TicketsCINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati Executive Senior Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator Maggie McKinley was named the 2018 Women Leaders in College Sports NCAA Division I FBS Administrator of the Year.
Women Leaders in College Sports is the nation's premier women's athletic leadership association that develops, connects, and advances women working in intercollegiate athletics. Award winners were nominated by their peers and selected by the Women Leaders Awards Committee.
The Administrator of the Year Award is presented to Women Leaders in College Sports members for significant contributions made as an administrator of intercollegiate athletics. This award, recognizing administrative excellence, is presented annually to members in each NCAA division: Division I, FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA/NJCAA or Conference/Organization.
"It's humbling to be recognized for such a tremendous honor by a transformative organization," McKinley said. "It's an absolute honor to continue to serve my alma mater. I continue to be inspired daily by the student-athletes and staff I've worked with throughout my career. My thanks to those who nominated me, specifically Mike Bohn, Patty Raube-Keller and Enna Selmanovic."
McKinley joined the Bearcats staff in 2001 was elevated to her current role in July of 2016 after serving as senior associate director of athletics/SWA.
As a member of the Director of Athletics' Senior Staff, McKinley provides strategic direction on departmental initiatives focused on student-athlete welfare, gender equity, Title IX compliance and equity and inclusion. She has sport supervision of Football, Women's Basketball and Volleyball in addition to direct oversight of the Compliance, Sport Services, Medical Services and Sports Performance departments.
"We are all thrilled for Maggie to be recognized for her continued leadership excellence," Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "She is deserving of this tremendous honor and has been a consistent strong force in our department, across campus and nationwide. She is committed to the welfare of student-athletes and ensuring they have all the tools for long-term success. Our industry is in good hands with dynamic people like Maggie in critical leadership roles."
McKinley serves as the chair of the American Athletic Conference 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 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.
She is a graduate of the LEAD1 (formerly D1-A) Athletic Directors' Institute and the Women Leaders in College Sports Executive Institute.
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.
"The commitment these women have to intercollegiate athletics and the advancement of women in our profession is unparalleled," says Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports. "Women Leaders in College Sports is honored to celebrate these extraordinary women at the National Convention in Atlanta—for their outstanding leadership and service, and for their tireless commitment to championing their student-athletes, colleagues, institutions, and conferences."
The recipients will be honored Tuesday, October 16 at the Jostens Administrator of the Year Luncheon at the 2018 Women Leaders National Convention in Atlanta—which will be emceed by Maria Taylor, host, analyst, and reporter for ESPN.