PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Director of Development, Seattle Operations Emily Neighbors was selected to the National Association of Athletic Development Directors 14th Annual Diversity Initiative Program. 

Recipients will receive stipends to attend the 2020 NAADD Convention, as well as the Fundamentals of Athletic Development (FOAD) sessions, which will take place June 7-10 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
Neighbors, the second-straight Cougar to receive the honor following Raegan Harvey who was a 2019 recipient, joined the Cougar Athletic Fund in June 2019 as Director of Development, Seattle Operations. In her role with the CAF, Neighbors is responsible for development and engagement efforts in the greater Seattle area.
 
Prior to the CAF, Neighbors spent seven seasons with the Washington Redskins, most recently serving as the Director of Community and Charitable Programs for the Redskins Charitable Foundation. In this position she oversaw and lead the development of more than 125 annual events and programs focused on youth education and health and wellness in the DC Metro Area. Preceding the move to the East Coast she also spent time with the WSU Foundation, working as the Regional Coordinator for development officers in the Seattle office in 2011-12.
 
Neighbors received her bachelor's degree in communication from WSU in 2011 and was the President of Coug Guys & Gals during her senior year. Neighbors went on to receive a master's degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University in 2014.

"On behalf of the NAADD Executive Committee, I'd like to congratulate the 2020 cohort of NAADD Diversity Initiative recipients," stated Jeremy Wang, associate vice president of development at Temple University. "This program is one that we are especially proud of, with another record year of 77 applicants. The selection committee did a great job in choosing our Diversity Initiative class for the NAADD Convention in Las Vegas. We look forward to welcoming them at the Convention to celebrate with our past winners in June. This year's recipients add another level of experience and perspective to our long list of past recipients."