Photo courtesy of NCAA Photos via Getty Images. arley Berano '25, above, stated that the forum was "incredibly refreshing and transformational."
By Genevieve Zahner ’26
Staff Writer
The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s annual Student-Athlete Leadership Forum took place in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 13-16, hosting over 250 student-athletes from around the country. The athletes represented all three divisions of the NCAA, and the captain of Mount Holyoke’s basketball team, Marley Berano ’25, attended this year’s forum.
“SALF was incredibly refreshing and transformational. It was three long days, packed with a mix of high-energy activities, deep discussions and personal reflection time,” Berano said. “On the first day, I did not know anyone, nor did I know what to expect. However, I left [having been part of] a group that feels like family and [with] lessons that will last me a lifetime.”
The forum separated the athletes into ‘color teams,’ each with about 30 other participants and led by two college athletic administrators. Those groups participated in discussions and workshops together, according to a press release on the NCAA website.
“We engaged in in-depth sessions on topics in and around our strengths, values, habits, emotional intelligence, effective communication, mindset and vulnerability,” Berano said. She added that the most notable conversations for her were on inclusive leadership and diverse representation, and some key takeaways were about social awareness and relationship management.
There were also speakers at the forum who facilitated discussions and shared their stories and experiences, the press release stated. This year’s speakers were Julianne Stitch, who was the first female head coach of an NCAA men’s soccer team to win a national championship, and Jonathan Sprinkles, an author and motivational speaker who focuses on the strength found through connection. This year’s forum was based on the theme “Beyond the Box” and encouraged the athletes to learn from failure and the importance of going outside of their comfort zones.
“After the forum, my intentions and motivations became so much clearer. I intend to go into my junior season with a [conscious] attitude for growth and gratitude, both on and off the court,” Berano said. “I plan to challenge my teammates and coaches to find their intentions and motivations for the season, too.”
In order to attend the forum, athletes are nominated by their athletic administrators. In Divisions I and II, the conference selects athletes and an administrator from its member schools, and Division III athletes and administrators are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis from an identified region.
“I had the privilege [of being] supported and nominated by the MHC athletics department. Senior Associate Athletic Director Erica Lemm told me in November that I was selected to represent Mount Holyoke at the 2023 forum,” Berano said. “I knew I could not pass up an opportunity like this.”
The forum is an opportunity for student-athletes to reflect on their past, present and future seasons with members of their community they might not otherwise have the chance to meet. The forum stretches across divisions and the country, connecting athletes of all backgrounds and experiences, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their community together.