Former DI runner found path to give back to college sports via NCAA internship

Ty Medd details the ‘tremendous benefit’ offered by Postgraduate Internship Program

For Ty Medd, assistant director of academic and membership affairs at the NCAA, working in collegiate athletics means being able to give back to a community that gave so much to him. Providing student-athletes with the tools they need to be healthy and successful is a passion that developed during his career as a cross country runner at Creighton. 

"I had a great experience as a student-athlete that I want to replicate and make better as much as I can for as many people as possible," he said. "That's kind of my North Star." 

After earning a bachelor's degree in marketing and a law degree from Creighton, Medd found his way to the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program in 2020. Serving on the Creighton and Big East Student-Athlete Advisory Committees during his athletics career, Medd had already made valuable connections with individuals at the national office that laid a strong foundation for his time as an intern. During law school, he also worked with Creighton's head of compliance, which provided him with valuable knowledge and experience to bring to the national office. 

Still, Medd's postgraduate internship proved to be an invaluable opportunity.  

The one-year program exposed him to the unique opportunities that work at the national headquarters can provide, including the opportunity to sit in rooms with athletic directors, commissioners and head basketball coaches. 

"From an entry-level standpoint, the work we get to do, the issues we're exposed to, the rooms we get to be in … don't exist on campus at the entry level. Being here so early in your career is such a tremendous benefit," Medd noted. 

Working in the academic and membership affairs department as an intern, Medd was responsible for serving on Division I bylaw teams and processing interpretations and waivers. He also supported the Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee, Legislative Committee and Student-Athlete Experience Committee. 

In his current role at the national office, Medd has found his purpose by continuing to keep the student-athlete experience at the center of everything he does. He assists the Division I SAAC with amplifying the student-athlete voice as the primary legislative liaison and plays a role in developing legislative concepts to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

"I think the best part about working in intercollegiate athletics is knowing how big of an impact a good student-athlete experience can make on someone's life," Medd said. "We are such a unique industry, and we provide such a unique experience to student-athletes not only to participate in their sport, but often the access to a college education that many people otherwise wouldn't have."

Medd's student-athlete experience continues to motivate him to follow his North Star to give back to student-athletes. For anyone with similar motivations, he said the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program is a great place to start. 

"I like making a meaningful impact on student-athletes," he said. "I can point to things that I do now that make that impact, and I want to continue to do that."

The NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program annually provides on-the-job learning experiences at the national office in Indianapolis to college graduates who are passionate in their pursuit of a career in college sports administration. With a focus on ethnic minorities, women and former student-athletes, this yearlong program gives insight to the inner workings of college sports from the national perspective. Interns over the past 25 years have taken their experience and institutional knowledge onto campuses and into the conference offices as full-time administrators. 

Learn more about the Postgraduate Internship Program at its webpage, including how to apply, types of internships available and more.