Lauren Lesser

llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Professional Development Plan

As a young professional in the field of Student Affairs, I have identified two main focus areas I
would like to explore as I further my education both in the classroom and through various
practicum experiencescollegiate athletics and Title IX. I have only just begun to dip my toes in
these two areas of interest, and I am enthusiastic about diving into more hands-on experiences
through my graduate assistantship and various other opportunities available to me as I
continue my schooling at Kent State University.

This Professional Development Plan details five areas of growth I plan to engage in as a
graduate student in Kents Higher Education and Student Personnel program. Alongside these
key points of growth are specific measures I will take in effort to meet these goals along with a
tentative timeline for each action item. All of these goals align with my hopes of exploring
possible professional opportunities available to me upon completion of my program and
helping me identify which path is right for me.
 Lauren Lesser
llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Identify key players in Kent States Athletic Department and establish connections to better
understand how an athletic department functions at the Division I level while also learning more
about potential careers in the field.

Action Steps - Perform informational interviews with

How will I assess this knowledge area?
Why is this knowledge area important?
Timeline
administrators/staff members in the department
(Director of Athletic Communications, Deputy
Director of External Operations, Assistant Athletic
Director for Academic Services, Assistant Athletic
Director for Compliance, etc.).
- Develop an informational interview protocol.
- Set up meetings (approximately two
informational interviews a month) to speak with
these members of the Athletic Department.
- Do not lose these connections upon completion
of informational interviewfollow up with thank
you emails and in asking about various
opportunities that may be available in the office
- Keep a journal and reflect on the informational
interviews upon completion of the conversation.
Ask myself if I could see being in that role. What
are the challenges/rewards of the position?
Would I enjoy the work I would be doing? What
impact are these administrators making on the
students they work with?
- Having this knowledge will allow me to gauge my
interest in various roles within collegiate athletics
while also making connections in the field.
- I will be able to identify specific skillsets I will
need in order to become successful in the field.
- Conducting informational interviews will give me
a better gist of a position than what a job
description looks like on paper.
- Complete informational interviews by February in
order to have a strong knowledge of the
functions of a Division I Athletic Department
while also giving me the opportunity to apply for
summer/fall internship opportunities. First
informational interview is scheduled for Tuesday,
November 7.
 Lauren Lesser
llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Identify and explore the differences between the three divisions of NCAA college athletics: Division
I, Division II, and Division III. Learn about the different compliance factors and investigate student-
success/retention rates. Broaden my view having only worked at DIII institutions.

Action Steps - Research various institutions, participation gaps, and

conference guidelines and stipulations.
- Attend the 2018 NCAA Convention in January and engage in
various workshops from all levels. Attend all three
compliance meetings
(http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/events/convention).
How will I assess this knowledge - Compare and contrast what I learn at the conference to
area? what I learned through my own research.
- Ask questions of the connections I have made thus far
within the field of collegiate athletics (prior institutions
Athletic Directors, past conference directors, etc.).
- Make a list of questions I am still unsure of regarding
compliance factors and engage in more research.
Why is this knowledge area - This knowledge will be incredibly helpful as I am applying for
important? positions after completion of my program. Athletic
compliance issues are incredibly different from division to
division, and I currently do not have a strong basis for how
any institutions function aside from that of Division III
institutions.
- This knowledge will help me make students aware of
different infractions and hold both them and their programs
accountable.
Timeline - Attend the convention in January 2018.
- Engage in independent research through May 2018.
 Lauren Lesser
llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Explore overlap in the fields of college athletics and Title IX. Can my two interests be combined?
Where is the overlap in these two functional areas?

Action Steps - Become involved in the Women Leaders in College

How will I assess this knowledge area?
Why is this knowledge area important?
Timeline
Sports Title IX Member Circle in order to connect with
professionals in the field and develop a mentor
relationship through the organization
(https://www.womenleadersincollegesports.org/WL/for-
members/member-circles/WL/For_Members/member-
circles.aspx?hkey=001c0ef3-271a-4cac-a369-
0ac2e6ff8c05)
- Engage in conversation with Kents compliance
administrator to discuss their role and how they have
obtained their role.
- Engage in the same conversation with at least two other
compliance/Title IX administrators from different types
of institutions to compare and contrast along with
getting a full picture (examples: Hiram and Case
Western).
- Becoming more engaged in the Member Circle within my
Women Leaders in College Sports affiliation will allow
me to stay up to date on current Title IX trends within
collegiate athletics while also challenging me to explore
more in depth the topic.
- Evaluate differences between the types of institutions.
This will also aid in helping me have a grasp on exactly
what type of institution I hope to someday work at.
- In some aspects, these two areas of interest, college
athletics and Title IX, are very different. However,
because Title IX covers such a wide range of
controversial topics within the college environment, it
also touches within college athletics. It is important for
me to identify this overlap and explore my options while
also staying up to date on the latest trends.
- The Women Leaders in College Sports Member Circles
accept new members each January. I have applied to the
Title IX circle as a graduate student and am currently
waiting on my decision.
- Meet with Title IX/compliance officers at the various
institutions by the end of the spring semester.
 Lauren Lesser
llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Identify key players in Kents Title IX violation process and explore how other types of institutions
encourage students to report instances of Title IX violations to better understand what
professional roles are available in the field and what careers in Title IX entail.

Action Steps - Attend the Fall 2018 ATIXA/SCOPE Joint National

How will I assess this knowledge area?
Why is this knowledge area important?
Timeline
Conference to better understand the concept of
compliance in conjunction with prevention on
college campuses as a whole
(https://atixa.org/events/columbus-2018/).
- Perform an informational interview with Kents
Title IX coordinator by June 2018.
- Connect/engage in conversation with those in
similar roles in different types of institutions. Find
out how other institutions functiondo they
have a designated person for Title IX compliance?
Who else may be responsible for these types of
responsibilities on a college campus?
- Keep a reflection journal about the information I
uncover at both the conference and within
speaking to different professionals in the field.
Reflect on how the roles differ, the different
perspectives I find, and which institutions seem
to be performing the best.
- Especially within the realm of Title IX, each
institution does things differently, thus making it
essential to perform these informational
interviews. In order for me to learn more about
roles within Title IX, I need to get the larger
picture.
- Attend the ATIXA/SCOPE conference in October
2018.
- Engage in informational interviews as the year
persistsfirm up a meeting with Kents Title IX
coordinator by January 2018.
 Lauren Lesser
llesser@kent.edu (609) 923-6054 Kent, OH

Investigate whether Kent engages in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) program
through the NCAA. If so, how does this board impact college athletics at Kent? Do they actively use
their votes for compliance/rule and regulation issues at the NCAA level?

Action Steps - Use the NCAA SAAC directory to see if Kent has an active
program by the end of the fall semester
(http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/ncaa-student-
athlete-advisory-committees-saacs).
- Attend the SAAC workshops at the 2018 NCAA Convention
to see how other institutions utilize the group
(http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/events/convention).
- Pending whether or not Kent does engage in the SAAC
board, bring back new ideas for the conference or start up a
chapter on campus by May 2019.
How will I assess this knowledge - After doing the initial research as to where Kent stands with
area? their SAAC committee, I will have to hold myself
accountable for engaging in steps to make the group more
active/getting involved in the group myself.
Why is this knowledge area - SAAC, at all levels of collegiate athletics within the NCAA,
important? has the ability to have their voice heard in terms of
compliance issues and the ever changing rules and
regulations of recruitments, out of season practice
schedules, etc.
- SAAC also has the ability to educate other students and
develop programming on campus to highlight and bring
awareness to issues and trends within the world of college
athletics.
- Engaging with the campus SAAC, I would be able to further
my knowledge of how to talk about these topics with
student athletes in a manner that they will listen and gain
insight from while also helping me keep up with trends
myself.
Timeline - Attend the NCAA Convention in January 2018
- Work on becoming engaged with Kents SAAC in whatever
situation it currently sits by May 2019.