ST. PAUL, Minn. – Macalester College sophomores Safiya Butler (St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) of the softball team and Jay Green (Roseville, Minn./Mounds park Academy) will be attending the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, held Nov. 20-23 in Dallas, Texas. Macalester Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success and Development Devyn Smith also will be representing Macalester at the forum, which is in its 28th year.

Student-athletes selected to attend the forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, a refined understanding of the relationship among personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and the support of a close personal network of like-minded peers to provide continued connection and dialogue after the program concludes. This best-in-class programming experience serves as a transformational opportunity for student-athletes and administrators to build a leadership toolkit and develop vital self-awareness that allows them to realize their potential.

In addition to the leadership programming, attendees will participate in a community service project, learn about the inner workings of the NCAA, and hear from keynote speakers.

"Jay and Safiya are high-impact emerging leaders within their teams, our department, and the broader Macalester community," Smith said. "This opportunity will allow them to build on the foundation they've developed through Scots LEAD and return with new insights, skills, and perspectives that will strengthen our collective work. We're only able to send representatives to this transformative NCAA program once every four years, and Jay and Safiya are truly outstanding ambassadors for Macalester College."

Smith coordinates and administers Macalester Athletics' Scots LEAD program, which equips student-athletes with the tools, relationships and mindset to succeed at Macalester and beyond. It shapes confident, self-aware leaders who live their values, uplift others and create meaningful impact wherever their journeys take them.