Bucknell University Athletics
Maisha Kelly to Take on New Role as Senior Associate AD for Development
10/18/2019 11:35:00 AM | General
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Maisha Kelly, a member of the Bucknell Athletics senior administrative team since 2010, will be transitioning to a new role as senior associate director of athletics for development. Kelly will continue to serve as the department's senior woman administrator and a member of the senior staff while supervising the Bison women's basketball team, but the bulk of her new responsibilities will be to work with the University Advancement team in a fundraising capacity specifically for Bucknell Athletics.
In her new position, Kelly will be focused on increasing annual support for the Bison Club, and she will be involved with major capital projects related to Bucknell Athletics.
"I am very excited that Maisha will be taking on this new role as a key senior liaison between Athletics and University Advancement," said director of athletics and recreation Jermaine Truax. "Maisha has proven herself to be a talented and versatile administrator during my time here, and I am confident that she will excel in enhancing our fundraising initiatives. As a senior athletics administrator here for nearly 10 years, Maisha has both a keen sense of what makes Bison Athletics so successful and a deep understanding of our primary areas of need to build on that success in the future."
"I would like to thank Jermaine and the leadership in University Advancement for having faith in my abilities to transition into this critical role," said Kelly. "Our loyal supporters are the lifeblood of Bison Athletics, as they have a direct impact on each of our more than 700 student-athletes. I am excited about the opportunity to share the story of Bison Athletics and how the student-athletes and coaches can continue to thrive as a result of direct support from Bucknell's various stakeholders."
Since coming to Bucknell, Kelly has played an important role in the leadership of the department. She has supervised a number of different sports while playing a significant part in the department's long-range planning. She has been an important liaison with the Bucknell faculty and deans, as well as with the offices of Human Resources and Admissions and Financial Aid.
Kelly has served as the University's deputy Title IX coordinator, and she will continue to have a role in implementing important gender equity and minority opportunity initiatives. This focus has stretched beyond the scope of varsity athletics, as Kelly is an active member of the President's Diversity Council.
In 2011, Kelly pioneered the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute, which was the department's first fully dedicated, comprehensive leadership development program. The program has expanded in scope every year, it has been the target of significant alumni donations, and for the last four years has been under the direction of a full-time program coordinator.
Kelly has been heavily involved in NCAA governance, and In April 2018 she was appointed by the NCAA Board of Directors to the NCAA Division I Council, where she represents the Patriot League on important NCAA policy matters. Kelly is also a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee. She previously served as a member of the Division I Nominating Committee and the NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee, where she was appointed Chair in her final year of service. Kelly is a 2019 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program.
Prior to coming to Bucknell, Kelly worked at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, where she served as an assistant director of championships. In that role she worked with individual coaches and administrators, coaching bodies, sport committees and site hosts for various NCAA Championship events. She has also had stints as an athletics academic advisor at Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
Kelly is a 2000 graduate of Saint Joseph's University, where she captained the track and field team and earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship based on her contributions both on the track and in the classroom. In 2005, Kelly received her master's of education degree in sport and recreation administration from Temple University.
Kelly will begin her new role at Bucknell on Nov. 1. A national search is underway to identify a senior-level administrator to assume the responsibilities that Kelly will relinquish in her transition.
In her new position, Kelly will be focused on increasing annual support for the Bison Club, and she will be involved with major capital projects related to Bucknell Athletics.
"I am very excited that Maisha will be taking on this new role as a key senior liaison between Athletics and University Advancement," said director of athletics and recreation Jermaine Truax. "Maisha has proven herself to be a talented and versatile administrator during my time here, and I am confident that she will excel in enhancing our fundraising initiatives. As a senior athletics administrator here for nearly 10 years, Maisha has both a keen sense of what makes Bison Athletics so successful and a deep understanding of our primary areas of need to build on that success in the future."
"I would like to thank Jermaine and the leadership in University Advancement for having faith in my abilities to transition into this critical role," said Kelly. "Our loyal supporters are the lifeblood of Bison Athletics, as they have a direct impact on each of our more than 700 student-athletes. I am excited about the opportunity to share the story of Bison Athletics and how the student-athletes and coaches can continue to thrive as a result of direct support from Bucknell's various stakeholders."
Since coming to Bucknell, Kelly has played an important role in the leadership of the department. She has supervised a number of different sports while playing a significant part in the department's long-range planning. She has been an important liaison with the Bucknell faculty and deans, as well as with the offices of Human Resources and Admissions and Financial Aid.
Kelly has served as the University's deputy Title IX coordinator, and she will continue to have a role in implementing important gender equity and minority opportunity initiatives. This focus has stretched beyond the scope of varsity athletics, as Kelly is an active member of the President's Diversity Council.
In 2011, Kelly pioneered the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute, which was the department's first fully dedicated, comprehensive leadership development program. The program has expanded in scope every year, it has been the target of significant alumni donations, and for the last four years has been under the direction of a full-time program coordinator.
Kelly has been heavily involved in NCAA governance, and In April 2018 she was appointed by the NCAA Board of Directors to the NCAA Division I Council, where she represents the Patriot League on important NCAA policy matters. Kelly is also a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee. She previously served as a member of the Division I Nominating Committee and the NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee, where she was appointed Chair in her final year of service. Kelly is a 2019 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program.
Prior to coming to Bucknell, Kelly worked at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, where she served as an assistant director of championships. In that role she worked with individual coaches and administrators, coaching bodies, sport committees and site hosts for various NCAA Championship events. She has also had stints as an athletics academic advisor at Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
Kelly is a 2000 graduate of Saint Joseph's University, where she captained the track and field team and earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship based on her contributions both on the track and in the classroom. In 2005, Kelly received her master's of education degree in sport and recreation administration from Temple University.
Kelly will begin her new role at Bucknell on Nov. 1. A national search is underway to identify a senior-level administrator to assume the responsibilities that Kelly will relinquish in her transition.
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