Hutchings hones instinctive skills at NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum

ASHLAND, Ohio – Some people are born leaders. Most who know Ashland University junior Giovanni Hutchings would put him in such a category, but possessing that instinct isn’t enough for the criminal justice major. He seeks out ways to hone his natural ability and that pursuit recently peaked during a trip to the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.

Hutchings was the first Ashland attendee of the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, described by the national organization as an annual development offering designed to provide a transformative learning experience for select student-athletes. The four-day event (Nov. 18-21), an in-person gathering for the first time since 2019, took place in Houston, Texas.

With just 250 attendees from across all sports in NCAA Div. I, II and III, it was a “big deal” to receive an invitation, noted Hutchings, and “to not only represent Ashland athletics, but Ashland University as a whole.”

Hutchings was chosen for the rare opportunity by way of an essay, winning over the selection committee with a diverse set of experiences. In addition to majoring in criminal justice, Hutchings minors in political science and Christian ministry and is active on campus with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, the football team and the criminal justice club. He is an Ashbrook Scholar as well.

“My experience here at AU as a whole is pretty diverse. I was also raised in a very cultured home,” Hutchings said referencing his half African-American and half Puerto Rican bloodlines. “On the football team and outside of it, I put myself in very diverse situations, so I’m able to be a sponge and learn from different perspectives. For example, I’m in a religion community with FCA and in Ashbrook I’m in a political community. That’s given me a reflection on how that allows me to be open-minded and learn from different types of people.”

With the goal of the forum to provide participants with invaluable leadership skills, a refined understanding of their core values and personal strengths and the support of a close network of peers, Hutchings felt right at home. The conference was about “making your leadership qualities known to you by learning about ourselves through others from around the country,” he said.

The participants achieved this in small group settings, in which facilitators led sessions on topics such as emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, crucial conversations and controversial topics in sports. Hutchings remarked that the sessions were “fun, interactive, amazing, but also intense,” as relative strangers all of the sudden had to be “vulnerable with one another.”

For Hutchings, who plans to take the LSAT this summer and eventually become an attorney, the experience gave him clarity on his leadership style and he’s thankful to be intentional about it moving forward. “I want to be a servant leader. It comes from the Bible, Jesus the Shepherd. I want to serve my brothers first. You have to take care of your flock … build each other up and don’t tear each other down. I believe that’s what a true leader is,” he remarked. “At the end of the day, everyone has a philosophy, but not everyone knows it. Being aware gives me direction and a formed reasoning that others may be missing.”