By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Kyana Benjamin (Jr., Lubbock, TX/Lubbock HS), a middle hitter on the Willamette University volleyball team, will attend the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program. Benjamin and other student-athletes chosen for the program will attend the 2020 NCAA Convention from Jan. 22-25 in Anaheim, California. A total of 40 student-athletes from ethnic minority groups will be involved in the Student Immersion Program, which is scheduled to take place during the convention. Leslie Shevlin, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Willamette, will be an administrative mentor with the program.
Participants in the program will learn about NCAA Division III and the process of passing new NCAA legislation. All athletes in the Student Immersion Program will complete a DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) personal assessment tool. The DiSC results will be a starting point for discussing behavioral differences and will also help each student-athlete learn about their own motivations and style of interacting with others.
"We are so happy that Kyana was selected into the NCAA Immersion Program," Shevlin commented. "Kyana will be able to see what happens at the NCAA Convention and will have the opportunity to connect with people in the industry she is interested in pursuing professionally."
"I feel very honored that Coach (Tom) Shoji and the athletic department gave my the opportunity to apply," Benjamin said. "I'm excited to get a new perspective on college athletics. The convention will also expose me to many different perspectives and initiatives. I will be able to learn about other universities' diversity initiatives. It will give me a better idea of the advantages and disadvantages of different initiatives at Willamette."
The Student Immersion Program also includes administrative mentors who help student-athletes learn about careers in coaching and athletic administration. Mentors help participants in the program develop their skills while making plans for career advancement. Renee Bostic from Notre Dame University in Maryland is Benjamin's mentor this year.
"I am honored to be participating as an Administrative Mentor," Shevlin said. "I will have the opportunity to mentor two program participants from other institutions. We will have a networking event, a breakfast, and will attend some of the Division III programming together. I truly love what I do, why I do it, and where I get to work. I am excited to share my experiences."
Launched in 2015, the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program is designed to develop talented ethnic minority candidates for jobs in intercollegiate athletics with a focus on coaching and administrative jobs in NCAA Division III.
Benjamin completed her third season on the volleyball team this past fall. She played in all 25 matches and all 91 sets for the Bearcats during the 2019 season, while contributing 101 kills and 66 total blocks. She has competed in 47 matches and 129 sets during her career.
