Ivana M. Rich-Leitner
Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics @Edward Waters University Official
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WORK HISTORY
Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics @Edward Waters University Official
Jacksonville, FL, US
EDUCATION
University of Florida
Certificate, Athlete Development
Virginia State University
Master of Science, Sport Management
Virginia Commonwealth University
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina
Doctor of Education - EdD, Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Technology
Liberty University
Master of Arts (M.A.), Human Services Counseling
ABOUT IVANA M. RICH-LEITNER
I started my career on a volleyball court as an NCAA Division I athlete. Today, I help professional hockey players build a portfolio of activities off the ice.That journey, from student-athlete to sports executive, has shaped everything I believe about leadership, equity, and what it truly means to develop a whole person.Over 15+ years in collegiate and professional sports, I\'ve learned that the most important work in athletics rarely happens on the field. It happens in the academic advisor\'s office. In the compliance meeting. In the career development program that helps a player figure out who they are when the game is over.At the NHLPA, I lead Strategic Initiatives that empower professional athletes through education, leadership, and career transition. I design programs for people at the top of their sport, and help them build the confidence and tools to thrive beyond it.Before joining the NHLPA, I served as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Edward Waters University, where I led the institution\'s transition into NCAA Division II membership, expanding programming, strengthening academic culture, and raising the standard for what student-athlete support looks like at an HBCU.At Norfolk State University, I led academic services and compliance efforts that produced the department\'s highest-ever Graduation Success Rate and a cumulative GPA above 3.0. At Howard University, I advanced holistic development initiatives that put the student ahead of the athlete, without ever asking them to choose.Four HBCUs. One professional sports association. Fifteen years of insisting that excellence, equity, and athlete development belong in the same sentence.I lead with purpose. I build with intention. And I believe the most powerful thing a sports organization can do is invest in its people, all the way through. Open to speaking, collaboration, mentorship, consulting, and conversations about the future of athlete development and equity in sports.
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