NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University track and field standouts Torie Cunningham and Tiara Davis were two of the 200 NCAA student-athletes who participated in this year’s NCAA Career In Sports Forum this past weekend in Indianapolis.

Organized and directed by the NCAA Leadership Development department, the Career in Sports Forum was created to provide student-athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with the primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. The forum provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.

During the forum, participants heard from keynote speakers and panelists – including former University of Tennessee women’s athletics director emeritus Joan Cronan, Rice University athletics director Joe Karlgaard and WISH-TV Indianapolis sports anchor Anthony Calhoun – and also learned best practices for gaining employment and gathering a better understanding of what future expectations will be once they get a job.

Participants who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in sports and who were viewed as leaders on their campus were invited to the four-day Career In Sports Forum after their nomination year by athletics administrators at their respective schools. Many are members of their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the student-athlete voice within the NCAA governance structure.

The NCAA Leadership Development department provides professional and personal development for the entire Association, including student-athletes, coaches and administrators, through accessible resources, strategic partnerships and annual customized programming.

Cunningham and Davis both recently completed their junior seasons as members of the NSU women’s track and field team. Cunningham is one of the Spartans’ top sprinters, having qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in 2013 in both the 100 meters and the 4x100 meter relay. She was also a member of the NSU Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for the spring 2014 semester. Davis swept the MEAC indoor and outdoor pole vault championships during the 2013-14 athletics season. She was a member of the NSU Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for both semesters last academic year and also earned a spot on the MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team.