2020 Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Slate

Women Leaders in College Sports voting members were asked to select four Board of Directors and four Nominating Committee members from the proposed slate below. The top representatives in each group will earn a place on their respective committees.

2020 President-Elect Nominee

Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics, The Pennsylvania State University 

One of the nation's most highly-respected Athletic Directors, Barbour has more than 35 years of varied experiences as a collegiate administrator and coach, with a demonstrated record of championships, academic success, innovation, facility modernization and revenue growth. 

Barbour directs one of the nation’s most comprehensive and successful athletic programs that boasts an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 90 percent, while capturing 79 national championships and 113 Big Ten titles all-time. She oversees a broad-based program that supports approximately 800 students in 31 sports (16 men’s/15 women’s) and an Intercollegiate Athletics staff of more than 300 whose daily mission is preparing students for a lifetime of impact. Penn State’s 31 programs are tied for fourth-largest among all 130 FBS institutions.

During Barbour’s initial five years of leadership in Happy Valley, Penn State student-athletes have consistently raised the bar and broken or tied school academic records, including a record 3.17 grade-point average and the number of Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipients in 2018-19. A school record total 167 Nittany Lion students graduated during the 2018 fall and 2019 spring semesters, with additional graduates set for August. The total includes a record 133 graduates in May 2019. 

The 2018-19 athletic year saw the Nittany Lions capture one NCAA Championship and six Big Ten titles, boosting Penn State to six NCAA Championships and 29 conference crowns under Barbour’s direction.

2020 Women Leaders in College Sports Board Member Slate

Sarah Baumgartner, Deputy Director of Athletics, Rutgers (DI-FBS)

Deputy Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Sarah Baumgartner, is in her third year at Rutgers University. She is a member of Pat Hobb's senior staff. Baumgartner oversees all facets of athletic fundraising. She also serves as the sport administrator for women's basketball and softball.

Since her arrival, her team has developed and implemented a comprehensive annual giving program, R FUND, for Rutgers Athletics, which has reached record levels of support, including generating all-time highs in annual operating gifts and total donors to the program surpassing 9,000 members in 2015 which included an increase of 2,200 new donors, most in Rutgers' history. She is also responsible for leading the fundraising efforts for the master athletic facility plan, R Big Ten Build, which is comprised of $100M worth of new or enhanced facilities for the Scarlet Knights.

Prior to Rutgers, Baumgartner spent seven years with Missouri Athletics as the Associate Athletic Director for Development and men's basketball sport administrator. During Baumgartner's time, the Tigers enjoyed unparalleled competitive success both athletically and in the growth of donor contributions.

At Missouri, Baumgartner oversaw a 15-member staff that raised $84 million towards Mizzou's "Going for Gold" campaign. During her tenure, the athletics annual fund, Tiger Scholarship Fund, increased donor membership by 60 percent and annual fund gift growth by 40 percent. Baumgartner successfully developed and executed the fundraising plan to capitalize on Missouri's transition from the Big 12 Conference to the SEC, which saw record highs for donor membership and dollars raised at Mizzou.

Sarah Baumgartner is an Executive Committee member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). NAADD is an organization which provides educational and networking opportunities, enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics, and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics development and fundraising. She also serves as a member of the Sports Management Committee for the Big Ten Conference. In 2015, she was named to the NCAA Division I Women's Softball Committee.

Baumgartner was a four-year letterwinner in softball at the University of Illinois and a native of Wheaton, IL. She was named an All-Big Ten Tournament performer and a Big Ten sportsmanship award winner. In 2004, she graduated from the College of Business with her bachelor's in business administration. Baumgartner earned a master's degree in sports administration from Illinois in 2005 while working as a graduate assistant in athletic development. She currently resides with her spouse, Pascha Boyd, in Somerset, NJ.

Portia Hoeg, Executive Director, Centennial Conference (DIII) 

Portia Hoeg became just the second full-time Executive Director in the 26-year history of the Centennial Conference on April 15, 2019. At the time of her hiring, Hoeg was one of 18 female conference commissioners in NCAA Division III athletics and the first African-American woman to ascend to the commissioner’s chair at the Division III level. Throughout all NCAA divisions, she is one of two African-American women and six total African-Americans in the position. 

A veteran in Division III athletics with more than 15 years of experience in the field, Hoeg has worked in a variety of capacities while rising the administrative ranks at four different institutions. She joins the Centennial after most recently serving as the Executive Director of Athletics at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. and the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. 

Hoeg also boasts a lengthy list of NCAA committee and professional association experience throughout her career, including stints on the Division III Management Council (Vice Chair in 2014), the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) executive board, the Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee, and the NCAA National Leadership Selection Committee (Chair in 2010). She is a longstanding member of Women Leaders in Sports and was a participant in the first class of NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant recipients. 

In her six years at Allegheny, Hoeg oversaw 23 varsity sports, clubs, and recreational programs, in addition to serving on the Allegheny Administrative Executive Committee (AEC), which consisted of the president’s leadership team. She oversaw the enhancement of multiple facilities on the college's campus, including complete renovations of the athletic training center, weight room, and the football locker room. In 2017 Hoeg was tasked with spearheading the addition of two new varsity sports, field hockey and men’s lacrosse, and she has overseen the hiring of both head coaches. With the addition of these new programs, Hoeg provided the strategic plan and leadership for personnel, budgets, and an extensive addition and renovation to the school’s outdoor athletic facilities, which included the construction of a new lighted turf field and grass competition fields. 

Prior to joining Allegheny, Hoeg was the Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., from 2008 to 2012, and the Assistant Athletic Director at the college from 2005 to 2008. She also served as the Interim Assistant Director of Athletics at Vassar College from 2004 to 2005 following a stint as the Marketing, Promotions and Events Coordinator at Smith College. 

Hoeg received her bachelor's degree in marketing and management from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, before earning her master's in business administration from North Park University in Chicago, Ill. 

Betsy Mitchell, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, California Institute of Technology (DIII) 

Betsy Mitchell is a transformational athletic leader with 25 years of experience and expertise helping students, coaches and organizations manage strategic change toward positive athletic and educational results.   Her primary canvas for inspiring others toward maximizing their potential has been in first class educational institutions at the secondary and higher education levels.  An athletic director for 2 high schools and 2 D3 colleges, and former D1 collegiate coach of swimming and rowing, Betsy thrives in the administrative and managerial roles essential in an educational sound athletic program.  The balance of her professional experience comes through volunteer work, consulting and motivational speaking.  Her strengths include, strategic planning and implementation, organizational culture, human resources, facility renovation and budget management. An inspirational team member, Betsy leads with humor, integrity and deep commitment to process.  Her current work at Caltech has been to successfully reinvigorate the 16 intercollegiate teams at the unique and world leading STEM university, and advocate for the role of wellness and recreation for the general community.  A complete reorganization of the department, its facilities, funding and people has been the canvas for students to become significantly more competitive in the very strong SCIAC conference. Go Beavers!
 
An athlete and constant adventurer, Betsy is an Olympic medalist, former world and American record holder and multi-time NCAA champion in swimming at the University of Texas, Austin. She represented the United States in rowing at the World Championships "for fun" after finishing her dominant international swimming career. This global adventurer has walked, hiked, biked, kayaked, and golfed from Milford Sound, to Mt. Kilimanjaro, from Côte D'Azur to Banff, the Galapagos and the Cascades.  Her passion for travel is to expand her perspective and purposefully get outside her comfort zone.  Carrying on her mother's green thumb, she can be found in her garden in Pasadena, CA, with her partner, their precocious daughter and sweet yellow Labrador retriever. 

Karen Peters, Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA, University of Portland (DI) 

Karen Peters is in her tenth year as the Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Portland, after joining the department as an Associate AD in the spring of 2006. She serves as the deputy director of the department, and oversees student-athlete and program support, including academics, compliance, student-athlete development, recruiting, and sports performance. She also serves as lead sport administrator for all 16 varsity programs, providing oversight and support to sport supervisors and head coaches; and serving as the direct supervisor for men’s soccer and indoor/beach volleyball. Peters also manages a variety of senior-level administrative areas, including the strategic plan, HR, Title IX, and Recreation.
 
Peters served as the Interim Athletic Director for the Pilots from January-June of 2012, overseeing the completion of the Chiles Center renovation during that time.  She was also instrumental in the development of rowing as a varsity sport at UP, with that program just completing its eighth season.  Peters has represented UP on a variety of NCAA and WCC committees, including current membership on the NCAA Degree Completion Award Committee. She recently served as chair of the WCC External Relations Committee, and was the West Coast Conference representative on the NCAA Legislative Council from 2008-2011.
 
Peters is a 2013 graduate of the Women Leaders Executive Institute, and was honored as the Women Leaders Division I Administrator of the Year in 2013. She is also a 2008 graduate of the NCAA Fellows (now Pathway) Program, and a 2014 graduate of the DIA Institute. She has served as a faculty member at the Women Leaders Institute for Administrative Advancement, and organized a 2018 Regional Workshop in Portland for the Alliance of Women Coaches.
 
Prior to joining the staff at UP Peters spent ten years at Stanford University, where she completed her tenure as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Eligibility and Recruiting. In that position she supervised the eligibility process for all 34 varsity sports and served as the department’s liaison to undergraduate admissions, while overseeing the men’s and women’s gymnastics programs. Peters also held positions as the Assistant Director of Student Services and the Administrative Associate for Compliance while at Stanford. 
 
Prior to working at Stanford, Peters served as the administrative intern for the Ivy League, working in Compliance and Student Services at Columbia University in New York, N.Y. She began her athletics career working in media relations as a student assistant at New Mexico State University.
 
In February of 1995, Peters received her Master of Science in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she was the recipient of the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Post-Graduate Scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Journalism from New Mexico State University in May of 1993.

Desiree Reed-Francois, Director of Athletics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (DI-FBS)

Since arriving in Las Vegas in June 2017, Desiree Reed-Francois has led a transformation of UNLV Athletics, creating significant culture change in order to best serve the department’s 17 varsity sports.

Reed-Francois, the first Hispanic female and woman of color athletics director at the FBS level, was instrumental in installing a new student-athlete focused model with collectively established core values. A former student-athlete at UCLA (rowing1), Reed-Francois is a strong advocate for student-athletes and understands the importance of leadership development and mentorship in ensuring their future success. 

Focusing on providing a first-class holistic student-athlete experience, Reed Francois instituted a new administrative structure with staff additions - 70 percent of the department’s new hires were people of color or women, while 63 percent were former student-athletes - and has recruited three new head coaches:  Kristie Fox (Softball), Dawn Sullivan (Volleyball), and T.J. Otzelberger (men’s basketball). 

Innovative student-centered programs and a renewed focus on academic achievement led to collective student-athlete grade point averages of 3.0 or greater in each of the last four semesters - firsts in UNLV Athletics history. Additionally, UNLV instituted new mental health and nutrition programs and the Rebels Go Pro jobs initiative was also introduced, increasing student-athlete post-graduation employment to a high of 75% - up nearly 50% in two years.

With a focus on building a model enterprise, the department’s finance office and development operations were rebuilt, resulting in record corporate philanthropy, a 30% increase in annual fund members and budgets successfully balanced in both of her first two years at UNLV. 

In 2017, Reed-Francois announced a 10-year multimedia rights relationship with Learfield, the largest in the Mountain West Conference. Later that year she oversaw the consolidation of the Athletics Department’s operations with that of the Thomas & Mack Center, increasing the scope of the enterprise by hundreds of employees and millions of dollars. In January 2018, UNLV broke ground on the new, $34 million Fertitta Football Complex, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2019, and she was instrumental in successfully negotiating the Joint Use Agreement with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders for UNLV’s use in the new $1.8 billion Las Vegas Stadium, opening in August 2020. Overall, UNLV Athletics is currently involved in facilities projects totaling $2.044 billion.

Reed-Francois came to UNLV with more than two decades of athletics administration experience, most recently serving at Virginia Tech as deputy athletics director, with previous positions of progressive leadership at Cincinnati, Tennessee, San Francisco, Fresno State, Santa Clara and San Jose State.   

Reed-Francois earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a juris doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law.  She is a member of the State Bar of California. 

She is involved on the national level, participating in the Division I Athletics Directors Leadership Institute and Fellows Program, Lead1, the Women Leaders in College Sports’ Executive Institute, and as a member of the NCAA Baseball Committee. She has served on numerous Atlantic Coast Conference and American Athletic Conference committees. Reed-Francois has been a presenter at NACDA, NACMA, Women Leaders, Lead1, CoSIDA and Sports Business Journal’s annual conventions.

Reed-Francois and her husband, Joshua, have a son, Jackson (15).

Etienne Thomas, Director of Athletics, Kentucky State University (DII)

Etienne Thomas is in her second year as the Kentucky State University Director of Athletics. Prior to Thomas's arrival to Frankfort she served Kansas Athletics as the Associate Athletics Director of Student Life beginning in July, 2017.

 

Thomas served as KU’s liaison with the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access (IOA) and oversaw Diversity, Gender Equity & Inclusion education and training for student-athletes, coaches and staff, as well as student conduct for KU Athletics. She was also the sports supervisor for rowing.

 

Prior to Kansas, Thomas worked at North Carolina Central University as the Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations/Senior Woman Administrator, beginning in July of 2008, before being promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations/Senior Woman Administrator in the fall of 2016.

 

Before her time at NCCU, Thomas served as the Director of Compliance at San Jose State University. She added the duties of associate athletics director in July 2006. As a sports supervisor in the Spartans' 16-sports program, she oversaw men's and women's soccer and softball.

 

Thomas' background is rooted in compliance. She has worked at Howard University (2002-03) in Washington, D.C., Saint Paul's College (2001-02) in Lawrenceville, Va., and at North Carolina Central University (2001-02). 

 

The 1996 graduate of North Carolina Central University majored in political science. She has completed coursework for a J.D. degree from The University of Iowa College of Law.

 

Thomas is married to Byron Thomas, is the mother of Jermaine and cousin to Sydney.

2020 Women Leaders in College Sports Nominating Committee Slate

Jennifer Bell, Director of Athletics, Converse College (DII)

Bell will enter her second full season as the Director of Athletics for Converse College during the 2019-20 academic year. During her first year at the helm of the program, Bell led the Valkyries to many departmental victories, including the highest overall department GPA (3.1) in the fall of 2018. 

Prior to her arrival at Converse, the only women’s college competing at the NCAA Division II level, Bell served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations at Coker College for two years after completing 18 years of service at Anderson University as a coach and athletics administrator.

In 2017, Bell was selected as one of 25 emerging administrators in collegiate athletics, across all NCAA divisions, to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program, a yearlong experiential leadership development program that prepares participants to run all facets of an athletics department. 

In her current role as the Chair of the Southeast Region Women’s Soccer Regional Advisory Committee, Bell assists the national committee in the evaluation of teams, and of regional and championship competition sites and helps ensure a successful championship event. 

A member of the senior leadership team for Coker College athletics, Bell was responsible for Compliance for the Cobras’ 22 NCAA sports, while serving as liaison for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and game administrator for home events. In addition, Bell was a member of the college’s Futures Task Force Committee, and she served as a faculty member in the Master of Science in College Athletic Administration program. 

During her 18 years at Anderson University, Bell held several administrative roles, most recently serving as the Trojans’ Associate Director of Athletics. She oversaw NCAA compliance, volleyball and men and women’s soccer, and served as the Trojans’ Senior Woman Administrator. As the head women’s volleyball coach for 11 seasons, Bell compiled an overall record of 207-176. After becoming a full member of Conference Carolinas in 1999, Bell’s teams posted a conference record of 116-66, and the Trojans finished in fourth place or higher six times, including a second-place finish in 2001 and captured the 2008 Conference Carolinas Tournament title, marking the Trojans’ first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

At Anderson, Bell coached 27 All-Conference players, one conference Player of the Year and a conference tournament MVP. She was named NAIA Southeast Independent Sectional Coach of the Year after the Trojans won the NAIA Southeast Independent Sectional Tournament for the first time in school history. As an encore, Bell was named conference Coach of the Year in 1999, after her team set the school record for wins in a season. 

Prior to her time at Anderson, Bell served as head volleyball coach at Wofford College for four years, guiding the Terrier volleyball program during its transition from an NCAA Division II Independent to a Division I Southern Conference team. 

Bell earned her undergraduate degree from Wofford and as a volleyball student-athlete, she set single-match, single-season and career records in assists and service aces. She was named Most Valuable Player her senior year. Bell earned her master’s degree in College Athletic Administration from Coker College in 2015. 

Bell and her husband, Lee, have two children, Madison and Eli.

Michelle Caddigan, Deputy Director of Athletics & Senior Woman Administrator, Wingate University (DII)

Michelle Caddigan brings 23 years of administrative and coaching experience to Wingate’s Athletic Department.  She was promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics in January of 2019 and continues her role of Senior Woman Administrator. Caddigan has served as the SWA since 2000 and coached the softball team from 1997-2012. She assumed the role of assistant athletic director from 2006-2012 and was promoted to Associate AD in 2012.

As Deputy AD and a senior member of the Athletic Department Management Team, she oversees internal areas in the Department of Athletics which includes oversight of the department budget that is comprised of 22 sports, general athletics, athletic communications, athletic training and Sports Performance. Also within her duties is oversight of game day management, facility scheduling and maintenance, team schedules, team conduct and student-athlete welfare. Annually, she completes the Equity in Athletic Discloser Act and the NCAA Financial Report. She serves as chair of search committees for key positions in the Athletic Department. 

Caddigan serves as the sport supervisor for Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball with shared administrative responsibility for Athletic Training and Sports Performance. She also leads the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions, the Assistant Director for Athletic Business Operations and the Director of Student-Athlete Development and SAAC Advisor.   

Caddigan handles all NCAA bid applications and has served as the Tournament Director for 12 NCAA Regional Championships held on Wingate’s campus. She most recently was the Co-Tournament Director for the DII National Swimming and Diving Championship in spring of 2018. Caddigan has served on multiple Regional Advisory Committees and was a member of the Division II Women’s Volleyball National Committee from 2013-2017. She chaired the committee from 2015-2017. She is a 2017 graduate of the Women Leaders in College Sports Executive Institute.

On campus, Caddigan serves on multiple committees, including the Academic Advising Advisory Board, the Inclusion and Understanding Council and the Inclusion and Multicultural Strategic Planning Committee. She is a campus Title IX Deputy, the Athletic Department liaison to the Student Life Offices and the advisor to the Black Student Union.  

Before moving into administration full time, Caddigan spent 16 seasons as Wingate’s softball coach, compiling a 529-287-3 overall record. Caddigan reached the 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350-win plateau quicker than any other softball coach in South Atlantic Conference history. In one of the strongest softball conferences in the country, the Bulldogs finished in third place or better 13 of her 16 Wingate seasons as head coach. She guided the Wingate program to two SAC regular season championships seven second-place finishes, four third-place finishes and three conference tournament titles during her career. She was named league coach of the year four times.

Caddigan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Health and Physical Education from James Madison University. She earned her Masters of Science from James Madison in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Administration. 

Tiffini Grimes, Executive Associate Athletics Director/Chief Diversity Officer, University of Alabama (DI-FBS)

Tiffini N. Grimes was promoted to Executive Associate Athletics Director and Chief Diversity Officer for the Alabama Crimson Tide in September of 2018. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring adherence to legislation governing the sport of football; the management, supervision and evaluation of the department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; as well as secondary sport oversight of the Men’s Basketball program. In addition to serving as a member of the department’s executive leadership, she also functions as the liaison to the Associate Provost of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Institution’s Title IX Coordinator.  

Prior to her arrival at The University of Alabama, Grimes was an Assistant Director within the Enforcement Football Development Group at the NCAA’s Indianapolis headquarters.  Prior to joining the NCAA, Grimes was employed in athletics compliance at The Pennsylvania State University and Georgia Institute of Technology, where she worked specifically with football in the areas of recruiting, amateurism, agents, and waivers of NCAA legislation.  

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Grimes is actively engaged in philanthropy as a member of the Uplifting Athletes Board of Directors, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., and the Bella Mente Foundation. A 2005 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Political Science, Grimes was awarded a master’s degree in Sports Administration and a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University in 2009. 

Angela Marin, Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, University of Texas at Dallas (DIII)

Angela Marin joined the UT Dallas staff in 2012 and quickly became one of the key figures in the advancement of Comet athletics. She has been equally involved on the UTD campus, the American Southwest Conference and NCAA Division III during her tenure with the department. In 2017, she was promoted to Associate Athletic Director.
 
Marin has direct oversight of seven of UTD’s 13 varsity spots and oversees the certification of over 450 Comet student-athletes annually. She serves as UTD’s Senior Woman Administrator and is the department’s liaison with the campus Title IX office. In addition, she is the sponsor for UTD’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
She has worked closely with the ASC in assisting the league’s development and planning for its annual SAAC meeting while also helping coordinate travel opportunities for ASC student-athletes to attend the NCAA Convention. Additionally, Marin wrote the by-laws and best practices for the ASC Compliance Directors group.
 
A recent graduate of the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute (2017), Marin is also a graduate of the NACWAA’s Institute for Administrative Advancement and Leadership Enhancement Institute. In 2017, she was named the Emerging Athletic Administrator by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA).
 
Marin has represented UTD on several NCAA committees, including the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee. She has served on the NCAA Regional Rules Subcommittee and the NCAA D-III Convention Planning Subcommittee. She serves on UTD’s Staff Council and is a part of the university’s Minors on Campus Committee, Compliance Advisory Committee and Title IX Committee.
 
A native of The Colony, Marin came to UT Dallas after serving as the Associate Athletic Director at the University of New Orleans. She spent six years at UNO, serving in both an administrative and coaching capacity. She began her tenure at UNO as a graduate assistant for the men's basketball program and a year later became the Director of Basketball Operations for the Privateer women's basketball team. After spending three seasons with the women's basketball program, Marin took over as Associate AD. 

Marin earned her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M in Sociology in 2006 and is currently working toward her master's degree from UNO. While at A&M, she served as a student assistant with the Aggie men's basketball program, assisting and organizing the 6th Man Club, the Aggies' men's basketball alumni support group.

 

Erin Mykleby, Athletics Annual Fund Coordinator, California State University, Bakersfield (DI-FBS)

Erin Mykleby joined the CSU Bakersfield Athletics Department on Oct. 1, 2018. During this past fiscal year, the Roadrunner Scholarship Fund (RSF) produced the largest fundraising year in school history. The RSF’s contributions led to a department-wide total of $2.39 million raised, with RSF raising an all-time high of $833,852. In total, Mykleby lead the annual fund to bring in 1,324 unique gifts, a 32% increase from last year, and had 376 new donors contribute to the Fund this year. Mykleby currently serves on the Scholar-Athlete Leadership Academy and Young Professionals of Bakersfield committee, while recently being appointed to the University of Iowa Sports Management Advisory Board.

 

A native of Bettendorf, Iowa brings a wide variety of athletics experience to CSUB, ranging from the Division I, II, and III ranks. Prior to coming to Bakersfield, Mykleby worked at St. Leo University as the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Fundraising & Community Engagement. As a member of the executive team, Mykleby served as a liaison to University Advancement/Alumni Relations and raised over $120,000 in the inaugural giving campaign with donations from 1,147 supporters, while increasing the athletic donor, sponsorship, and season ticket holder base during her tenure. Mykleby also oversaw external operations including special events, corporate partnerships, and marketing/promotions for the Lions and served as the lead advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Mykleby was also a facilitator for the 2017 NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Development Forum and has served as the co-leader of the Women In College Sports Development Circle.

Prior to her time at St. Leo, Mykleby served as a graduate intern for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in Cleveland, Ohio. She worked with the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA), and the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation, while planning for the 2015 NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. As a graduate of the University of Iowa Sports Management Master's program, Mykleby worked with the athletic department in serval capabilities as a Learning Specialist, Development/Event Management intern and was also the High Performance/Coaching Education intern for USA Track & Field. 

 

Mykleby also graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she was a captain on the Luther College swimming team and an Honorable Mention All-American. She earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Luther College as well as a minor in Communication Studies.

Shannon Strahl, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Compliance & Student Services/Senior Woman Administrator, Gonzaga University (DI-FCS)

Shannon Strahl enters her 21st year with Gonzaga University Athletics, currently serving as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Student Services and Senior Woman Administrator. In addition to sport supervision for men’s and women’s soccer, Strahl oversees the areas of compliance, academics and life skills. In 2016, the division of student-athlete health and wellness, which encompasses athletic training, strength and conditioning, nutrition and wellness, also became one of her responsibilities.

Strahl joined the Gonzaga Athletics staff in 1999 as a graduate assistant in the compliance office and was promoted to Compliance Officer one year later. In 2003, she became the Assistant Director of Athletics for compliance and hired the department’s first full-time academic coordinator and second compliance staff member. Under Strahl’s leadership as the Associate Director of Athletics in 2006, the areas of compliance and academic support continued to grow with the addition of full-time coordinators in academics and life skills. A new assistant director of athletics position was created in 2013, bringing the University’s full-time compliance staff to three. In a 2015 departmental restructuring, Strahl was promoted to Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.

With a strong passion for legislation and the student-athlete experience, Strahl became part of the NCAA governance structure in 2011 first by serving on the formerly-named Academic Cabinet and a few months later joined the High School Review Committee. She currently serves on the Legislative Committee and Interpretations Committee.

Strahl earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in 1999 and Master of Business Administration three years later. Having played soccer for four years as an undergraduate student, she understands the many competing demands collegiate student-athletes face and appreciates the positive impacts of sports on the transformation of students. And a long-time member of Women Leaders. Strahl looks forward to continuing to develop and advance the many talented women in our industry.

Amy Heasley Williams, Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Kenyon College (DIII)

Amy Heasley Williams serves as Kenyon College’s Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.  Entering her 20th year in athletic administration at Kenyon in 2019-20, Williams has recently taken on new responsibilities in athletic alumni relations and development.   In this role, she is charged with establishing a strategic plan for the athletic department regarding alumni (and parent) engagement and fundraising in partnership with the college’s advancement office.  She currently has supervision of men’s basketball, field hockey, men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, baseball, and athletics communications.
 
Over the years, her various responsibilities have included fiscal oversight of the department and its 22 varsity sports, review of gender equity and Title IX issues, NCAA compliance and internal operations related to academic and athletic balance, and aquatics director.  Williams was named interim athletic director from December 2017 to June 2018, and took on similar departmental leadership duties in 2011-2012. 

Williams also serves as president of the North Coast Athletic Conference’s (NCAC) Intercollegiate Officiating Association, as the AD liaison to the NCAC for swimming and diving, and as a current member (and former chair) of the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships Committee. Williams completed a two-year term as the women’s AD representative to the NCAC from 2010-13 and is a standing member of the NCAC’s selection committee for the Pam Smith and Don Hunsinger awards.  
 
Williams spent 14 years as a collegiate swimming coach, including six years as head coach at Trinity College (CT), before moving into athletic administration.  At Trinity, she additionally served as aquatics director, assistant cross country coach and intramural coordinator.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kenyon College (1988) and a master’s in American Studies from Trinity College (1999).  A Kenyon Athletics Association Hall of Fame inductee, she earned 22 individual NCAA titles while leading the Kenyon College Ladies to four NCAA Championships as a collegiate swimmer.  
 
Williams is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Women Leaders in College Sport, and the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). She is active in the local community, participating in fundraising and service events and volunteering as a USA Swimming official.   She and her husband, Chris, are proud parents of three (nearly) grown children:  Samantha (Kenyon ’16), Robert (Kenyon ’19), and Maggie (a senior in high school).  

Natasha Wilson, Vice President for Athletics & Student Life, Central Methodist University (NAIA)

Natasha Wilson was recently named the Vice President for Student Life and Athletics at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. In her role she provides leadership and guidance for the development and implementation of high-quality, student-centered approaches that support student success in non-academic dimensions of the university experience. She will oversee the office of student development and the athletics department, which now includes 17 intercollegiate sports.

Formally, she was served for six years as the Associate Athletic Director/Compliance Coordinator and Senior Woman Administrator for Johnson C. Smith University. There, Natasha oversaw all day to day compliance related tasks along with providing interpretation and education of NCAA DII legislation for all campus constituents. In addition to compliance responsibilities, Wilson also served as a sport administrator for bowling, women’s basketball, cheerleading, men’s & women‘s cross country/track and field, and men’s & women’s tennis. She played an essential role in managing internal and external operations for the overall athletic department. During her tenure as sports supervisor both the Women’s Basketball and Women’s Track and Field teams have won CIAA Championships and the Women’s Tennis team has competed in the CIAA Championship two years in a row. In 2018 she represented the institution as Co- Meet Director while hosting the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University. 

Prior to JCSU, Wilson worked for six years at fellow Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) institution, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. She began as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and the department’s Senior Woman Administrator in 2006. Wilson was elevated to the role of Associate Athletic Director in 2010. While at Lincoln (PA), Wilson served as a sport administrator for sports including bowling, women’s tennis, men’s tennis, women’s soccer, baseball, softball, and cheerleading. She was instrumental in revamping the compliance policies and procedures as well as successfully transitioning the athletic department from NCAA Division III to Division II. Wilson helped to develop a Gender Equity Plan for the department as well as the creation of a five-year strategic plan. During her tenure at Lincoln (PA), she established the first ever Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and launched the NCAA CHAMPS/ Life Skills program for athletics.

Most recently, she was nominated to serve as the Southern Vice President on the CIAA Management Council. Wilson has previously served as President of the CIAA Compliance Director’s Association and Vice President of the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator Association. She currently serves on the NCAA Division II Membership Committee where she represents the Atlantic Region and the CIAA. Wilson is also an active member of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Women Leaders in College Sports, and the National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC).

Wilson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management from Winston-Salem State University in 2005 and earned a Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine in February 2019.

AWARDS/HONORS:
Dr. Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute Graduate, Class of 2019
JCSU Lonnie T. Parker Servant Leadership Award, 2018
JCSU Rising Star Award for proposal development, 2017-2018
CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year 2016
CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year 2014
NACWAA Hers Graduate, Class of 2009