2014 Accelerating Academic Success Program Conference
Speaker’s Biographies
Greg Burke
Greg Burke, Director of Athletics, Northwestern State University
Beginning his 19th year as director of athletics at Northwestern
State, Greg Burke has received national acclaim for the job he’s
done in his adopted hometown.
Burke has been athletics director at Northwestern since Aug. 29,
1996, when his first day included speaking at the annual
NSU/Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Burke is the
longest serving AD at any Louisiana or Southland Conference
institution.
He has steered NSU athletics to many of its greatest
accomplishments while overseeing a program that has fielded
championship caliber teams in nearly all of the school’s NCAA
Division I sports.
Last February, he was presented the “Outstanding Contributions
to Amateur Football Award” by the north Louisiana chapter of
the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of
Fame. Two years ago, he was included among 29 winners of the
Under Amour AD of the Year Award presented by the National
Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
Burke was the 2010-11 president of the Football Championship
Subdivision Athletics Directors Association.
He has begun a term on the NCAA Division I Committee on
Academic Performance; Burke previously served on the
prestigious NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.
He previously served a four-year term on the NCAA Division I
Football Issues Committee (1999-2002) and concurrently served
a term on the eight-member NCAA FCS Committee that
administers the national playoffs. Burke has served as a site
supervisor for Football Championship Subdivision playoff games
across the nation and he is regarded as one of the country’s
premiere advocates of FCS football.
Burke’s 17 years as athletic director include 37 Southland
Conference regular-season or tournament championships, 61 AllAmerican and Academic All-American student athletes, and
three U.S. Olympic competitors. Twenty NSU teams have taken
part in NCAA or WNIT postseason competition.
All of the school’s athletic facilities have undergone nearly $7
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million in improvements in the past four years. Burke
spearheaded a $2 million series of sponsorships for new
scoreboards installed for 2008-09 at all NSU athletic venues; the
$700,000 Second Century Circle fencing project for athletic
venues; and a $500,000 softball grandstand project completed
earlier this year.
NSU in 2004-05 became the first (and remains the only)
Southland Conference member in the league’s five decades of
history to sweep football, men’s basketball and baseball
championships in the same athletic year. It’s been done only
once in Southeastern Conference history, by Alabama in 193334, and only four times in Big Ten Conference history, the last
time by Michigan State in 1979-80.
Those accomplishments have come with one of the more modest
athletic budgets in the state and conference. Burke’s
management skill and fundraising ability have been pivotal.
Burke has displayed a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head
coaches. In just their second seasons, women’s basketball cohead coaches Brooke and Scott Stoehr guided NSU to the NCAA
Tournament while baseball coach Lane Burroughs executed the
best one-season turnaround in Southland Conference history and
tied NSU’s school record. Anchors of the NSU department
include current head coaches Mike McConathy, Louisiana’s alltime career basketball wins leader; 2013 Louisiana softball coach
of the Year Donald Pickett; Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman,
who just led the volleyball program to its best two seasons in the
31-year history of the program; and Patric DuBois, whose Lady
Demon tennis program has two Southland Conference titles in
the past four years. Several other Burke hires had great success at
Northwestern State that propelled them to national prominence in
subsequent positions.
From his first day on the job, Burke has stressed the importance
of having a balanced athletic program. To that end, tremendous
competitive strides have been made in women’s athletics under
his guidance. Along with the aforementioned volleyball surge,
NSU’s soccer program was the first in Louisiana to reach the
NCAA Tournament. Softball and tennis made NCAA
Tournament appearances in 2013, the second in four seasons for
Lady Demon tennis, and softball returned in 2014.
Burke has established a high standard for NSU Athletics in
academic achievement and community service.
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The academic accomplishments are reflected annually in the
NCAA’s APR and GSR studies. Community service by NSU
student-athletes, coaches and staff more than doubled to over
5,000 hours in 2009-10 and has remained at that level.
Burke spearheaded the adoption of the slogan “Great Tradition,
Brighter Future” for NSU Athletics, and the creation of NSU
Athletics “Cornerstones” for student-athletes: “Academic
Achievement, Personal Responsibility, Competitive Success …
Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day!”
In 2005, Burke was one of three recipients of the All-America
Football Foundation’s Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding
Athletic Director Award and that same year, was also tabbed as
one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of 2005 by
the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper’s editorial staff.
He received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his
alma mater, Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio,
recognizing his community service and professional
achievements. Burke became one of only 21 alumni honored
since the award was instituted in 1982.
Burke is a past president of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club and
remains active in that civic group. He has also been part of the
steering committee for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and
is a former president of the Natchitoches Area Jaycees. He is
involved with the American Heart Association and was 2010
March of Dimes chairman locally.
His wife, Susu, is a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and an
elementary teacher. Their 20-year-old daughter, Catherine,
graduated from St. Mary’s High School in May of 2012 and
attends Louisiana Tech.
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Jennifer Bell
Jennifer Bell has served as the Assistant Athletic Director for
Compliance for Tennessee State University since 2003. As the
Assistant AD for Compliance, Bell is responsible for ensuring
that coaches, student-athletes, administrative staff, and boosters
abide by the NCAA, university and conference rules and
regulations.
Prior to stepping into the role as Compliance Director, Bell
served as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team
from 1991 to 2003. She coached on the two back to back OVC
Championship squads.
A graduate of Fisk University, Bell excelled in basketball, cross
country, volleyball and track. As an athlete, she was a three-time
CIAC conference selection in basketball and a member of the 1,
000-points club.
A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Bell received her B.S. in
Political Science from Fisk University in 1991. She later
obtained an M.A.Ed in Sports Administration from Tennessee
State University in 2005.
Norman Francis
The classic Xavier student is someone who has heart, an
appreciation for diligent work, the determination to use his/her
talents to the fullest, and the courage to ask for help when it is
needed. Nobody has embodied those qualities more so than
NORMAN C. FRANCIS, whose administrative career at Xavier has
spanned a half-century.
A 1952 graduate, Francis returned to his alma mater in 1957 –
following Loyola Law School and two years in the US Army -to begin his administrative career as dean of men. Since his
appointment as the University’s first lay president in 1968,
Xavier has more than tripled its enrollment, broadened its
curriculum, expanded its campus and received national attention
for its award-winning academic initiatives. The tradition of
academic excellence is consistent with the dreams of its founder,
Saint Katharine Drexel and her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
religious order.
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Admired for his sharp mind, revered for his modesty, and praised
for his dedication, Dr. Francis enjoys a prestigious national
reputation. In December 2006, he received the nation’s highest
civilian award – The Presidential Medal of Freedom – from
President George W. Bush. Francis has served in an advisory
role to five US presidents — including the historic National
Commission on Excellence in Education, whose findings,
published in the groundbreaking work A Nation at Risk, created
a sense of urgency for bringing about educational reform in the
nation’s school system.
He has served as chairman or board
member for numerous councils and foundations including Chair
of the President’s Council for the United Negro College Fund,
American Association of Higher Education, The Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; The College
Board, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
Educational Testing Service, and the Southern Education
Foundation.
In 2007 the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education
appointed Dr. Francis to Chair the HBCU Capital Financing
Advisory Board, and in 2005, Governor Kathleen Blanco
appointed Francis to serve as Chairman of the Louisiana
Recovery Authority, helping to oversee the state’s recovery
following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita while he lead the
University’s own recovery and rebuilding effort. He served in
that capacity for 3 years. In New Orleans, Francis serves as
Chairman of the Board of Liberty Bank and Trust; Co-Chair of
the Committee for a Better New Orleans; member of the
Advisory Board of The Times-Picayune Publishing Company;
The Fleur de lis Ambassadors Program, the Executive
Committee for the New Orleans 2018 Commission, as well as
other local organizations.
Norman C. Francis’ legacy as the first African American lay
president of Xavier is epitomized in his unwavering commitment
to educational and social equality, spiritual enlightenment, and
community service.
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Vivian L. Fuller
Dr. Fuller was appointed Director of Athletics by Dr, Carolyn W.
Meyers at Jackson State University on August 8, 2011. Dr.
Fuller served as the Dean of Sojourner-Douglass College,
Cambridge Campus. She had oversight for program
development, strategic leadership, community initiatives, and
program review assessment, articulates College contributions,
liaison between faculty and students, fosters online education,
assessment of degree requirements, review accreditation process,
serve on academic committee and supervise Advisory Board
leadership for the Cambridge, campus.
In, 2000, President Dolores R. Spikes appointed Fuller as
Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore. In this capacity, she had oversight for program
operations, fund-raising, alumni and community relations,
marketing and promotions and supervision of athletic personnel
for the Division I-AA program with 14 sports. Prior to joining
UMES, Dr. Fuller served as Director of Athletics at Tennessee
State University. With her appointment at TSU in 1997, Dr.
Fuller became the first African-American woman and one of
only seven women nationally to hold the position of Director of
Athletics at an NCAA Division I institution with a football
program. During her tenure, the football program led the Ohio
Valley Conference and went on to compete in the NCAA
Division I-AA championship playoffs. In 1992, Dr. Fuller was
selected the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Intramurals and
Recreation at Northeastern Illinois University. In this capacity,
she supervised 14 sports and helped guide the university through
a successful transition from Division II to Division I status.
Dr. Fuller is a nationally known speaker on the topics of women
in sports, academic support programs for student-athletes,
academic advising, and women in senior management positions,
gender equity, and the importance of networking in the
profession. She began her career in higher education at Bennett
College in 1978 as the Director of Intramurals and instructor of
Physical Education. From 1984-87 she served as Assistant
Director for Advisement Programs for Student Athletes
eventually being promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics at
North Carolina A&T State University. In 1987, she became
Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Indiana
University of Pennsylvania where she was responsible for
internal operations of the program and developing the academic
component for student-athletes. Fuller served as a Tenured
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Professor in the Department of Athletics.
Dr. Fuller's accomplishments have been recognized by a number
of organizations, including the American Alliance of Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the
Boy Scouts of America and the Chicago Youth Success
Foundation. Her achievements have been chronicled in national
and local publications, including Black Issues in Higher
Education, Jet Magazine, The National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) News, The Chronicle of Higher Education,
Athletic Business, Ebony, Black Women's Encyclopedia, The
Chicago Sun-Times, and the Fayetteville Observer. She has
published numerous articles and given presentations on the
national and regional levels on a variety of topics related to
athletics administration. In 1996, Fuller was featured in Athletic
Management Magazine on receiving the Atlanta Award in
recognition of her achievements as a role model in Athletics
Administration.
Dr. Fuller earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical
Education from Fayetteville State University, a Master's of
Education from University of Idaho and a Doctorate in Higher
Education Administration from Iowa State University. Her main
two goals in athletics administration are to develop a
competitive, broad- base athletics program that does not
compromise integrity, academics, and the welfare of studentathletes, and to create an avenue to assist women and ethnic
minorities who seek careers in higher education.
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Tamesha Greenlee
Tamesha Greenlee was recently promoted to Associate Director
of Academics, after being with the department for 6 years as an
Academic Counselor and most recently Assistant Director of
Academics. In the Office of Student Athlete Success, she is the
Graduate Assistant Development Coordinator and serves on the
Student Outcomes and Operations/Program Development
committees. Prior to being hired as an Academic Counselor, she
worked within Student Affairs at Arkansas as a Student
Development Specialist for Student Support Services. She is a
member of the National Association of Athletic Advising
Association and serves on the Student Recognition and Awards
Committee.
She was an honor graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a
bachelor’s degree in Communication. She earned her master's
degree at the University of Arkansas in Higher Education and
Leadership while serving as a graduate assistant in the Bogle
Academic Center. She is an Arkansas native from Nashville, AR.
Greenlee works with Arkansas' soccer, gymnastics and men’s
track field and cross country teams.
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Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen joined the University of Arkansas athletic staff as
the tutor coordinator in April 2012. She comes to the university
with two years’ experience in athletic academics. Hansen is
responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training new tutors. She
also works with the academic counselors and learning specialists
to provide student-athletes with tutoring sessions throughout
each semester Under Hansen, the tutoring program received
Level 1 CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association)
International Certification in spring 2014. Hansen is also the
academic counselor for softball and swimming and diving.
Prior to joining the Razorbacks, Hansen served in the same role
for a year at the University of Louisville while a graduate
assistant. While at Louisville, the tutoring program gained
certification under the international CRLA program. During her
two years as a graduate assistant, Hansen worked with several
teams as an assistant academic counselor, spending her last five
months as the interim men's swimming and diving advisor. She
also assisted with the student organization for international
student-athletes.
Hansen earned her bachelor's degree in accounting in 2010 and
her master's degree of education in counseling and personnel
with a concentration in college student personnel in 2012 at the
University of Louisville. She is also a member of the National
Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics.
Hansen is a native of Hebron, Kentucky.
Paula J. Jenkins
Paula J. Jenkins, CFRE, currently serves as the vice president for
development, Bloomington for the Indiana University
Foundation where she provides strategic, active leadership for
centralized advancement services and constituency-based
development programs in the individual schools and units of the
Indiana University, Bloomington campus; implements proactive
consulting services to constituency programs to ensure that the
most strategic, effective and efficient fundraising operations and
best practices are in place and aligned with the overall goals and
targets of the institution such as feasibility, resourcing,
organizational structure and evaluation of current programs; and
works in close collaboration and partnership with the provost of
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the Indiana University, Bloomington campus, deans and senior
development directors of unit-based development programs to
increase philanthropic support for Indiana University.
She previously served as vice president of development for
regional campuses at Indiana University where she distinguished
herself as a superb fundraiser, strategist and leader working
closely with the chancellors, senior academic leadership and
advancement professionals to develop and implement a robust
advancement model for regional campuses with the outcome of
greater philanthropic support. She also served the Purdue School
of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI as assistant dean for
development and external relations, gaining considerable
experience in all areas of development, including building
comprehensive fundraising programs, corporate and foundation
relations, and community/alumni relations.
Jenkins also serves the nonprofit sector as a mentor and coach to
young professional fundraisers, and those pursuing the CFRE
designation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration from the Eller College of Management
at the University of Arizona, and is pursuing a Master of Arts in
Philanthropic Studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
She is a past board member of the International Board of
Directors, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and
as the CFRE Certification Chair, Association of Fundraising
Professionals, Indiana chapter. She also holds the Certified Fund
Raising Executive professional designation.
Valencia Jordan
Valencia Jordan has served as the Senior Woman Administrator
(SWA) at Tennessee State University since the summer of 2003.
She also has other administrative duties within the TSU athletics
department including her role as the head of the Student Athlete
Advisory Committee.
Jordan was involved with the Lady Tiger basketball program for
14 seasons, including the last three as head coach. She moved
into the position as full-time head coach in 1999-2000 after
serving 11 years as an assistant coach to Teresa Lawrence
Phillips, who now serves the university as its director of
athletics.
In 1998-99, she took over the coaching reigns for the final 12
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games of the season. She guided the Lady Tigers to an 8-4 record
and the team advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley
Conference Tournament, upsetting a pair of two higher seeds
along the way.
A native of Nashville, Jordan attended Hillsboro High,
graduating in 1980. She was a multi-sport athlete, playing
volleyball, basketball while also participating in track and
softball. She earned second team All-Nashville honors in
basketball and earned All-Nashville, all-district, and all-region in
volleyball.
She played collegiate basketball at Fisk University before
moving on to Austin Peay State University. As a senior for the
Lady Govs, she averaged 13.0 points a game. She graduated with
a bachelor's degree in health and psychology from Austin Peay
in 1986.
In 2007, Jordan was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award
by the Women In Higher Education In Tennessee (WHET)
Conference and was also named SWA of the Year by the AllAmerican Football Foundation (AAFF).
She earned her master's degree in health and physical education
from Tennessee State. She carried the additional duties as TSU's
head volleyball coach from 1990-92.
Valencia has two children, son Cameron, and daughter Kamri.
Ashlie Kite
Ashlie Kite was appointed Senior Associate Director of Athletics
and Senior Woman Administrator by Dr. Brandon E. Martin in
August, 2013. She began her tenure at CSUN as an Associate
Athletics Director on January 24, 2005.
For the majority of the 2012-13 academic year, Kite was CSUN's
Interim Director of Athletics. During this time, Matador
Athletics launched its inaugural Front Row app and her efforts
were also instrumental in the recent major renovations in The
Matadome including the state-of-the-art video production
operation.
During her tenure at CSUN, Kite has guided the development of
all administrative areas from compliance and business operations
to game management. She also spearheaded the renovations to
the Matador Sports Performance area, which included new
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equipment as well as an overall facility upgrade. Kite has served
as sport supervisor for all CSUN sport programs, playing a
significant role in guiding the development and success of the
Matador intercollegiate sport programs.
In her position as SWA, Kite works on equity and diversity
issues directly with the Big West Conference office as well as
the NCAA. In addition, she has been named Deputy Title IX
Coordinator for the University and is a member of the
university’s Sexual Violence Prevention Committee. Kite was
instrumental in developing the proposal which resulted in CSUN
receiving a $900,000 grant from the NCAA as part of a threeyear pilot program aimed at increasing academic performance
among student-athletes. As a result, all Matador Sport programs
have substantially increased academic performance.
Kite came to Cal State Northridge from James Madison
University, where she served as the Director of Compliance from
1999-2004. In that role, she was responsible for the oversight
and monitoring of the Athletic Department's compliance program
for more than 750 student-athletes competing in 28 varsity
sports. While overseeing the NCAA compliance program at
JMU, Kite coordinated the eligibility and financial aid processes
for the university's student-athletes and coordinated the athletic
division's rules education program.
In addition to her administrative duties in compliance at JMU,
she also served as the director of a numerous NCAA and
conference championship events. Kite arrived at JMU in 1990,
where she worked for a year in the athletic division’s equipment
operation and served as an administrative graduate assistant for
two years. In 1993, she began assisting the associate athletics
director with compliance-related activities, and assumed a fulltime roll as the compliance coordinator in 1996.
Kite is a native of Elkton, Va. and a graduate of Spotswood High
School. She was a member of the softball team at Eastern
Mennonite University, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Health,
Physical Education and Coaching. Kite received her Master's
degree in Kinesiology with an athletic administration
concentration from James Madison University in 1993.
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Genese A. Lavalais
Genese A. Lavalais joined the Jackson State University family
on October 14, 2014 as the Assistant Director of Athletics for
Academics at JSU, after serving as the Director of Academic
Enhancement at Grambling State University (GSU) where she
played an instrumental role with improving the 2012-2013 APR
scores.
As the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics, Lavalais’
responsibilities include oversight of the athletic academic
enhancement center servicing over 320 student-athletes. Her
motto: “Empower students, grow champions, and develop
leaders,” confirms her dedication to the development of studentathletes through and beyond their matriculation.
Lavalais enters her fifth year of serving on the NCAA Region 6
Post Graduate committee and is the past chair of the Life Skills
committee for the N4A. Lavalais is the 2014 Region II recipient
of the N4A Professional Promise award, reinforcing her position
as a well-respected professional in athletics.
Lavalais received individual certification in 2010 through the
National Association of Academic Advisor for Athletics (N4A),
and in 2014 received Title IX investigator certification via the
Association of Title IX Administrators (atIXa). Lavalais is
extremely dedicated to the field of athletics and seeks every
opportunity to improve her skills, and is an Alumni of the
following organizations: 2011 (N4A) Professional Development
Institute (PDI), 2012 and 2013 NCAA Leadership Institute, and
2014
NCAA/NACWAA
Institute
for
Administrative
Advancement.
After a combined six years of volunteering, Lavalais began her
career in athletics in 2010 at Alabama State University as an
academic advisor. Lavalais volunteered as a Special Assistant to
the Director of Athletics at Baton Rouge Community College
(BRCC), as an Athletic department intern at Louisiana State
University (LSU), and as an Assistant high school girls’
basketball coach at Marksville High School.
The Marksville, La. native was a member of the women’s
basketball team at Southern Arkansas University where she
graduated in May 2004. She later pursued a Master’s degree in
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Sports Administration at Grambling State University and
graduated December 2007, and is a member of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc.
Brandon Martin
Brandon Martin, Director of Athletics, California State
University, Northridge. President Dianne F. Harrison announced
Dr. Brandon E. Martin as the new Director of Intercollegiate
Athletics at California State University, Northridge on February
25, 2013. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Martin to the Matador
family,” Harrison said.“He has played a key leadership role in
one of the country’s top sports programs. We look forward to
him bringing his extensive experience to CSUN and taking the
Matadors to the next level.”
Martin, 40, joined a small number of elite African-Americans
who head intercollegiate athletics program at universities and
colleges in the United States. According to the 2012 College
Racial and Gender Report Card from The Institute for Diversity
and Ethics in Sports in all of Division I institutions, African
Americans hold only 7.5 percent of athletics director positions.
Martin is responsible for CSUN’s Division I athletics program
that includes a $11.5 million operating budget and over 410
student-athletes in eight men’s and 11 women’s teams.
Martin is passionate about the well-being of student-athletes and
the championship experience. "We want to create an
environment for our student-athletes to achieve comprehensive
excellence, Martin contended. Intercollegiate athletics offers an
unparalleled opportunity for young women and men to prepare
for success in life."
Martin's current leadership boasts 72 student-athletes recognized
for earning at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA in 2013-14. Women’s
basketball and volleyball programs winning Big West
Championships in 2014; while men’s basketball, men’s soccer
and women’s water polo teams each made an appearance in the
Big West Tournament Final. The Women’s golf program
finished second in the conference and was represented at the
2014 NCAA Golf Championship for the first time since 2004.
Women’s Track & Field 4x100-meter relay team finished 10th at
the NCAA Championships after posting the second-fastest time
in school history and the women’s water polo program was
ranked as high as #7 in 2014, the highest ever for the team.
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Additionally, CSUN student-athletes garnered attention at the
national level by winning 42 All-Conference Honors, five AllAmericans and several Academic All-American awardees.
In Martin’s dynamic first year as Director of Intercollegiate
Athletics at the CSUN, he honored CSUN’s faculty, retiring
jersey #58, symbolizing the year the university was founded
(1958.) He initiated a new administrative structure within the
intercollegiate athletics department, proposed a comprehensive
vision and oversaw a series of historic moments in CSUN’s
athletics history. Propelled by his mantra of comprehensive
excellence, Martin pioneered the addition of Sand Volleyball as
CSUN’s 19thIntercollegiate Sport, hired three new head coaches
in Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Women’s Golf. His highly
coveted hire of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Reggie Theus in
April was heralded as a “game-changing” hire by Fox Sports
West.
Martin sparked the creation of “Matadors Rising” a new visual
identity and complete re-branding initiative within CSUN
Athletics. “Our new images represents more than a logo or a
brand, they represent an expectation, memories, relationships,
and the pride that we all have in being Matadors, Martin claimed.
In essence, our campaign represents a promise of what will
delivered and experienced as fans, alums, and supporters of our
goal of comprehensive excellence.” One unique feature of this
campaign included an effort to connect with our Spanishspeaking students, fans, and alumni. “Matadores Ascendiendo”
was developed as the primary messaging for Latino supporters.
Therefore beginning summer 2014, all press releases, game day
promotions, and social media communications were converted to
Spanish.
Since his arrival at CSUN, Martin has increased athletics
donations by 138%. This fundraising success has resulted in
several noteworthy athletics facility upgrades and enhancements
including a new athletics conference room, a men’s basketball
locker room expansion, new spectator seating, graphic displays,
lobby renovations for basketball facility, and a redesigned
concourse and plaza for the soccer complex. In addition to
upgrading athletics facilities, Martin spearheaded a multi-year
agreement with Providence Health as the“Official Healthcare
Provider of Matador Athletics.”Martin also negotiated a
Corporate Sponsorship agreement with Nelligan Sports
Marketing (now Learfield Sports Marketing) resulting in
sponsorship revenue increasing 963% during Matador Sports
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Properties (MSP) first 9-month operating period of the 20132014 season. Under Martin’s leadership, CSUN Athletics also
entered a multi-year partnership with Sport Chalet to be
the“Official apparel and equipment provider” to the Matador
athletic teams.
Dedicated to tangible development, Martin designed and
launched the Matador Excellence Fund—First Annual
Giving/Priority Point Program in CSUN Athletics history. This
program has been instrumental in reengaging former CSUN
letter winners and alumni nationwide. Since his arrival at CSUN,
annual giving donations have increased by 68%.
Martin currently serves as the Chair of the Big West Men’s
Basketball Advancement Committee and is a member of the Big
West Conference Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Previous to his appointment at CSUN, Martin served as a Senior
Associate Athletics Director for Administration at the University
of Oklahoma. Martin was chiefly accountable for the day-to-day
administrative and operational facets of the following sport
programs—Men’s Basketball, Men’s/Women’s Track and Field,
Cross Country, Women’s Soccer, and Rowing. His duties also
include oversight of departmental Strategic Planning, Marketing
and Promotions, Human Resources, Strength and Conditioning,
Big 12 and NCAA Legislation, Risk Management, NCAA
Certification, and all Diversity and Inclusion programming for
the department. Additionally, Martin was actively involved in the
athletics departmental facility upgrades and capital projects. He
directed fundraising efforts for the University of Oklahoma OnCampus Practice and Storage Facility, Strength and Conditioning
Complex Upgrades, and the Lloyd Noble Center Training Room.
While at the University of Oklahoma, Martin also served on the
President’s Graduation and Retention Task Force.
At USC, Martin was also a Senior Associate Director of
Athletics. As a member of the senior executive staff, he had
oversight of strategic planning, policy evaluation, and sport
oversight, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and capital
projects. Martin managed the day-to-day operations of men's
basketball, men's and women's track & field, men's and women's
swimming & diving, and men's and women's water polo. Under
his supervision, those sports won five national championships
and had 55 student-athletes earn All American honors.
He served as the primary administrator and liaison with the USC
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admissions office and student affairs division. In this role, he
collaborated with the USC Vice Provost for Enrollment
Management and the Dean of Admission on appropriate
admissions standards and criteria for all incoming freshman and
transfer student-athletes.
Coupled with his athletic duties and pursuits, Martin served as an
Assistant Professor of Clinical Education in the USC Rossier
School of Education. Martin has presented more than 40 papers,
symposia and workshops at national higher education
conferences. His dissertation entitled “A Phenomenological
Student of Academically Driven African American Male
Student-Athletes at Highly Selective Division I Universities”
won the 2005 USC Rossier School of Education Dissertation of
the Year Award. In 2005, he also earned the National
Association of Academic Advisors award for Student Athlete
Excellence in Research.
Martin is a distinguished member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,
and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity—Xi Boule. He has also proudly
served in other service capacities including: Board of Directors
for the Los Angeles Sports Council, San Fernando Valley Rescue
Mission Advisory Board, Board of Directors for the CSUN
Black Alumni Association, Board of Directors for the Oklahoma
City Boathouse Foundation, Board of Directors for the Norman
Addiction Information & Counseling Center.
Martin resides in Northridge with his wife Rosemary and three
children Germany, Riley and Brandon Jr.
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Charlie Nelms
Charlie Nelms, Ed.D, is a transformational servant-leader, a
motivational speaker, and a consultant with expertise in higher
education. He has more than 40 years of experience and
leadership in student access, retention, and graduation;
institutional effectiveness; and strategic planning. The former
chancellor of universities in North Carolina, Indiana, and
Michigan, Dr. Nelms serves as a board member for leading
educational associations and foundations across the U.S. He is
currently a senior scholar at the American Association of State
Colleges and Universities, providing leadership in assisting
minority-serving institutions. Dr. Nelms has also been a
consultant for a wide range of higher education organizations.
Dr. Nelms is the recipient of numerous awards for his
accomplishments in higher education, including two honorary
doctorates and fellowships from the American Council on
Education and the Ford Foundation. In 2012, President Obama
honored Dr. Nelms with the MLK Drum Major for Service
Award for helping to address the most pressing needs in our
communities and our nation. Dr. Nelms is a founding member of
the Millennium Leadership Initiative and Professor Emeritus at
Indiana University. During his tenure as chancellor of North
Carolina Central University, U.S. News & World Report ranked
NCCU as one of the best public Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) in the nation for three consecutive years.
Dr. Nelms is the founder and director of the Destination
Graduation Initiative, which aims to increase retention and
graduation rates at HBCUs. In 2011, Dr. Nelms published, A
Call to Action, a policy directive intended to spur a national
dialogue concerning the revitalization of HBCUs as an important
sector of American higher education. In 2013, Dr. Nelms
launched a new initiative, Leading to Completion, designed to
help minority-serving higher education institutions improve
student degree completion rates.
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Binh Nguyen
Binh has been a part of the academic and membership affairs
staff for over nine years. Prior to coming to the NCAA, Nguyen
served as the manager of events and legislation for the Women's
Basketball Coaches Association, where she was responsible for
developing legislative educational materials, tracking legislation
related to women's basketball and served as the association's
liaison to the three NCAA governance structures. Nguyen
earned her B.A. in early American history from the University of
Evansville and her M.S. in human performance and sport studies
from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her current role
as associate director of academic and membership affairs,
Nguyen provides interpretive assistance on legislation to the
membership; serves as a liaison to the NCAA Division I
Committee on Academic Performance Subcommittee on Data
Collection and Reporting and the Division I Legislative Council;
and oversees the collection of Division I Academic Progress
Rate and Graduation Success Rate data.
J.R. Pulido
J.R. Pulido joined the University of Arkansas and the Office of
Student Athlete Success as a Learning Specialist in July 2011.
He worked with all 19 Razorback teams his first year.
In 2012 Pulido began working as an Academic Counselor with
women’s track and field and various sports. He currently works
with Men’s Baseball and Women’s Track and Field Teams. He
is a member of the National Association of Athletic Advising For
Athletics and serves on The Office of Student Athlete Success
Scholarship and Awards Committee and Health and Wellness
Committee.
Prior to joining the Razorbacks Pulido served two years as a
Learning Specialist at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
During his tenure, Pulido assisted student-athletes with the
learning process, helped with the creation of long and short-term
goals through object based study hall, and trained studentathletes with effective student skills, learning strategies, note
taking and organizational skills.
In addition to his time in the academic center, Pulido was an
assistant coach with the TAMU-CC track and field and cross
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country teams. Pulido’s other experience includes working as an
intern counselor at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education
Center, and serving as a Case Manager with the Texas
Correctional Office of Medical and Mental Impairments.
Pulido earned his undergraduate degree in kinesiology in May
2008 followed by his master’s degree in education psychology in
December 2010, from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Jennifer Quirk
Jennifer Quirk was named Director of Student-Athlete Support
Services in August 2002 and promoted to Assistant Athletic
Director for Academics in 2006. In this position, Quirk,
supervises the academic advisement and monitoring of Fairleigh
Dickinson student-athletes, advises the Student Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC) and conducts wellness seminars aimed at
improving the overall welfare of all student-athletes. She is also
an adjunct professor in the departments of Sports Administration
and Communication where she teaches a variety of courses.
Quirk has served Fairleigh Dickinson since 1999 as an Academic
Counselor in the Academic Advisement Center. She brings with
her a great understanding of the University, its students, policies,
philosophies and programs. In her role as a counselor, Quirk
advises students on course selection, substitutions, off-campus
verifications, determination of majors and the course validation
process. She has developed a summer bridge program for the
men’s and women’s basketball team as well as coordinates the
meetings and policies of the Athletics Academic Review Board.
Quirk is the primary contact for tutorial services, verifying
continuing academic eligibility, registration of all studentathletes, course program planning, recruiting meetings and
administering the intervention program for at-risk studentathletes.
Quirk is a member of the National Association of Academic
Advisors for Athletics (N4A) where she is currently serving on
the Executive Board for the organization as well as chairing the
Membership Committee. She has presented numerous times at
regional and national conferences targeting succeeding in
academics at a limited resource institution.
In her time with FDU athletics, the student-athletes’ grade point
averages have been risen to be over 3.0 cumulatively for 21
straight semesters.
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A native of LaGrange, Indiana, Quirk received her bachelor's
degree in Communication/Sport Management with a minor in
Recreation Management from Bluffton College (now Bluffton
University) in 1997. She was a four-year member of the
women's tennis team at Bluffton where she earned four straight
All-Conference honors and participated in and developed NCAA
CHAMPS/Life Skills programs. In her senior season at Bluffton,
she was named the Kathryn E. Little Female Athlete of the Year.
She went on to earn a master's in Kinesiology with a
concentration in College Student Personnel and Athletic
Administration from Indiana University in 1998. While at IU,
Quirk held the position of Athletic Academic Counseling Intern
where she was responsible for verifying academic eligibility,
registration of freshmen student-athletes, course planning,
midterm reports and tutorial services.. She worked She also
served as an associate instructor at Indiana while earning her
degree.
She is married to Brian Quirk, a physical education teacher,
varsity women’s golf coach (2011 and 2013 coach of the year)
and junior varsity girls volleyball coach at Ridgewood High
School. The couple currently reside in Oakland, N.J. with their
son Brady, age 11, and daughter Cammi, age nine.
Karen Schiferl
Karen Schiferl is the Associate Athletic Director for Academic
Services and Senior Woman Administrator at Chicago State
University. Prior to CSU, Schiferl spent nine years as Senior
Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support at the
University of Mississippi where her duties included overseeing
all aspects of the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support.
Schiferl also spent four years as Senior Associate Director at the
University of Maryland’s Academic Support and Career
Development Office, and two years as Academic Coordinator in
the athletic counseling offices at Northern Illinois University.
Schiferl has served on several national and regional academic
boards and has presented at academic conferences across the
country.
Current chair of NACADA's Student-Athlete
Commission and member of the NCAA/NACADA Advisory
Board, Schiferl is also a member of National Association of
Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and the National
Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS). Schiferl has
taught the NCAA/NACADA Academic Success and the Student22
Athlete online course for seven years, has served on the editorial
board for Houghlin-Mifflin’s Becoming a Master StudentAthlete, and is currently a consultant for the N4A Program
Certification initiative. She has received the N4A's Professional
Promise Award and in 2008, she received the N4A’s
Distinguished Service Award. Schiferl graduated from Indiana
University with her B.A. (Spanish and Afro-American Studies)
in 1987, and her M.S. Ed (College Student Personnel
Administration) in 1991.
Tim Seiler
Tim Seiler is Director of The Fund Raising School at the Indiana
University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and is also
assistant professor of philanthropic studies in the graduate
program. Dr. Seiler is an alumnus of The Fund Raising School
and has been a faculty member since 1986 and the director since
1994.
Formerly vice president of the Indiana University Foundation,
Dr. Seiler was a major gifts officer for university development.
As director of the foundation’s Indianapolis office, he
coordinated the constituency development program for the
schools and programs on the Indianapolis campus. He also led
the comprehensive fundraising program for the Indianapolis
campus, which included staff for corporate and foundation
relations, major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, prospect
research, donor relations, and stewardship.
Dr. Seiler teaches core curriculum courses and customized
contract programs for The Fund Raising School and regularly
makes conference and seminar presentations nationally and
internationally. He is an author and editor of fundraising
publications and was editor-in-chief of the Excellence in
Fundraising Workbook Series, author of the workbook
Developing Your Case for Support, and co-editor of Achieving
Excellence in Fundraising, Third Edition. Dr. Seiler also teaches
in the graduate program in philanthropic studies, and has been
voted outstanding part-time graduate instructor.
Dr. Seiler serves the nonprofit sector not only as a fundraiser,
author, and teacher, but also as a board member and campaign
committee member for several nonprofits and serves as a mentor
to young professional fundraisers. He earned a B.A. degree in
English from Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, and
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M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English from Indiana University. He
also holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive professional
designation.
Jacqueline Hendrick Singh
Dr. Jacqueline Singh is an Executive Evaluation Advisor to
higher education and community-based organizations with over
25 years of educational research and evaluation experience. Dr.
Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Qualitative
Advantage, LLC. She works with matrix organizations to help
faculty and staff navigate educational research and program
evaluation to foster a culture of “evaluative thinking.” In doing
so, she builds organizational capabilities of personnel to engage
in activities that support strategic learning and decision-making.
These activities include: front-end evaluation planning,
evaluability assessment, program and curriculum design,
performance measurement and management, development of
grants and proposals, strategic planning and policy analysis.
Dr. Singh has served as Director for the Office of Evaluation and
Program Excellence (OEPE), at the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Her
accomplishments included the development of a knowledge
resource platform, introduction of evaluation concepts, tools, and
practical approaches that build capacity and develop capabilities
of national office staff to engage in broader applications of
evaluation across diverse NCAA programs and related
interventions. Collaborations with NCAA’s key internal and
external stakeholders resulted in exemplars of program
evaluation, conceptual frameworks, survey instruments, the use
of program theory and logic models, as well as performance
measurement.
While at Indiana University Purdue University (2006-2012), Dr.
Singh held a dual appointment as an Assessment Specialist in the
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Testing Center.
During her tenure, she focused on: a) evaluation capacity
building and served as an internal-external evaluator, b)
consulting with faculty campus-wide, as well as to develop
evaluation tools (e.g. rubrics, logic models, event surveys,
knowledge surveys, question bank, etc.) for key programs and
projects, multiple campus-wide initiatives, and c) worked with
undergraduate work-study students. In addition, she created of a
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7-step methodological approach that examines end-of-course
evaluation instruments to make explicit what gets measured, as
well as to evaluate online coursework using program evaluation
techniques. Her collaborative work undertaken with faculty and
administrators is a NSF funded grant is published in the spring
2009 Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR.)
Dr. Singh established an Office of Institutional Research at one
of the nation’s six Work Colleges—Blackburn College,
Carlinville, Illinois (DIII)—and, engaged in institutional
research, strategic planning and evaluated a plethora of programs
within the college’s Department of Education. She also piloted
her concept of an experiential learning model known as
“Academics-Work-Linkages” or “Skills Bridge” to aid college
students and interns in reaching post-graduation aspirations. This
model was widely implemented across the Indiana University
Purdue University Indianapolis campus.
Dr. Singh earned a doctorate in Higher Education at the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a
Master’s degree in Policy Development and Program Evaluation
at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. She is an active
member of the American Evaluation Association, Indiana
Evaluation Association, and American Educational Research
Association.
Dr. Singh is passionate about education and its impact, while
developing transformative approaches to evaluation.
Janet D. Spry
Janet D. Spry, Ed.D., CRC, LCPC, CVE, MCRSP is a Professor
and Coordinator of the Masters Rehabilitation Counseling
Program (RCP), and Post Masters in Professional Counselor
Licensure at Coppin State University (CSU). She has over 25
years of experience as a Rehabilitation Professional and
practitioner. She provides counseling and assessment services to
high school students, college athletes, individuals with physical
and mental disabilities, as well as individuals with alcohol and
substance abuse histories. As an approved Employment Network
with the Social Security Administration’s Ticket-To-Work
program she assists individuals with disabilities in developing
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career goals for their successful return to work. Her professional
counseling includes mentoring, career evaluation, and
assessment services to assist individuals with selecting college
majors, identifying career interest, and developing career goals.
Nilzarrel Townsend
]
Nilzarrel Townsend M.Ed. is currently in his second year as a
Senior Learning Specialist, at the University of Maryland. He
joined the Maryland athletic family August 2013. However,
Nilzarrel has six years of experience with working with the “AtRisk” student-athlete population. Townsend’s responsibilities
include managing the day-to-day operations of learning support
services for the Olympic sport student-athletes. Provide direct
supervision to the XFINITY Center’s learning specialist.
Accurately and fairly complete performance appraisals. Provide
guidance and assistance with the “at-risk” student-athletes as
needed. Serve as the Educational Assistant (EA) liaison in the
XFINITY Center. Assist with the budgeting, recruitment,
training, evaluation and retention of EA’s. Serve as primary
liaison to psychologist and Office of Disability Support Services
for Olympic Sport student-athletes. Refer student-athletes for the
completion of learning disability pre-screeners. Review all
neuropsychology reports from psychologist for Olympic Sport
student-athletes and assist with the implementation of Assistive
Technology.
Prior to arriving to Maryland, Nilzarrel served as the Academic
Skills Specialist for the entire Olympic sport programs, at Saint
Joseph’s University for one year (2012-2013). In addition,
Nilzarrel served as the Academic Learning Specialist for Temple
University for four years (2008-2012), for the football program.
Nilzarrel earned his bachelor’s of science degree in Business
Administration with a concentration in Sports Management from
Urbana University in 2003, and was a member of the men’s
basketball team. Following graduation, Nilzarrel played semiprofessional basketball for the American Basketball Association
(ABA), before receiving his master’s degree in Education from
Urbana University in 2005. Nilzarrel is currently pursuing his
Doctorate degree in Higher Education Leadership, at
NorthCentral University.
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Alisha Tucker
Alisha Tucker is entering her ninth year working in the Norfolk
State athletics department during the 2014-15 season. She is in
her fifth year as the Associate Athletics Director for Student
Services after serving as Assistant Athletic Director for
Compliance for the previous four years. In her current role, she
provides oversight for the compliance and athletics academic
support offices and also supervises the NSU bowling and
volleyball programs.
In addition to her duties at NSU, Tucker is involved in
administrative activities on the national level. Tucker was
appointed to the NCAA’s Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee
in 2010 and will serve on that committee until 2014. She also is a
member of the NCAA use of technology working group,
NCAA Academic Performance Program Users working group. In
addition, Tucker has served as a peer reviewer for the NCAA’s
Division I Athletics Certification program. She is also
instrumental in working with the NCAA’s Supplemental Support
Fund and Accelerating Academic Success grant which provided
monies to NSU in support of athletics academic initiatives.
Tucker has beens been featured as a presenter at the NCAA
National Convention and other NCAA presentations.
In 2011, Tucker was selected to participate in the NACWAA
(National Association for Collegiate Women Athletics
Administrators) Institute for Administrative Advancement (West
Class) as well as the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar Advanced
Tract.
Before coming to Norfolk State, Tucker served as the athletics
eligibility specialist and curriculum coordinator at Marshall. She
began her career as an intern at Michigan State in 2001. She was
promoted to assistant compliance coordinator and then earned a
promotion to compliance coordinator at MSU in 2003. Tucker
has also worked in compliance offices at Villanova and
Richmond.
Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and
composition from Virginia in 1996. She earned her master’s in
sports management from Old Dominion in 2001 and is currently
pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from
Old Dominion University.
A Hampton native, Tucker was a track and field athlete at
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Hampton High School. She was also a sprinter and hurdler on the
University of Virginia track team. Tucker was also the liaison
between the student-government and the athletics department
serving on various committees. She is also a member of Zeta Phi
Beta Sorority, Inc., and currently resides in Portsmouth, Va.
Wendy Walters
Ms. Walters has been with the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) National Office since 1999. She began her
career as an Academic and Membership Affairs intern and
advanced to the Director level in 2004.
As Director of
Academic and Membership Affairs, Ms. Walters’ primary
responsibilities included:
•
Oversight of the Interpretation Leadership Team which
resolved complex and high profile interpretative and
legislative issues;
•
Serving as a member of the Interpretation Management
Team which developed the structure, strategies and
direction of the interpretative philosophy and activities of
the department;
•
Serving as the primary liaison for the Division I
Legislative Review and Interpretation Committee;
•
Oversight of the emerging sports for women program;
•
Serving as primary liaison to the Infractions Appeals
Committees for Division I, II and III;
•
Oversight of the NCAA Regional Rules Seminars; and
•
Oversight of technology initiatives for the department.
In 2007, Ms. Walters transitioned to her current position of
Director of Membership and Student-Athlete Affairs –
Infractions Appeals Committees. This transition created greater
focus in the area of infractions appeals and provided the
opportunity to work directly with Bernard Franklin, Executive
Vice President of Membership and Student-Athlete Affairs. In
this role, Ms. Walters not only provides oversight and greater
direction in the infractions appeals process for each division, but
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also leads several projects. These projects include:
•
Development, oversight and management of the NCAA
Accelerating Academic Success Program.
•
Management and oversight of the Youth Education
through Sports (YES) program for two years;
•
National Accreditation Working Group;
•
Primary liaison for the Olympic Sports Liaison
Committee
•
Policies and Procedures Task Force;
•
Clarifying Roles of the Infractions Appeals Committee
and Committee on Infractions Task Force;
•
Communication Task Force;
•
Development of strategies for collaboration between the
American Council on Education (ACE) and NCAA
national office; and
•
Serving as a member of the International Internship
Program Working Group.
Prior to joining the NCAA national office staff, Ms. Walters was
a staff attorney/IOLA Fellow with Legal Assistant of the Finger
Lakes in Geneva, NY for 2 ½ years. She led the “Legal
Assistance to Minor Parents Program” (LAMP) which provided
free civil legal services to low income minors who were either
parenting or pregnant. Ms. Walters received a B.A. in Political
Science and minor in Economics from the University of
Rochester (Rochester, NY) in May 1992. She received a Juris
Doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in
January 1995. Ms. Walters is licensed in Illinois and New York.
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Ryan Westman
Ryan Westman currently works as an Academic Advisor for
Student-athletes at Seton Hall University, where he oversees the
academic development of six Division-1 sports in addition to
serving as the department tutor coordinator. Ryan also serves as
a first-year mentor with the Freshman Studies department where
he teaches sections of the first-year seminar entitled “University
Life”. Along with Monica Burnette, he co-founded the SHU
Tutoring Consortium in the fall of 2013, which unifies the efforts
of all tutoring outfits at Seton Hall. Ryan earned two Master’s
degrees from Rutgers University, in College Student Affairs and
Elementary Education. Ryan is also a former track and field
student-athlete and coach from Rutgers University. He currently
resides in West Orange, New Jersey and is a Ph.D. candidate in
the Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy
program at Seton Hall University.
Celeste Williams
Dr. Celeste Williams earned a B.S. in Sociology from Guilford
College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Graduate work was
completed at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee
where she earned a Master's in Psychology and a Doctorate in
Education (i.e. Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in
Curriculum Planning). Much of Williams’ early professional
experiences involved working with at-risk youth. They were the
children that many people did not believe could graduate from
high school, much less graduate from college. Often times their
behavior was at odds with behavioral expectations in school, but
they were talented. From her experiences working with them, she
came away with a few eye opening insights:
1.
All children can learn, they just have to be met where
they are;
2.
A child's culture is not something to be ignored, but
rather it is to be embraced; and finally
3.
Even though she often found herself in the position of
teacher, she learned so much from her interactions with students;
lessons about teaching, learning, and what it means to be in the
world with diverse groups of people.
Dr. Celeste Williams currently teaches undergraduate and
graduate courses. She is actively involved in teacher preparation
at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, she guides
dissertation research. Williams is involved in research in the
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following areas: service learning, social justice, and barriers to
culturally responsive teaching.
Chuck Wynne
Charles (Chuck) E. Wynne is the Director of Employee and
Community Initiatives for the National Collegiate Athletic
Association, Indianapolis, Ind. He is responsible for all
employee communication, community outreach and NCAA
presidential outreach. As a member of the Communications
group leadership team, he also is involved with developing,
implementing, and managing the Association’s issue-oriented
communication strategies for the NCAA brand, responses to
query, live-event platforms, membership outreach and
Association messaging via NCAA.org. As such, he plays a role
in almost all NCAA internal and public-facing communication
efforts.
Prior to this, he served almost 26 years in the Air Force retiring
as a colonel. He was commissioned in January 1981 beginning
his career as a nuclear missile launch officer. Following his
transition to Public Affairs early in his career, he served at all
levels of Air Force public affairs, including working directly for
the Secretary of the Air Force and other 4-star generals.
Some career highlights include being the primary author of the
first joint-service strategic communication plan for the invasion
of Afghanistan and follow-on invasion of Iraq, serving as the
forward-deployed Air Force spokesperson following the capture
of Saddam Hussein in 2003, and helping to draft the
Congressional legislation that led to the building of the Air Force
Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also has media trained
spokespersons for appearances on Dateline, 60 Minutes, Outside
the Lines and other international and national media.
He began working at the NCAA in September 2006.
EDUCATION
1979 Bachelor of Science in Communications, Univ of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
1989 Master’s in International Relations, Troy State University,
Troy, Ala.
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2003 Master’s degree in Strategic Logic, National War College,
Washington, D.C.
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