
Payne and Bonoma to Participate in the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar
January 25, 2016 | General
Graduate Assistants Christian Payne and Grace Bonoma will represent the University of Louisville at the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar
More than 200 interns and graduate assistants at the start of their careers will participate in the 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, the NCAA leadership development department announced. The University of Louisville's graduate assistants Christian Payne and Grace Bonoma will take part in the event.
This year's program will take place Wednesday, Jan. 27 through Jan. 29 at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. A committee comprised of members from the Association – a group that includes current administrators and past seminar participants across all NCAA divisions – selected the participants.
Besides national office interns, 59 conferences and affiliates and 165 schools are represented in the program this year. The Emerging Leaders Seminar provides educational and transitional programming for NCAA graduate assistants and interns who have shown a profound interest in pursuing a career in college sports.
Additionally, Louisville's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development Mark Jurich will participate in the event as a scheduled speaker.
After attending, participants bring back to their schools industry knowledge, leadership awareness and a broadened perspective of intercollegiate athletics. Participants gain valuable insight that helps them structure the next steps for their careers.
"The Emerging Leaders Seminar is a wonderful opportunity for young professionals working in athletics to come to the national office, form a network of like-minded peers and develop knowledge of the college sports industry at all levels," said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer.
Over the eight years of the program's existence, the Emerging Leaders Seminar has welcomed more than 1,000 athletics professionals to the NCAA national office for this engaging education and networking opportunity.
This year's program will take place Wednesday, Jan. 27 through Jan. 29 at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. A committee comprised of members from the Association – a group that includes current administrators and past seminar participants across all NCAA divisions – selected the participants.
Besides national office interns, 59 conferences and affiliates and 165 schools are represented in the program this year. The Emerging Leaders Seminar provides educational and transitional programming for NCAA graduate assistants and interns who have shown a profound interest in pursuing a career in college sports.
Additionally, Louisville's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development Mark Jurich will participate in the event as a scheduled speaker.
After attending, participants bring back to their schools industry knowledge, leadership awareness and a broadened perspective of intercollegiate athletics. Participants gain valuable insight that helps them structure the next steps for their careers.
"The Emerging Leaders Seminar is a wonderful opportunity for young professionals working in athletics to come to the national office, form a network of like-minded peers and develop knowledge of the college sports industry at all levels," said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer.
Over the eight years of the program's existence, the Emerging Leaders Seminar has welcomed more than 1,000 athletics professionals to the NCAA national office for this engaging education and networking opportunity.
Reyna Scott & Laura Ziegler Press Conference 2.24.26
Tuesday, February 24
Jeff Walz Press Conference 2.24.2026
Tuesday, February 24
Louisville Men's Basketball - Pat Kelsey Postgame Press Conference - UNC February 23, 2026
Tuesday, February 24
WBB: Elif Istanbulluoglu & Laura Ziegler Postgame Presser (Virginia 2/22/26)
Sunday, February 22
