Jocelyn's Journey
An Interview with Ashton Henderson
3 Min. Read
I’ve been looking forward to highlighting Ashton Henderson, current Deputy AD for Championship Resources and Culture at Michigan State University. He is so well known and respected in the business of college sport, and a go-to resource and mentor to so many. Ashton has a personal mission statement that drives everything he does within his career: To add value to any space that I am occupying while being a champion for employee success and cultivating life-long ambassadors by providing a first-class experience. Anyone that knows Ashton can attest to the fact that his mission statement guides his every decision.
Prior to joining Michigan State, Ashton spent time with the Detroit Pistons as the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He was the first individual to hold the position and transformed the way DEI practices were implemented throughout the organization. Before joining the NBA, Ashton also spent time at Florida State and Clemson (after getting his start at Michigan State).
Why did you get into college athletics?
As a former Division-1 football student-athlete at Michigan State University, I had a transformative experience due to the resources and care that then Athletic Director, Mark Hollis, bestowed upon our athletic department. During that time, my curiosity began to peak more about making it my mission to serve student-athletes for the rest of my life. Due to that experience and countless mentors like Jim Pignartaro, Angela Montie, & Steve Duzan I knew this industry was for me.
As an administrator, did you face any barriers as you grew the business? If so – how did you work through those?
I have been able to surround myself with tremendous leaders throughout my career which has equipped me with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform beyond what my age would dictate. Leaders such as Stan Wilcox, Vanessa Fuchs, Karl Hicks, Cindy Hartmann, Dr. Greg Beaumont, Randy Spetman, David Coburn, Dan Radakovich, and the entire N4A/NCAA Leadership Development Staff/NACDA Family has truly shaped me into the person/leader that I am today.
Every unique quality/skill that I learned from those leaders are instilled in me and has assisted me along the journey to surpass barriers of you are too young to lead. In fact, I am grateful to say that I was the youngest President of the National Association of Academic & Student-Athlete Development Professionals (33) which is the largest affiliate under the auspices of the NACDA umbrella. That is a testament of how all those individuals shaped my leadership journey and allows me to meet that barrier head on because it is something that will certainly come up, due to my relentless pursuit to lead a student focused team as the Director of Athletics throughout this transformative time within our enterprise.
We all know the saying “it takes a village”. Can you tell us about the importance of your village in college athletics?
Through various leadership programs and initiatives, such as: N4A, The Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, NCAA Pathway Program, AD 360, CALS, FBS Athletics Directors Association (Lead 1) & The McLendon Foundation. I have built strong bonds and ties with industry professionals across all three divisions that I call frequently to check-in on their well-being. In fact, every Friday, I check-in on at least 1-2 colleagues that I have not spoken with in a while to ensure they know they are valued, heard, and that their work matters. I am grateful that my dear friend Walt Holliday, instilled the importance of “Connection Fridays” in me and this has been a model practice of my career for the last decade plus. This is something that I will always do, as well as encourage the next generation of leaders to do the same.
What is your proudest moment, so far, since working in college athletics?
I have been fortunate to have some legacy moments at each professional stop throughout my journey so here is one moment that I identified at each place:
2012-2013: Florida State University
Serving on the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion along with obtaining my first Executive Leadership position within the National Association of Academic & Student-Athlete Development Professionals as the chair of the Ethnic Concerns Committee.
2013-2016: Clemson University
Working collaboratively to empower our football student-athletes to be ranked within the Top 10% in APR four years in a row.
2016-2021: Florida State University
Florida State | Launching SLS 1261 | Student-Development & Leadership Strategies Course to equip and prepare student-athletes for long-term career success.
2021-2022: | Detroit Pistons
Curating the Pistons Power Humanity Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging Leadership Lab
2022-Present | Michigan State University
Partnering with Skywood Recovery, The Hope Desk, & our Student-Athlete Wellness Team to curate a 24-7 crisis lifeline for Michigan State Letterwinners and their families to call should they ever need assistance. Doubling down on what it truly means to have a university that’s committed to you for life.
What advice do you have for young administrators trying to break into college athletics?
I have been fortunate to serve as the Program Emcee for the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar for the last four years, so I inherit over 200-300 esteemed colleagues who have a keen desire to make an impact on our industry.
Here are three things I typically share with young professionals:
- Be Curious, Remain Humble
- Get Involved within one or two of the 18 NACDA Affiliate Groups.
- Remain where your feet are and do not rush your professional journey.
These gems were shared with me by countless mentors and continue to serve me well in my career.
Get To Know You
- Favorite food? Seafood & Soul Food
- Favorite song? Big Sean “Why Should I Stop”
- Favorite thing to do outside of work? Spend time with my wife Chloe, read, cook (grill), & golf
- Best professional opportunity you have taken part of? N4A Professional Development Institute and The NCAA Pathway Program
