AMHERST, N.Y. - Stephanie Albano, head women's volleyball coach and assistant athletics director for administration at Daemen College, has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Women and Minorities Mentoring Program for the 2021-22 academic year. 

Albano is one of 10 up-and-coming administrators from the NCAA Division II ranks selected to participate in the program this year. Participants are matched with a mentor who currently serves as an athletic director at a Division II institution, to receive guidance on career development. 

The program is designed to assist both women and minorities who are seeking to advance their careers in collegiate athletics administration. A virtual orientation is scheduled for this month, followed by monthly webinars and consistent communication between mentors and mentees. 

"I am humbled to be chosen for this mentorship program," said Albano. "I've always believed in being a life-long learner and that you should never put limits on your own personal growth. The program will provide me with a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge of athletics administration. I'm truly excited for the opportunity."

Named the eighth head coach in the history of the Daemen women's volleyball program in 2016, Albano has gone on to add administrative duties during her tenure. After serving as the senior woman administrator, Albano was promoted to her current administrative position in 2019. In that role, she serves as the department liaison to various campus committees, coordinates department policies and procedures, creates and executes leadership development programming for student-athletes and athletics staffers, and coordinates workshops for sexual violence prevention as well as diversity and inclusion training. In addition, she recently took on an expanded role for the division's business operations.