ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University Athletics continues to invest in leadership development and professional growth, with three staff members recently selected for nationally recognized NCAA and conference-sponsored professional development opportunities in 2026.

Terica Peay, Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications, has been selected by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) to participate in the NCAA Division II Professional Development Workshop for Sports Communicators, scheduled for June 2–4, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The workshop will bring together athletics communications professionals from each NCAA Division II conference and independent institutions and marks the first of a four-year initiative specifically focused on advancing sports communications professionals. Participants will engage in leadership development, experiential learning, and peer collaboration designed to strengthen critical thinking, inclusive leadership, and practical workplace skills.

Ashley Jones, athletics intern, recently completed the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, held January 28–30, 2026, in Indianapolis. The three-day seminar is designed for graduate assistants and interns across NCAA member institutions and focuses on leadership development, career readiness, and professional networking. Participants build self-awareness through assessments such as DiSC, practice real-world leadership scenarios, and leave equipped with tools to accelerate their careers in college athletics.

Marcus Kendrick, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Success, was selected by the SIAC as a recipient of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) Professional Development Grant, a joint initiative with NCAA Division II. As part of the award, Kendrick will attend the NACDA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 7–10, and receive a $1,250 stipend to offset professional development expenses. The grant supports continued growth and education for compliance administrators at the Division II level.

"One of my priorities as Director of Athletics is to invest in our people," said Dr. Kristene Kelly, Director of Athletics at Albany State University. "Terica, Ashley, and Marcus each represent the future of college athletics in different ways, and these opportunities reflect both their individual excellence and our department's commitment to growth, learning and leadership."
Albany State Athletics remains committed to developing its staff through intentional professional development opportunities that strengthen the department and enhance the student-athlete experience.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.