March 27, 2008

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University junior field hockey student-athlete Danielle Gaynor has been selected to take part in the 2008 NCAA National Leadership Conference, a forum of 700 student-athletes that provides attendees with opportunities to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Gaynor, a 2007 All-MAC Second-Team nominee and two-time Academic All-MAC performer, is a member of the RedHawk Council, the Miami University student-athlete leadership group. The San Diego, California native will join student-athletes from NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions at the conference, comparing experiences on varying campuses and levels of competition.

The conference, additionally, promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, and communities.

Gaynor spoke about attending the conference, which will take place May 25-29 in Orlando, Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort.

"Transitioning from my junior to senior year on the field hockey team, and taking on greater responsibilities in the RedHawk Council, I thought applying for the NCAA National Leadership Conference would be a great opportunity to further develop my leadership skills and better apply them in my athletic and academic settings."

Gaynor, who totaled four goals and four assists from her midfielder position last fall, continued discussing the opportunity.

"I also feel this conference will give me great insights to different aspects of sport by exposing me to athletes from all three NCAA divisions, coming from all different types of athletic teams and backgrounds."

A double-major in both sport studies and management and marketing, Gaynor hopes to use the conference as a springboard into her post-collegiate career.

"This conference will be a perfect segue into what I am looking to do with my career. After I finish my undergraduate degrees from Miami, I am hoping obtain a graduate assistantship in an NCAA Division-I athletic department, so I can gain job experience while also continuing to enhance my education."

"I eventually hope to climb to a major administrative role in an athletic department, or work on a policy board in an organization such as the NCAA, IOC, or ESPN."

Before her professional career has even begun, she is already well on her way.