BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) continues to strengthen its leadership pipeline as a distinguished group of senior athletics administrators completed the 2026 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute, one of the nation's premier executive development programs for aspiring athletics directors.
NACDA conducted the 2026 Institute in two phases as part of NACDA U Professional Development. The summer session was held June 9-10, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, while the fall session concluded September 20-22, 2026, at Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton in St. Louis, Missouri.
Designed specifically for senior-level intercollegiate athletics administrators, the highly competitive program selects participants through the NACDA U Professional Development Grant process. Ideal candidates are established leaders who hold significant responsibilities within their departments and demonstrate a strong trajectory toward athletic director positions in the near future.
Throughout the program, participants engaged in advanced leadership development, executive performance training, and strategic mentoring designed to prepare future athletics directors for the increasingly complex collegiate athletics landscape. Institute participants received guidance from some of the industry's most respected leaders, including current and former athletics directors, conference commissioners, and higher education executives. The curriculum focused on executive decision-making, crisis leadership, fundraising, governance, organizational culture, external relations, and the essential competencies needed to lead a modern intercollegiate athletic program successfully. The completion of the NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute further demonstrates the SWAC's commitment to developing transformational leaders who are equipped to advance the missions of their institutions, elevate student-athlete success, and shape the future of collegiate athletics.
Among those completing the 2026 NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute were:
• Brent Sumler, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• Cameo Stokes, Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications and Director of Community Relations & Development, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• Cyrus Russ, Deputy Executive Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer, Alabama State University
• Rodney Kirschner, Deputy Athletic Director and Director of Media Relations & Strategic Communications, Southern University
• Hakeem McClelland, Deputy Athletic Director, Jackson State University
• Ajohnee Rodney, Chief of Staff and Associate Athletic Director for Administration, Southern University
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.
Women’s competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit the official website of the SWAC at
www.swac.org.