Forward Progress Athletics Consulting has announced that during the 2020-21 Academic Year that they are consulting with the Department of Athletics at Humboldt State University primarily working with its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). 

The SAAC at Humboldt State University has been working with Maricela Shukie, former NCAA Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development, and co-founder of Forward Progress since the beginning of the academic year. Humboldt State University’s SAAC is comprised of two student-athletes from each of its eleven intercollegiate athletic teams and two representatives from the HSU Club Sports.

 "The potential of the student-athlete voice is powerful,” said Shukie. “We are so excited to be working with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as it continues to strengthen its voice as the representative to student-athletes at Humboldt State University."   "The commitment and growth of the student-athlete advisory committee has been impressive. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the student-athlete leaders of Humboldt State."

HSU volleyball player Macy Thomas and cross country/track and field student-athlete Elliott Portillo are the co-presidents while track and field student-athlete Joy Hano and cross country/track and field student-athlete Lucy Atkinson are the secretary and treasurer respectively.  Assistant Athletic Director for Game Management/Senior Woman Administrator, Kelly Kime, and Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Joe Danahey are the co-advisors.

 “Maricela (Shukie) has hands down been such an amazing addition to our SAAC team,” said Thomas.  Maricela (Cela) stepped into our team over the summer, and immediately facilitated this amazing space that extracted the ideas out of us that we didn’t know we had. She helped guide us to find our general purpose and targeted goals for SAAC this year and led us to ideas when we had our brain blocks! I’m insanely grateful for Cela’s presence this year!!”

Throughout the year, Forward Progress will be working with the committee with Strategic Goal Setting, Peer Facilitation Training, Committee Organization, Leadership Training and more. 

Forward Progress has over 200 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, including time spent as student-athletes, coaches, on-campus administrators, conference officers and NCAA national office staff.  They have worked with over 80 NCAA institutions and many more individuals.