DALLAS — Pepperdine track senior Mia Skuraton represented Pepperdine and the West Coast Conference in late November at the NCAA's Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Dallas, Texas.

Organized and hosted by the NCAA leadership development staff, the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum annually provides participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their core values, develop emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability, grow their personal network and develop leadership skills. Division I and II conference offices and Division III schools nominate select student-athletes and administrators to attend the forum.

Across the four-day program, 245 student-athletes, administrators and coaches attended the forum. Only .03% of eligible individuals were ultimately selected to attend. 

This year's program theme, "Adjust Your Sails," aimed to equip student-athletes with leadership skills and empower them to take on greater responsibilities and apply the lessons learned when they are on campus and out in the world. Student-athletes also had the opportunity to attend division-specific governance sessions and participate in a community service activity to support domestic violence survivors.

"My biggest takeaway was that your identity is made up of your values, which give you direction and help you to influence and lead," said Skuraton following the forum. "Having a firm identity is important for creating an impact on others."

Skuraton worked on different methods of leadership throughout the week, gaining insight on how to better yourself in order to become a better leader. This past summer, Skuraton also took part in the Career in Sports Forum in the NCAA, as she was able to reconnect with peers and continue to build relationships with several individuals within NCAA leadership development. 

Across the week, Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement, spoke with learners about how their values anchor the decisions they make in life. Keynote speaker Will Baggett from Emergent Executives closed out the program on the final day by speaking about the best ways to overcome adversity and how to position yourself for success.

Other speakers for the three-day event included Lamar Pottinger, the Director of Performance and Organizational Development for the Detroit Pistons, Dr. Angel Brutus, the President and CEO of Synergistic Solutions and Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, the Vice President of Wellness and Clinical Services for the NFL.

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Pepperdine University boasts one of the most successful athletic programs in the country for a school of its size. The Waves have claimed 10 NCAA Division I team championships and 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.

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