2021 Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Slate

Women Leaders in College Sports voting members are 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 – three candidates will join the Board of Directors and four candidates will join the Nominating Committee.

Active-level Women Leaders members, whose memberships are current, will have through August 16th to submit their vote. Each member receive a direct email from ElectionRunner with voting information. To see a list of the current Board of Directors and learn more about the role of the Board, please see here. For a list of the current Nominating Committee Members and learn more about this committee, please see here.

2021 President-Elect Nominee

Heather Lyke, Director of Athletics, University of Pittsburgh (DI-FBS)

As Director of Athletics, Heather Lyke leads a University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department that encompasses 19 intercollegiate sports programs with nearly 470 student-athletes who compete in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. The department also oversees the Pitt Band and the University’s Cheer and Dance Teams. 

Since her arrival in March 2017, Lyke has dramatically reenergized Pitt Athletics, recruiting eight new head coaches and directing a dynamic rebrand of the University’s athletic marks and logos. She unveiled Pitt Studios, the department’s state-of-the-art broadcast production facilities that helped launch the ACC Network in August 2019. The facilities support the University’s first-ever broadcast and media studies curriculum. In January 2020, the department announced the launching of Victory Heights which is a transformative vision to significantly enhance the athletic facilities where 16 of our 19 teams live, learn and train.

Before joining Pitt, Lyke served as vice president and director of athletics at Eastern Michigan University, where she led a department that sponsored 21 varsity sports. Under her leadership, the football program returned to a bowl game for the first time in 29 years.

From 1998 to 2013, Lyke worked at The Ohio State University, where she oversaw 10 of the school’s 36 athletic programs and supervised the sports performance division, which included the strength and conditioning coaches, athletic training staff, sports medicine and sports psychology staff.

During Lyke’s Ohio State tenure, the Big Ten Network tapped her expertise as a color analyst for softball telecasts from 2009 to 2013.

Prior to her role at Ohio State, Lyke served at the University of Cincinnati as the assistant athletic director for compliance and senior woman administrator from 1996 to 1998. She began her career at the NCAA as an intern in the enforcement and student-athlete reinstatement department from 1995 to 1996.

A native of Canton, Ohio, Lyke was a scholarship student-athlete at the University of Michigan, where she captained the Wolverines’ Big Ten champion softball team, lettered four years and became an All-Academic Big Ten honoree.

Lyke holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law.

In addition to her role as the director of athletics at Pitt, she has been selected to serve on three key boards. As a representative of the ACC, Lyke was selected to serve a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Council, the group responsible for the day-to-day decision making as well as shaping the future for all of Division I Athletics. She was also selected to serve on NACDA’s Executive Committee for a four-year term as well as the LEAD1 Board of Directors. In the Pittsburgh community, Lyke serves on the Hillman Cancer Center Board of Directors and P3R Board of Directors.

She and David have three children: Elle, Sophie and Eli.

2020 Women Leaders in College Sports Board Member Slate

Keri Becker, Director of Athletics, Grand Valley State University (DII)

Keri Becker has spent her entire career in intercollegiate athletics spanning 25+ years. She is currently in her fifth year as the Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State. Becker was appointed to the post on April 7, 2016 and officially took over on July 18, 2016. Prior to being named Director of Athletics, Becker’s career has always been on a college campus. She began her journey in 1990 as a softball student-athlete at Division II Saginaw Valley State University, moved into the head softball coaching position in 1996, at yet another rival school, Ferris State University where she stayed for 15 years. In 2011, GVSU brought her on board as the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.

Grand Valley State has continued its dominance at the Division II level Under Becker’s direction, claiming its 26th overall Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Presidents’ Cup title as the league all sports champion and winning the 2018-19 Division II All-sports Learfield/IMG College Directors’ Cup crown for the 13th time.

Most recently, Becker was appointed by Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer to the Task Force of Women in Sports. She was also recently named to the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.

Prior to taking over as the Director of Athletics, Becker served the Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator overseeing all aspects of the GVSU football, volleyball, softball, women's golf, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's lacrosse teams, as well as the Laker cheerleading group. In addition to sport supervision, Becker was responsible for cross campus collaborations, overseeing the financial aid aspect of NCAA compliance, completion of all required institutional reports, fundraising efforts, and assisting with game operations. She was also the Administrative Liaison for Grand Valley State's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and is the Chair of the Boand & Rowe Endowment for Advancement of Women in Sport/Physical Activity Committee.

Keri is also a military veteran, having served in the United States Army Reserve from 1992-2006, and was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from January 2003-February 2004. She was stationed at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar, which was a combined joint forces base. While stationed there, she worked in both Transportation and then in Supply, where she became the non-commissioned officer in charge of supply for the Headquarters Commandant at Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT). She achieved the rank of staff sergeant and was honorably discharged in October 2006.

Valerie Cleary, Director of Athletics, Portland State University (DI-FCS)

Portland State’s Valerie Cleary is entering her fourth year as Director of Athletics.

In her time at PSU, Cleary stepped into the development and completion process of the Viking Pavilion, the academic and athletic center that now houses the department, and hosts basketball and volleyball in a 3,000-seat arena. The Viking Pavilion, which opened in 2018, also features upgraded amenities, an improved weight room, training room, and academic advising facilities.

During her first three years as PSU AD, Cleary hired new coaches in men’s basketball, track and field, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis. Since he has taken the reins, student-athletes have seen unprecedented success both on and off the field. The women’s basketball program won the 2019 Big Sky Conference Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, PSU student-athletes have maintained a grade point average over 3.1 and produced a graduation rate that exceeds the rest of the campus by eighteen percent.

Cleary brings with her a significant range of collegiate experience. Prior to accepting the position with PSU, Cleary spent two years as Athletic Director at Willamette University (D-III). In addition to her time at Willamette, she previously did admissions work at Pacific University and was the Director of Student-Athlete Enhancement Programs at Boise State University.

While working at Boise State from 2002 through 2008, Cleary became intimately familiar with a variety of student success initiatives while working in several positions. She was an educational specialist helping with BSU's Educational Talent Search for one year, then worked for three years as the coordinator of the TRIO Dissemination Partnership. She became the academic advisor and BroncoLIFE coordinator for the Athletics Department in 2006. Cleary was named the director of student-athlete enhancement programs in 2008.

At Pacific, she served as assistant director of undergraduate admissions from September of 2010 through October of 2012, and was promoted to associate director of undergraduate admissions in October of 2012.

Throughout each role, Cleary served on a variety of committees including the Collegiate Sports Summit Governing Body, Green Sports Alliance Collegiate Committee, Chair of the Big Sky Conference Joint Athletic Council (2018), and current Chair of the Big Sky Olympic Sports Committee.

Cleary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000 from California State University, Chico, with a major in Social Science and an emphasis in Sociology, Multicultural and Gender Studies. In 2003, she received a Master of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach in Counseling with a focus on student development in higher education.

Nicole Corcoran, Executive Associate Athletics Director, University of Kansas (DI-FBS)

Nicole Corcoran joined the University of Kansas Athletics Department as Chief of Staff to the Athletics Director in February 2009. In 2011, Corcoran was named Director of Operations, and in 2014 she was promoted to Associate Athletics Director – Operations. She was named Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator in July 2017. In a re-organization under Athletics Director Jeff Long, Corcoran was promoted to Executive Associate Athletics Director, January 15, 2019.

In her current position, Corcoran oversees Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Men’s Golf and Women’s Golf, providing administrative guidance to those coaches and their programs. She also serves as the liaison with Kansas Team Health, working closely with Sports Medicine, and oversees Student-Athlete Development. Corcoran represents the University as the Senior Woman Administrator with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. She is responsible for monitoring NCAA governance issues and contributing to the University’s position on new NCAA legislation. Corcoran is the Title IX contact for the Athletics Department and works closely with the University Title IX Coordinator. With the support of Long, Corcoran implemented a Women’s Mentorship Program, open to female Kansas Athletics staff, in 2019. 

Corcoran came to KU after serving as Press Secretary and Communications Director for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius from 2002 to 2009. She also served as the Communications Director and Spokesperson for Governor Sebelius’ two gubernatorial election campaigns. Corcoran was the Public Information Director for Sebelius from 1999 to 2001, while Sebelius served as state Insurance Commissioner.

Corcoran graduated from Washburn University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in communications with a public relations emphasis. Following graduation, she worked in the Community Relations/Marketing Department at Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka before joining the Insurance Commissioner’s office.

Samantha K. Huge, Director of Athletics, William & Mary (DI-FCS)

William & Mary Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge begins her fourth year leading the Tribe in 2020-21, leading the effort to build the William & Mary Athletics Department into a nationally recognized brand. A member of the president’s executive leadership team, Huge oversees a department of more than 500 student-athletes and 120 Athletics staff members.

During her time in Williamsburg, W&M has won 10 conference titles, with W&M student-athletes combining to earn 512 all-conference recognitions, 35 Players of the Year honors and 10 All-America accolades.  Tribe student-athletes also distinguished themselves in the classroom, as W&M has ranked as the top public university athletics department according to federal graduation rate every year. Additionally, an average of 156 W&M student-athletes each year have earned W&M’s Provost Award, honoring student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. 

After a period of active listening, Huge reorganized the department’s senior leadership team, made several highly-regarded head coaching hires and led a strategic plan initiative. Additionally, she created the first comprehensive position responsible for all facets of student-athlete high performance, hired a Chief Medical Officer, negotiated the department’s first media rights partnership with Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment and spearheaded a successful rebranding campaign that introduced a revitalized set of athletics logos to significantly enhance the department’s national visibility.

This past winter the university unveiled plans for a reimagined William & Mary Athletics Complex. Huge has spearheaded the efforts in both the fundraising and planning for the $57 million project, which will revitalize Kaplan Arena and establish a new state-of-the-art Sports Performance Center. The complex, which is largely funded through private support, will enable all student-athletes to boldly pursue excellence — raising their athletics experiences at William & Mary to the caliber and prominence of their academic experiences.

Huge’s leadership extends beyond the Williamsburg campus, serving on the NCAA’s Division I Council and on the Division I Football Oversight Committee, as well as serving on the Division I Men’s Basketball Competition Committee.

Appointed as W&M Athletics Director on May 1, 2017, Huge arrived on campus with 17 years of Division I collegiate athletics administration experience.  Prior to joining the Tribe, Huge served as the senior associate director of athletics at Texas A&M University, where she was a member of the senior management team from 2014-17, overseeing many aspects of the athletics department including academics, sports medicine, performance nutrition, student-athlete engagement and sports performance.  In addition to supervising key operational areas including technology, Huge managed the department’s partnership with Adidas and served as the primary liaison to the major gifts staff of the university’s fundraising arm for athletics, the 12th Man Foundation.  She also served as the primary administrator for six sports programs, three of which won one or more SEC Championships during her tenure in College Station. 

Huge led the department’s equity and inclusion policy development and implementation initiatives, served as a member of the Texas A&M Diversity Leadership Group and chaired the athletic department’s Committee on Equity and Inclusion and its Policy Committee.  In 2016, she received the university’s Award for Women’s Progress for her demonstrated advocacy for, and empowerment of, women in the department and on campus.

Prior to joining Texas A&M, Huge served as deputy director of athletics and recreation services at the University of Delaware and as special assistant to the President from 2009 to 2014. As deputy director, Huge was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the athletics department, during a time of record-setting competitive success, enhancement of facilities, increased attendance and revenue generation at Delaware.

Huge has also worked in various roles in the athletic departments at Georgetown University, Wake Forest University, Michigan State University and the University of Illinois, as well as with the Office of the Southern Conference.

Over her career, Huge has served on multiple conference and national committees, including the SEC Commissioner’s Working Group on Championships and the SEC Commissioner’s Working Group on Compliance, Enforcement and Governance; the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee; and the NCAA Division I Committee on Academic Performance.  As an active member in Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA), she has presented at its national convention.

She holds a law degree from Campbell University and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Gordon College, where she was a member of the varsity women’s basketball team. 

Lesley Irvine, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Colorado College (DIII)

Lesley Irvine began her tenure as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Colorado College on June 1, 2019, and since that time CC Athletics has experienced unprecedented success and several landmark moments.

During the fall of 2019, the Tigers ranked in the top 10 percent nationally in the Division III Directors' Cup Standings, Colorado College’s highest ranking ever. The men’s soccer team, which won its first-ever SCAC regular-season championship, and volleyball team earned berths in their respective NCAA Championships. The men’s and women’s cross country teams also swept the SCAC championships as a first-time host

Irvine, a member of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Board of Directors, has provided key leadership in the planning and construction of the Ed Robson Arena, a state-of-the-art 3,400-seat facility that will provide the Colorado College hockey team an on-campus home for the first time in program history. 

Irvine also oversaw the planning and unveiling of a logo refresh that was unveiled in February 2020.

Under Irvine’s direction, Colorado College transformed both Washburn and Stewart Fields by installing the Greensport Synthetic Turf System. In addition, a lighting system was added to Stewart which allowed both soccer teams to play night games for the first time on CC's historic soccer pitch.

Irvine’s arrival coincided with the department’s most successful academic performance in history, with a record 256 Division III student-athletes earning a spot on the SCAC Honor Roll. CC athletes combined for a 3.42 grade-point average during the 2019-20 academic year, the highest in the last decade.

Prior to joining Colorado College, Irvine was Director of Athletics at Pomona and Pitzer Colleges. She led the department to 15 Conference championships and its first-ever SCIAC Men's All-Sports Trophy in 2018.

Irvine's leadership also extends to successful fundraising as she helped raise two lead gifts totaling $20 million for a new campus athletics and recreation building at Pomona.

Before Pomona-Pitzer, Irvine was the Senior Associate Athletic director at Bowling Green State University from 2010-15.

From 2001-2010, she was the head field hockey coach at Stanford University, leading the Cardinal to three consecutive NORPAC championships and was a two-time conference Coach of the Year recipient.

As a student athlete in field hockey, Irvine led the University of Iowa to the Big Ten regular season title and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1999.  

An England native, Irvine was a five-time national champion in field hockey while attending Loughborough University. Irvine also played for the England Under 18 and 21 National teams.

Irvine earned a BSc in PE and Sports Science at Loughborough University in 1998, and a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from the University of Iowa in 2001.

Jennifer Lynne Williams, Director of Athletics, Alabama State University (DI-FCS)

On October 10, 2018, Jennifer Lynne Williams was elevated to Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Alabama State University (ASU). Previously, she served as the Interim Athletic Director and Deputy Athletic Director for the Hornets for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.

Since Williams took over the lead of the department, Alabama State has captured back-to-back SWAC Commissioner’s Cups trophies and back-to-back Academic Awards. This past year, the Hornets were recognized with the Academic Award after 236 student-athletes, 72 percent of the population, finished the semester with a 3.0 or better GPA. The Hornets also had 14 teams finish with a 3.0 or better GPA, and all 16 (track and field combined) finish with a 2.7 or better GPA.

Not only have the Hornets excelled in the classroom, but during the leadership of Williams, they have won in their respective field of competition. The teams have combined to win 22 conference championships and have participated in several NCAA postseason tournaments.

At Alabama State, she serves on the President’s executive leadership team and manages the day-to-day operations of Hornet Athletics. Williams has direct oversight of the Hornet Club, the official fundraising arm of ASU Athletics.

Williams was recently appointed to the NCAA Division I Council, serving on the Football Oversight Committee as part of her council duties; and is in her third year as an Executive Committee Member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), an organization which enhances the athletics development and fund raising profession by providing educational, ethical and networking support.

Because of her commitment and service to the industry, Williams was named the 2018 Women Leaders in College Sports Division I (FCS) Administrator of the Year; and recognized by her alma mater, North Carolina Central as a 40 under 40 Class of 2016 honoree, recognizing young NCCU alumni who have made significant contributions in the arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service, or government.

She spent four years as the Associate Athletic Director for Development and Executive Director of the Aggie Athletic Foundation at North Carolina A&T State University. She oversaw all giving initiatives for athletics, establishing and implementing aggressive fundraising programs, while overseeing the athletics marketing department and serving as the liaison between IMG Sports Properties.

Williams raised more than $4 million in revenue, while doubling the number of donors to athletics. In 2014, the Foundation was recognized as a model booster organization by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Prior to North Carolina A&T, Williams worked at DePaul University as the Assistant Director of Development for Athletics (2009-12) where she was responsible for advancing DePaul’s athletic fundraising and alumni relationship efforts, increasing annual giving, and producing high level communication pieces for athletic events and fundraising initiatives.

Williams also worked in development and marketing for Women Leaders in College Sports and volunteered with the Seahawk Club at the UNC-Wilmington, while beginning her career at North Carolina Central.

2020 Women Leaders in College Sports Nominating Committee Slate

Sarah Dehring, Director of Athletics, Alma College (DII)

Sarah Dehring, associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Alma College, was named Alma College's athletic director in October 2019 following a national search. She has served as the interim athletic director since June 2019 and has also been the senior woman administrator since 2016. Dehring is responsible for the overall development and general management of Alma's NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program.

"Sarah's experiences as a student-athlete, NCAA Division III coach and athletics administrator, her emphasis on student-athlete development and her loyalty to Alma College make her a strong match for leading our athletic program," says Alma College President Jeff Abernathy. "I am excited to work with Sarah and look forward to our continued partnership."

Dehring has filled Alma's associate athletic director position since January 2013, serving as the highest-ranked female in the athletic department of 60 staff members and 600-plus student-athletes. Her duties have included direct supervision of strength and conditioning and athletic training. She has also served as the athletic department's compliance officer, educating coaches and staff on rules and regulations assigned by the NCAA.

In addition, Dehring has led the department's service-learning outreach and was instrumental in bringing the Helper Helper organization to the Alma campus as a means to foster civic-mindedness in all Alma students. Her service works have ranged from Alternative Break service trips to serving as a Big Brother Big Sister board member and mentor.

Earlier this year, Dehring was one of 22 senior administrators nationwide selected to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program, a year-long leadership development program for senior-level athletics administrators.

"I am honored to be named the next director of athletics at Alma College," says Dehring. "I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to President Abernathy, the members of the search committee, and the Alma College campus community for their support and confidence in me to lead this program as we continue to build a culture of excellence. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest leaders in the business and will continue to bring that education and those resources to grow and develop Alma College Athletics."

Dehring sees Alma College as a preferred destination for student-athletes and staff, as athletics collaborates with all campus sectors to provide a co-curricular experience for students "to develop and become stewards of the world."

"All Scots will live out the Alma College Athletics mission, while we deliver a student-athlete experience that prepares graduates who think critically, serve generously and lead purposefully," she says.

Dehring joined Alma College in 2011 as the head volleyball coach. The Scots won 260 matches over five seasons under her leadership, including 151 MIAA contests. After moving into athletic administration, Dehring was named the 2017 College STUNT Association Administrator of the Year, and she received the 2017 Alma College Presidential Award for Excellence.

Prior to Alma, Dehring was an assistant volleyball coach at Iowa Western College, St. Joseph's College (IN) and Arizona Western College and a graduate assistant at Lakeland College (now Lakeland University).

A Michigan native, Dehring played collegiate volleyball at Ferris State University. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from FSU and a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Lakeland College, Sheboygan, Wisc.

Felicia Johnson, Director of Athletics, Virginia Union University (DII)

Felicia Johnson begins her second year at the helm of the department serving as Director of Athletics. Johnson is the first female Athletic Director in VUU History. She joined the staff in July 2007 as Director of Compliance. Since then, she had been awarded additional responsibilities as the Senior Woman Administrator and Associate Athletic Director. Johnson has made her first hire in Women’s Basketball and looking for this program to make great strides.

As the SWA and Associate Athletic Director, she served as part of the senior management team and assisted the Director of Athletics in the decision-making process. As the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Johnson was responsible for coordinating the certification of all student-athletes. Also, she was responsible for developing, implementing, education and monitoring, for the compliance systems for the NCAA, CIAA, and Virginia Union University. Johnson also served as sport oversight for softball, tennis, volleyball, track and field and bowling. She also was the overseer of medical staff.

Johnson was awarded the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year 2008-2009 and 2017-2018. She is a graduate of NCAA/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement (2011). Currently, she is a member of Women Leaders, the former President of the CIAA-Senior Woman Administrator’s Association, a former member of the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee, member of NCAA Division II Management Council, and Northern Vice President of the CIAA Management Council. She is also on numerous committees at Virginia Union including the President’s Cabinet.

The Mappsville, Va. native is a 2003 honors graduate of Virginia Union University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. During her undergraduate tenure at VUU, Johnson lettered in volleyball, softball and bowling. Johnson earned All-CIAA honors in softball. In 2007 Johnson earned her Master of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Sports Leadership. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Kristene Kelly, Executive Associate AD for Varsity Sports/SWA/Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Dartmouth College (DI-FCS)

Dr. Kristene Kelly was hired as the senior associate athletics director for varsity sports and senior woman administrator for the Big Green, beginning on Aug. 1, 2018, before earning a promotion to executive associate athletics director for varsity sports on Feb. 26, 2020, while maintaining her role as the SWA.

Kelly arrived in Hanover after spending the previous two years as the athletics director at Keene State, where she oversaw a group of more than 35 coaches and staff competing in 18 sports for the Division III Owls. During her two seasons, Keene State had six teams advance to the NCAA postseason, including the 2016-17 men’s basketball team that advanced to the Elite Eight. Nearly 200 student-athletes were recognized as Little East Conference All-Academic performers during her tenure as well.

Prior to Kelly’s appointment at Keene State, she served as the associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Among her responsibilities for the Falcons were supervising the day-to-day operations for the 14-sport program, directly supervising head coaches in five sports, writing all grant proposals for the department and administering all programs funded by grants, plus serving as deputy Title IX coordinator for athletics. Kelly twice earned the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Senior Woman Administrator of the Year award (2011, ’13), and also was an adjunct professor before being elevated to an assistant professor and department chair for sport management as well as the faculty athletics representative in her final year at Saint Augustine’s.

A 2000 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, with two bachelor’s degrees in physical education and communication arts, Kelly began her career in collegiate athletics as an academic counselor and graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee in the 2001-02 school year. She began working toward her master’s at Tennessee in human performance and sport studies, completing her degree the following year while starting a new job at her alma mater as the sports information director, a post she held for six and a half years. Just the second female to be named the CIAA John Holley SID of the Year in 2005, Kelly also earned her doctor of education in sport management from the United States Sports Academy in July 2014.

Kelly is a very active committee member within the NCAA. Her previous committee service included the NCAA Woman of the Year Committee and the NCAA Division II Track & Field Committee. She also served as a member of the CIAA Management Council and as a committee member for several CIAA championships. Kelly has completed several leadership development institutes, including the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Women (2007) and the NCAA/NACWAA Executive Institute for Administrative Advancement (2010).

A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Kelly is married to Jonathan Kelly Sr., and the couple has one son, Jonathan Jr. (16). She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Maggie McKinley, Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics/SWA, University of Cincinnati (DI-FBS)

Maggie McKinley joined the University of Cincinnati staff in 2001 and currently serves as the Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics and the department's Senior Woman Administrator. As a member of the Director of Athletics’ Senior Staff, McKinley provides strategic direction on departmental initiatives, policy development and implementation, enhancement of athletic performance, student-athlete welfare, Title IX compliance and equity and inclusion. She has sport supervision of Football and Women’s Basketball in addition to direct oversight of the Medical Services, Sports Performance, Compliance and Sport Services departments.

In July of 2018, Women Leaders in College Sports named McKinley the DI FBS Administrator of the Year, shortly followed by the American Council on Education Women’s Network Ohio honoring McKinley in November 2018 with the Excellence in Higher Education Leadership Award, recognizing an outstanding woman leader who has made significant contributions to higher education in Ohio. The academic year was capped off in May 2019 with the Cincinnati USA Women’s Sports Association recognizing McKinley as the Mary Jo Huisman Administrator of the Year.

McKinley was instrumental in building the department’s comprehensive NCAA rules compliance program, including on-going evaluation, development of policies and procedures and rules interpretations. This experience led to her selection to the NCAA Legislative Committee in 2015, a committee which she now serves as Chair. In 2016, she was appointed to and continues to serve on the NCAA Division I Council representing the American Athletic Conference.

In addition, McKinley serves as the chair of the American Athletic Conference SWA group and is a member of the AAC AD Executive Committee. She also chairs the AAC Track & Field committee and Women Leaders in College Sports Governance committee. She previously served on the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) Strategic Initiatives and Communication’s committees and Women Leaders in College Sports Foundation Fund and Membership committees. On campus, McKinley is a co-advisor for UC's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), the co-chair of the department of athletics' equity and inclusion One Team committee and is a member of the University's Diversity Council, Bias Incident Response Team and Enterprise Risk Management Risk Council.

Locally, McKinley has partnered with other Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky institutions to relaunch the Cincinnati USA Women’s Sports Association in 2020 to support, celebrate and recognize girls and women in sports in the region.

She is a graduate of the LEAD1 (formerly D1-A) Athletic Directors' Institute and the Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement, Leadership Enhancement Institute and Executive Institute. She has served as a speaker and panelist for institutes, NCAA Conventions and NACDA affiliates.

A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, McKinley spent four years at Cincinnati as a women's track and field student-athlete from 1996-2000 as she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. She then went on to Xavier University where she earned her master's degree in sports administration in 2001 and serves as an adjunct professor in the XU Master of Education Sports Administration program.

 

Erin Mykleby, Assistant Athletics Director for Development, New Mexico State University (DI-FBS)

Erin Mykleby has been a member of NACWAA/Women Leaders in College Sports for over 8 years and has been blessed to be a part of the organization by being an active member of the mentee/mentor program, a recent IAA 2020 West graduate, a previous Co-Leader of the Development Circle, as well as attending/volunteering at Convention each year. Her driving force in life is cultivating excellence through opportunity and currently serves as the Assistant Athletics Director for Development at New Mexico State University, as well as a member of Senior Staff. She has played a critical role in the department's fundraising activities, including the Aggie Athletic Fund and major gifts for NM State Athletics. She helped raise a record for the AAC in the 2019-20 giving year by reaching the $802,198 in total revenue generation. That figure marks a 20% increase from the previous year and the AAC's highest single-year giving total and since 2014-15 the AAC has seen its annual revenue increase by 375%. She currently serves on the University of Iowa Sports Management Advisory Board and sits on the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee for the University. Mykleby is also a Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) member and serves on the Special Partnerships and Development Committee.

University of Iowa Sports Management Advisory Board and sits on the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee for the University. Mykleby is also a Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) member and serves on the Special Partnerships and Development Committee. 

Mykleby has a wide variety of external, fundraising and athletics experience, most recently serving as the Athletics Annual Fund Coordinator at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). In her role at CSUB, she also served as the Executive Director of the Roadrunner Scholarship Fund Board. Mykleby’s success in raising funds at Bakersfield for student-athlete scholarships includes a significant increase in new donors and total revenue to the annual fund during her tenure.

Prior to CSUB, Mykleby was the Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing, Fundraising, and Community Engagement at St. Leo University. Mykleby oversaw the external operations including fundraising, special events, corporate partnerships and marketing for the Lions. Additionally, Mykleby served the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and was a facilitator at the 2017 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.

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. As a graduate of the University of Iowa Sports Management Master's program, Mykleby worked with the athletic department in several capabilities as a Learning Specialist, Development/Event Management intern and was also the High Performance/Coaching Education intern for USA Track & Field in Indianapolis, Indiana in the Summer of 2013. Mykleby also attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she was a captain on the Luther College Swimming and Diving Team and an Honorable Mention All-American. She earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education, as well as a minor in Communication Studies. Mykleby also has experience coaching/teaching overseas in Antwerp, Belgium and around Europe.

Alicia Alford Queally, Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Stetson University (DI-FCS)

Deputy Athletic Director, Alicia Alford Queally, was named to the senior athletics management team at Stetson University in September of 2012. In addition to her Deputy role, she serves as the Senior Woman Administrator for the department and is one of three Deputy Title IX Coordinator’s for DeLand’s campus.

Her day-to-day department responsibilities include supervising the athletic business office and its $5 million dollar budget, direct oversight of the ticket office staff, facilities and operations staff, and sport oversight of nine sport programs and their head coaches. Queally also manages the department in the athletic director’s absence.

A member of a number of committees throughout her years in the field, she currently serves on the NCAA Nominating Committee and has previously served on the NCAA Legislative Council, where she was also member of the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief. She is also a proud WLCS 2019 Executive Institute graduate, a 2018 graduate of the Sports Management Institute and 2017 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program.

Prior to arriving at Stetson, Queally garnered a wealth of experience at other prominent institutions, most recently holding the positions of Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, and Director of Compliance at Sacred Heart University.  She was responsible for a multitude of duties with the Pioneers. Queally oversaw budgets, travel, fundraising, promotion, policy development, certifications, and all phases of NCAA compliance. 

Prior to her time at Sacred Heart, Queally spent three years at the University of Connecticut and the University of New Haven. Working primarily in compliance, she was an Assistant Director of Athletics as well as Associate Director of Athletics before accepting her position at Sacred Heart.

Queally double majored in Management and Sociology while playing both basketball and volleyball at the University of North Carolina. Upon graduating, Queally began her career in intercollegiate administration at Seton Hall University as Assistant Compliance Coordinator.  Completing a Master of Business Administration degree in 2004, she moved on to the positions of Athletics Business Manager and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance.

Throughout her years in athletic administration, she has had the opportunity to have direct sport oversight of a large variety of sport programs, including beach volleyball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, equestrian, men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s indoor volleyball, and men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field. She currently oversees beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer and softball at Stetson.

Queally was part of two NCAA Tournament teams (Basketball 1997-98, Volleyball 1998). The Tar Heels won an ACC Women's Basketball Championship with Queally in 1997.

Queally resides in New Smyrna Beach, FL with her husband David, two sons Austin and Ronan, and dog Mason.

Ashley Reid, Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, The College of Wooster (DIII)

Ashley Reid has served as the Associate Director of Athletics and Chair of the Physical Education Department at The College of Wooster since July 2019. Reid is involved with all of the athletic department’s day-to-day operations while also serving as sports supervisor for Field Hockey, Men’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Baseball, Softball, and Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track.

During the 2019-20 academic year, Reid was one of 22 senior administrators nationwide selected to participate in the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program, a yearlong leadership development program for senior-level athletics administrators.

In 2019, Reid was named the recipient of NADIIIAA’s Transitioning Athletic Administrator Award and was accepted to the 2019 NCAA/Women Leaders Executive Institute.

Reid transitioned into an administrative role as Wooster’s first Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity and Inclusion on June 1, 2015, following nine seasons with the College's women's basketball program. She also serves as the department's senior woman administrator (SWA). Prior to Reid’s elevation to Associate Director of Athletics and Chair of the Physical Education Department, her duties expanded to include compliance and internal management. Among her various duties, Reid fosters systems of communication between athletics and other campus offices on matters of academic success, inclusion, and diversity, works with admissions and coaching staff on efforts for the recruitment, retention, and graduation of a diverse student-athlete population, programs, works with key campus partners on events, and initiatives that positively affect the student-athlete experience and overall cultural climate of the college, oversees compliance for all student-athletes and athletic programs, and previously served as the SAAC advisor.

Reid holds memberships in the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators, Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, and Women Leaders in College Sports.

As a former student-athlete, the former Ashley Norman was a three-time first-team all-American Mideast Conference selection and a four-year starter, capped by a senior season that saw her nab honorable mention honors on Kodak’s All-America Team. She’s Walsh University’s second all-time leading scorer (1,725 points) and fourth in rebounds (827).

For her efforts, Reid was inducted into Walsh’s Athletic Wall of Fame. She completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Walsh and was briefly a teacher in the Canton City School District before honing in on a career in college athletics.

Heather Weems, Director of Athletics, St. Cloud University (DIII)

Heather Weems joined the staff of St. Cloud State University as its Director of Intercollegiate Athletics on June 1, 2012.

Under the leadership of Weems, St. Cloud State has claimed four NCAA Division II national championships in wrestling along with winning numerous conference championships and being a regular competitor in NCAA postseason competition at the Division II level and at the Division I level in ice hockey.

With over 20 years of progressive executive experience in intercollegiate athletics and special skills in strategic planning, budget management and financial planning, culture change/building, professional development and training, and policy writing and implementation, Weems is the sixth athletic director in school history.

Prior to her arrival on campus at SCSU, Weems was an associate athletics director/senior woman administrator at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa from 2009 to 2012.

As a senior administrator she was responsible for internal affairs and oversight in NCAA compliance, academic success services, sports medicine, and strength and conditioning. She was the sport administrator for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s track and field/cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and volleyball, with prior oversight of men’s and women’s tennis.

As a member of the Drake athletics senior staff, Weems collaborated with senior administration in making policy level decisions, was responsible for development and implementation of departmental leadership programming for student athletes, coaches, and staff, which included significant cultural shift prescribed by strategic plan.

Before her time at Drake, Weems entered the athletic administration field at the University of Denver and served in several positions from 1999 to 2008. She started her athletic administration career as the coordinator of student athlete support services/academic advisor. She became an assistant athletics director for student athlete support services in 2000, and from 2002 to 2005 was the associate athletics director for internal operations. In 2006 she was named associate athletics director for student services and compliance.

At Denver she was a principal member of the senior administrative team that successfully implemented an initial strategic plan for the Division of Athletics, Recreation, and Ritchie Center Operations during reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I status.

Weems is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). Weems is familiar with the student athlete experience as she was a member of the varsity rowing team at the University of Iowa. As a team member, she earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was named the Team MVP.

She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Denver. Weems, and her husband Bill O’Donnell have four sons, Liam, Lukas, Lincoln and Landon.