Organization: Villanova University Athletics 

Position Title: Academic Support & UNITAS: Community, Culture, and Engagement McLendon Fellow 

Reports to: Assistant Athletic Director of UNITAS & Associate Director of Academic Support for Athletics 

Location: Villanova, PA

Search Contact: Prodigy Search & McLendon Foundation 

BACKGROUND 

The McLendon Leadership Initiative (MLI) is a national fellowship program that provides access and opportunity while developing principled leaders prepared to make an impact in the sports industry.

Open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree who aspire to build a career in sports, the program seeks those who embody the values of Coach John McLendon and offer unique perspectives shaped by a variety of personal, educational, and professional backgrounds.

MLI offers a year-long professional development experience through placements at leading athletic departments and sports organizations across the country.

SUMMARY

Villanova University’s Department of Athletics is seeking an Academic Support and UNITAS McLendon Fellow to contribute to both academic support services and UNITAS initiatives for the Athletic Department. This position will report to both the Assistant Athletic Director of UNITAS and the Associate Director of Academic Support for Athletics. The fellow will work closely with the Office of Academic Support for Athletics (OAS) to provide academic advising and support, monitor academic progress and eligibility, collaborate with campus and athletics partners, and contribute to the overall academic success and development of student-athletes. Additionally, the fellow will assist in the development and implementation of UNITAS programming, supporting strategic initiatives, event planning, education, training and awareness programming, manage communication outlets i.e. social media, and student-athlete development efforts. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in both academic services and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment within athletics.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Support

• Collaborate with Office of Academic Support for Athletics (OAS) staff to provide comprehensive academic support services for varsity student-athletes. 
• Support daily operations, including academic advising, the Tutorial Assistance Program, course registration, eligibility certification, workshops, events, and overall academic oversight.
• Provide advising, mentoring, and academic resources to assigned student-athletes through individual and small-group meetings. 
• Monitor student-athletes’ academic progress, NCAA eligibility, and progress toward degree completion.
• Serve as a liaison and resource for coaches, athletics administrators, faculty, university partners, and OAS staff regarding student-athletes’ academic needs.
• Prepare academic progress reports and coordinate travel letters for assigned teams.
• Assist with team meetings, recruiting presentations, workshops, events, and student-athlete programming initiatives.
• Promote and uphold a culture of academic integrity.

Athletics UNITAS

• Collaborate with the UNITAS leadership team to advance strategic priorities and support dayto-day operations.
• Assist in the development, planning, promotion, and execution of UNITAS initiatives, including communications, marketing, and digital content.
• Prepare agendas, record meeting minutes, and draft communications for the UNITAS Leadership Committee and Student-Athlete groups.
• Actively participate in UNITAS meetings, weekly check-ins, and conference calls to ensure alignment and progress.
• Support and help lead UNITAS affinity and ally groups, fostering engagement and a culture of belonging.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of educational programs, training sessions, and awareness initiatives within Athletics.
• Assist in planning and executing UNITAS and Student-Athlete programming, events, and special projects.
• Partner with Student-Athlete Development, interns, and campus collaborators to implement targeted initiatives.
• Develop and maintain consistent internal and external communications, including newsletters, social media, and promotional content.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Media to execute UNITAS Games, storytelling efforts, and broader engagement initiatives.

General

• Participate in the athletics department and campus-based education, training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
• Complete additional projects as assigned.
• Must adhere to all Villanova University, BIG EAST & NCAA rules and regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Detail oriented
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office. 
• Must be willing to work various evening and weekend hours. 
• Preferred: proficiency or experience supporting and engaging with culture, climate, and impact.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. We recruit with integrity, purpose, and passion.