Drexel University Athletics
Dragon Leadership Academy
The Dragon Leadership Academy (DLA) is an initiative that looks to ensure that our athletes will possess the knowledge and skills to lead their teammates and peers, both on and off the field, in the most effective way possible.
Strong leadership within a team can bring about improved competitive performance and decision making, two areas of collegiate athletics that our coaching staffs and athletic department members value greatly. In order for our teams to have the most positive experiences athletically, academically, and socially, quality leadership training for our athletes is necessary. By educating and guiding our athletes earlier in their collegiate careers, we hope to provide these individuals with the confidence and skills they will need when they are one day captains or seniors on their teams.
Ultimately, the wellbeing and future of our athletes is essential, a consideration that the Dragon Leadership Academy has made a priority when establishing its mission, values, and goals. We aim to better prepare our athletes not only on the field and in the classroom during their time here at Drexel, but also beyond Drexel’s scope, in their communities as working professionals.
What The Athletes Are Saying About DLA
- "Being in DLA has strengthened my relationship with both my fellow teammates and all Drexel athletes. Through this program I learned skills that allowed me to bring my team closer than ever, applying these skills made for an unforgettable season." - Sean Swartz, Men's Swimming
- "DLA lead me to become a more understanding leader, and has especially helped me become a better communicator within the team as well as between coaches and players." - Lea Winkler, Women's Tennis
- "Conflict resolution is always a challenging subject to try to find the right actions to take, but understanding how other team leaders have handled differences in the past really helped paint a picture of how the same concepts could be applied to a different situation. DLA gave us the tools to understand more about my team as a whole, and how my actions could be tailored to ensure that I can work with a teammate in a way that benefits the both of us." - Paige Propp, Women's Crew
Mission Statement
“Inspiring a culture of positive leadership in all of life’s arenas”
Shared Values
Empower
Integrity
Bold
Visionary
Respect
Goals
Dragon Leaders will…
- Practice continual, honest self-reflection
- Positively influence the culture within their team, athletic department, and university, and community
- Build confidence to step up during challenges that arise, holding themselves and teammates accountable
- Take pride in their role as a Drexel student-athlete leader both on and off the field
