It was so refreshing to talk with Kristina Navarro, the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships at Rutgers. She is not quite a year into her new position, coming from DIII University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.
Kristina’s vision is that leadership development is an opportunity for all 700 student-athletes. The opportunity to prepare for life after school.
From the time a student-athlete enters school and journeys for four years, Navarro wants all to learn about being emotionally and culturally intelligent. That is, challenging oneself to be more aware of their own emotions, those of others and enhance their cultural interactions and exchanges.
I found it particularly interesting that Kristina has an educator’s lens through which leadership development is first and foremost about the opportunity to learn. Whether it’s to solve problems, build trusting, respectful relationships, communicate with clarity, one walks away with an open, rich experience to take with them. And one can also earn credit hours.
Listen to my conversation with Kristina. It is inspiring and educational.
