LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV track & field head coach Yvonne Wade was one of eight individuals selected as Leadership Development Academy Fellows for the 2015-16 academic year.

Wade, who just completed her eighth year at the helm of the Rebel track & field program, earned her bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in ethnic studies from the University of Colorado in 1996. In 2010, she received her master's degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports administration from UNLV. One year later, she was awarded the Nell C. Jackson Award for outstanding contributions towards women and girls in sport.

"I am very honored and excited about being selected to be in this year's group of Leadership Academy Fellows," said Wade. "I look forward to learning a lot from a wonderful campus leader and using it to strengthen my leadership abilities."

Wade has guided 45 individuals and 17 relay teams to Mountain West All-Conference Team recognition. In addition, she has had 51 individuals and eight relay teams participate in NCAA Outdoor Preliminaries with a combination of 11 of those advancing to six NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Off the track, Wade's squads were tabbed a USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic Team on five occasions from 2010-14, while 108 student-athletes have been named to Spring Academic All-Mountain West Teams and 39 more earned the MW's Scholar-Athlete Award.

"We are very proud of Yvonne and her involvement in the program," said UNLV Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy. "She is an example of the great coaches we have at UNLV, and she is a fine candidate that will be extremely successful in this endeavor."

The Leadership Development Academy is an aspect of the Leadership Development Program, which has specific goals of reducing the University's overreliance on associate professors for key administrative positions and increasing the representation of women and minority faculty in various leadership positions. The Academy consists of two components: a curriculum of approximately three to five seminars per semester related directly to prominent higher education issues and UNLV specific challenges and an administrative placement that will involve direct contact with a senior administrator.

Joining Wade as 2015-16 Fellows are Janet Dufek (School of Allied Health Sciences), Ruben Garcia (UNLV Boyd School of Law), Michael Gordon (Office of the Executive Vide President and Provost), Gael Hancock (William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration), Nancy Lough (College of Education), Tara McManus (Greenspun College of Urban Affairs), Cate Weeks (UNLV Marketing and Public Relations) and Jill Zimbelman (Research and Economic Development).