FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona University women's tennis alumnus Tatum Rochin (2013-14), sister of current Lumberjack Hailey Rochin, has been selected to attend the prestigious 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis, Ind. More than 200 interns and graduate assistants at the start of their careers in college athletics were selected to participate.

A committee made up of current administrators and past seminar participants across all NCAA divisions selected the participants. This year, 59 conferences and affiliates and 165 schools will be represented. Rochin, now in her first year as a graduate assistant in student-athlete development at NAU, will be joined by her fellow co-worker and second-year graduate assistant Courtney Merkle at the seminar.

"This opportunity will definitely help me because I want to continue to work within collegiate athletics," Rochin said. "I had a great support system for academics when I was a student-athlete at Northern Arizona, which is why I chose this graduate assistantship to begin with. My long-term goal is to continue to work with and help other student-athletes."

Tanya Vogel, former Senior Woman Administrator at NAU, encouraged Rochin to apply for the seminar. After submitting a resume, cover letter and answering a series of essay questions, Rochin's impression was enough to land her a spot in the 2016 lineup. This year's seminar will feature a variety of industry leaders and experts over the span of three days. Former Tennessee women's basketball head coach Pat Summit and the legendary John Wooden will headline the action.

The first set of speakers include Meg Stevens, director of athletics, Averett University; Donald Remy, NCAA executive vice president, law, policy and governance; Devin Crosby, director of athletics, Lynn University; Erin McDermott, director of athletics, University of Chicago; Holly Sheilley, vice president of athletics, Transylvania University; and Scott Wiegandt, director of athletics, Bellarmine University.

Other scheduled speakers include: Mike Harrity, senior associate athletics director for student services, University of Notre Dame; Karina Herold, associate athletics director for external operations and senior woman administrator, Pepperdine University; Mark Jurich, senior associate athletics director for development, University of Louisville; Karen Stromme, associate athletics director for internal operations and senior woman administrator at the University of Minnesota Duluth and chair of NCAA Division II Management Council; and Yulander Wells, senior associate athletics director for finance and chief financial officer, University of South Florida.

The participants will also be split into small groups to create an operations plan.  The purpose of the plan is to highlight the holistic operations of athletics departments; all while applying the dynamics of teamwork to successfully complete the project. Each project will be presented at the end of the week.

"I think I'm most looking forward to meeting new people," Rochin explained.  "This conference is unique because it's not just people from academics. There will be graduate assistants from compliance, marketing, communications, coaching and others, so I'm really looking forward to meeting people who are in the same stage of life I am."

The 2016 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar kicks off today, Jan. 27 and will end on Jan. 29.