their campus, were invited to apply to attend the forum after a nomination by athletics administrators at their respective schools. Many current and past attendees are members of their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the student-athlete voice within the NCAA governance structure.  

"Supporting NCAA student-athlete leaders with their education is a key goal for the Association," said Dr. Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer. "Our Career in Sports Forum puts student-athletes and postgraduate scholarship recipients in a non-traditional academic setting where they can learn directly from successful leaders, which can have a positive impact on their future after graduation."  

One of more than 20 annual programs and resources organized and directed by the NCAA leadership development department, the Career in Sports Forum provides college athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with the primary focus on college athletics. The forum provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in the sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.  

Forum attendees will hear from keynote speakers and panelists, highlighted by NCAA president Mark Emmert, Great Lakes Valley Conference commissioner Jim Naumovich, Ole Miss Director of Athletics Ross Bjork. The participants also learn best practices for gaining employment and gathering a better understanding of what future expectations will be once they get a job in sports. 

The NCAA leadership development department provides professional and personal development for the entire Association, including student-athletes, coaches and administrators, through accessible resources, strategic partnerships and annual customized programming at little or no cost to the membership. For more information, please go to www.NCAA.org/leadershipdevelopment.