Engineering Leadership Skills from the Track to the Classroom

In January, materials science and engineering/biomedical engineering student Kara Mathias, who is a member of the Carnegie Mellon cross country and track & field teams, was selected to attend the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program during the organization’s annual conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

The event brought together 38 student-athletes from across Division III athletics for the opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes view of how the Division operates, engage with key leaders in college athletics, and take part in professional development programs.

Mathias was drawn to take part in the program because she was eager to learn directly from athletic officials, coaches, and administrators while being surrounded by other student athletes from across the country.

“I applied because it felt like a unique chance to deepen my understanding of collegiate sports, grow as a leader, and engage more fully in the athletic community,” she said.

During the program, Mathias participated in sessions focused on leadership and mentorship, networked with NCAA leaders, and attended the University Athletic Association (UAA) conference meeting. Through these experiences, Mathias says she came to better understand  the leadership, collaboration, and behind the scenes work that goes into supporting student athletes and maintaining the values of Division III athletics.

“Being able to interact with administrators, coaches, and other student athletes helped me better understand the complexity of collegiate sports and inspired me to become more engaged within my own athletic community,” says Mathias, who plans to become involved in CMU’s Student Athlete Advisory Council as a result of her participation in the Immersion Program.

Not only did her involvement with this opportunity impact her perspectives of her extracurricular activities, but it also translates to her academic pursuits. Following the program, Mathias says that she is encouraged to carry the leadership skills into her team, the classroom, and the workplace.

“The program gave me a better perspective on collaboration, problem solving, and decision making in complex organizations, which directly translates to engineering projects, research, and group activities,” she said.

Additionally, the experience has sparked her interest in pursuing opportunities through which she can combine her career path with engineering and supporting athletics, whether through sports technology, athlete safety, board involvement, or coaching roles that contribute to improving the student athlete experience.