Athletes & Executives – Our game is business

Dr. Lem Burnham, Ph.D

Dr. Lem Burnham has been a senior level executive in profit and non-profit organizations. The former NFL defensive end  for the Philadelphia Eagles was the director of a major healthcare organization; was the senior vice president for a national non-profit; and was a vice president at the National Football League. Dr. Burnham was the mastermind behind the NFL Rookie Symposium. While serving as Vice President of Player and Employee Development at NFL headquarters in 1997, Dr. Burnham developed the symposium strategic plan, and presented it to NFL owners, following which the NFL Rookie Symposium became a reality in the summer of 1997. Today the Rookie Symposium is one of the major player management components of the NFL. Dr. Burnham was a consultant with the NBA Philadelphia 76ers, the NFL Philadelphia Eagles, and Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles concurrently. Dr. Burnham has helped many individuals and organizations in and out of sports develop strategies for achieving desired goals.

Dr. Burnham is the author of “Personality in Group: Group Relevant Personality and Sociometric Status.” He is also the author of “Beyond X’s And O’s,” a handbook for coaches to identify and effectively manage player related issues. He is co-author of two Winslow Research Institute performance improvement publications including “The Athletic Success Profile”and “The Personal Success Profile.”

Dr. Burnham served four years in the United States Marine Corps, including a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Corps Division. For his military service, he received the following honors and awards: Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Combat Action Ribbon; Naval Unit Citation; Presidential Unit Citation; Vietnam Service Medal w/1 Star; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/device.

Dr. Burnham earned his Ph.D. at Temple University; his Master of Science degree at Bemidji State (Minnesota) University; and his Bachelor of Arts degree at U.S. International University (California Western College). He is a Faculty member at Wilmington University (Delaware), in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.