WASHINGTON - Georgetown University's Ariel "AP" Pesante was selected as one of just 22 participants for the 2025-26 cohort of the NCAA's Pathway Program. The yearlong initiative is designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for the next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
 
"Being selected for the NCAA Pathway Program is a true honor and the realization of a goal I've held since first learning about its mission and impact," said Pesante. "The experiences and responsibilities I've embraced at Georgetown have equipped me to contribute meaningfully throughout this year-long endeavor. Thank you to Lee Reed and the NCAA Leadership Development staff for providing me the opportunity to enhance my leadership capabilities in pursuit of becoming a director of athletics."
 
The Pathway Program, led by NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. It is designed to prepare high-potential administrators for executive-level leadership roles within intercollegiate athletics. During the year, the participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, along with others in leadership roles.
 
Throughout the program, participants will engage in targeted leadership development curriculum focused on strategic planning, organizational leadership, resource generation, executive communication, hiring processes and stakeholder engagement. The experience includes structured mentorship with senior leaders such as athletics directors, conference commissioners and school presidents, providing personalized guidance and industry insight. Grounded in experiential learning, the program challenges participants to address current and emerging issues across the collegiate athletics landscape. This approach ensures they are not only prepared for the demands of executive leadership but also positioned to cultivate cultures of excellence within their organizations.
 
The 2025-26 cohort will meet June 22-27 for a weeklong education session. The program will conclude in the summer of 2026.
 
Pesante is a seasoned leader in collegiate athletics, currently serving as the senior associate director of athletics for internal operations at Georgetown. In this role, he provides strategic oversight to various departments including athletics compliance, academics, sports medicine, sports performance and diversity, equity & inclusion. Pesante also acts as the sport administrator for football, baseball and women's squash, while co-chairing the institution's Name, Image & Likeness working group.
 
Pesante works beyond the institution as well, with roles at both the collegiate and conference levels including sitting on the NCAA Awards, Benefits, Expenses, and Financial Aid cabinet, as well as the NCAA Interpretations Committee. He was honored with the Lead1 Institute's minority scholarship in 2019 and graduated from the NCAA's Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute in 2016. Additionally, Pesante is an active member of the Minority Opportunity Athletics Association and the National Association for Athletics Compliance.
 
Before arriving on the Hilltop, Pesante held positions at the University of Massachusetts, Hofstra University, the University of Hartford and Manhattan College, where he led each university's compliance efforts
 
Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Pesante is an alumnus of Binghamton University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He furthered his education at Delaware State University, obtaining a master's degree in sports administration.