Former NFL star and Super Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh has been announced as the keynote speaker for the annual summit held by Mississippi State University’s Athlete Engineering Institute.
Themed “Becoming Elite,” the summit will be held April 15-17 at The Mill at MSU Conference Center. The event, now in its fourth year, brings together professionals from medical, military, industry, academic, and human performance fields to discuss the best ways to improve athletic performance.
“Becoming an elite competitor takes talent, along with a lifetime of commitment and willingness to push yourself. Being elite is an exercise in patience, pain tolerance, and not being afraid to get uncomfortable,” Suh said. “But all of this is only possible with the small army of elite experts you must surround yourself with who support you, care about you, and remind you about why you do it.
“I’m speaking at the Athlete Engineering Summit to tell my story about becoming elite but, more importantly, to emphasize the importance of the people who serve as the support system in my life.”
Reuben Burch, associate vice president for research and executive director for MSU’s Athlete Engineering Institute, will host the summit alongside Andrea Hudy, a strength and conditioning coach with stops at the University of Kansas, University of Texas, and University of Connecticut.
“We have people that work toward the same goal of keeping everybody happy, healthy, and productive but in different sectors,” Burch said, previewing the lineup of attendees. “Mississippi State is hosting this because there’s only one Athlete Engineering Institute in the world and it’s here at Mississippi State.”
MSU’s Athlete Engineering Institute works to develop new tools that improve performance in four athlete personas: sports, industrial, tactical, and at risk.
Registration for the summit is now open and is $300 for general admission and $100 for Mississippians in the academic sector. The registration fee covers all meals, social events, and a swag bag.