FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lake Erie College President Brian Posler has named Kelley Kish the university's new Director of Athletics, officially announced Thursday afternoon.  

Kish, the current Associate Director of Athletics at Nova Southeastern University, has almost two decades of leadership experience as an administrator within higher education and intercollegiate athletics.

At Lake Erie, she will oversee all aspects of the athletics program, including general and sport operations, fiscal affairs, facilities, strategic planning and external relations.  Kish's official start date at Lake Erie is set for November 13.

"I am thrilled to become the Director of Athletics at Lake Erie College," she expressed. "This is an exciting time for the institution, under President Posler's leadership. I'm honored to work alongside our coaches, staff and student-athletes, plus the faculty and campus community, to fulfill the mission of Lake Erie. Storm Athletics will empower our student-athletes to lead lives of significance as we develop champions, academically, athletically and within the community."

Kish served as second-in-command to Director of Athletics Michael Mominey at NSU since 2012, and was responsible for the sport administration and internal day-to-day operations for 17 sports and more than 330 student-athletes.  During her time at NSU, the Sharks achieved three team NCAA Championships, crowned 11 individual NCAA Champions, earned eight NCAA Regional Championships and 12 conference championships. Furthermore, NSU coaches earned four National Coach of the Year honors in that span. Kish acted as the liaison to campus partners at NSU, including the Office of International Affairs, Student Orientation, Residential Life, Financial Aid and Student Affairs.  As the Senior Woman Administrator for NSU, she spearheaded the department's inclusion and Title IX efforts, organizing campus-wide Step UP! Bystander Intervention Trainings while also working with the Ross Initiative in Sport for Equality (RISE).  

In addition, Kish's numerous roles extended to game administrator for all sports. She led the hosting efforts of multiple postseason competitions and was also the tournament manager for the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament South Regional.

"Kelley is, has been and will forever be identified with the successes of the NSU Sharks Athletic program. Her impact is immeasurable and we have truly become a better athletic program because of her and her work", Mominey said. "On a personal note, I couldn't be more proud of Kelley earning the honor of leading her own D2 athletic department. Her passion, commitment and work ethic will quickly change the culture at Lake Erie College and I can't wait to see the transformation that takes place in Northeast Ohio".  

Prior to NSU, Kish spent two years at the University of Indianapolis as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.  There, she was a member of the senior leadership team, with duties that included NCAA rules monitoring and education, GLVC and NCAA Tournament hosting, plus the financial aid process for almost 600 student-athletes and 21 sports.  At UIndy, Kish also served in the Sport Management Department as an academic advisor and adjunct professor. 

Her NCAA experience includes facilitating the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum and the Career in Sports Forum.  She has an extensive NCAA governance and leadership development background, earning election as the chair of the Women's Volleyball Rules Committee and serving on the Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field Committees.  Kish's NCAA Regional Advisory Committee work specifically pertains to men's basketball, women's soccer and softball.  She is currently appointed to the NCAA DII Women's Soccer Committee. 

Kish also worked at the University of Florida, where she became the school's first Coordinator of Volleyball Operations back in 2001.

She earned a bachelor's and master's degree from UF and recently completed a graduate certificate in Sport Revenue Generation from NSU. 
 
Kish is heavily involved in athletics administration at the national level, participating in the NCAA Pathway Program, the Women Leaders in College Sports' Executive Institute, and as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics and National Associate for Athletic Compliance Division II and Convention Committees. She is currently one of just 10 administrators selected for the NCAA and Division II Athletic Directors Association Women and Minorities Mentoring Program.
 
"I will always treasure my time at NSU," said Kish. "I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best administrators and coaches across the country, and they have all impacted my leadership style and prepared me for this step in my career as a Division II Director of Athletics. Thank you to President Hanbury and Mike Mominey for the privilege of being a Shark and enhancing my skills as an administrator in a very special place."