NJCAA hires Meadows as VP for Operations
Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA National Office has announced the hiring of Michelle Meadows as the Vice President for Operations and COO. Meadows brings nearly two decades of collegiate athletic experience to the association.
Meadows joins the NJCAA staff after serving as the Athletics Director at Longwood University in Farmville, VA, since May 2019. Meadows joined the Lancers' athletic department in 2005 and played an integral role in the behind-the-scenes operations at Longwood in various areas including academic services, NCAA compliance, scholarships, business operations, human resources, and facility operations. Her efforts played a vital role in Longwood's athletic department's transition to the NCAA Division I level and move into the Big South Conference in 2007.
"I am thrilled to be joining the incredible team at the NJCAA and for the opportunity to serve the over 60,000 student-athletes and 500 member institutions across the organization," stated Meadows. "The mission of the NJCAA to create championship experiences for all of its student-athletes to prepare, compete, succeed and achieve in their athletic and academic pursuits is one I believe in and that I am excited to be a part of fostering. I want to extend my deepest thanks to Dr. Christopher Parker and the NJCAA for their belief in me and I look forward to getting to work."
During the 2021-22 academic year, the Lancers experienced one of its most successful years since the DI transition including Big South championship titles in men's and women's basketball, hosting the college's first ESPNU men's basketball game, and posting the department's best academic performance in the Division I era with a 3.21 department GPA. Throughout Meadows' tenure at Longwood, the Richmond, VA native played a pivotal role in several large-scale facility improvements including the acquisition and renovation of the Barlow Academic Center, resurfacing of the Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field, construction of the Longwood Tennis Courts, development of the Golf Performance Center, and the construction of the Joan Perry Brock Center to date.
On a national level, Meadows recently completed her fourth and final term as an NCAA Softball Selection Committee member. Along with nine other administrators from around the country, Meadows and the committee were responsible for the selection of the 64-team field and execution of the Women's College World Series. Most recently, the committee's work led to the expansion of the Women's College World Series to nine days to more closely mirror the Men's College World Series.
"Michelle's track record of athletic excellence, competitive achievement, and student-athlete success will propel the NJCAA's national efforts moving forward," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO. "Her tenure with the Lancers and national committee leadership will tremendously contribute at the two-year collegiate level and we look forward to having Michelle be part of the National Office team."
As the NJCAA Vice President for Operations and COO, Meadows will manage and lead budget operations for all NJCAA entities, assist the three National Office divisions to execute the association's five-year strategic plan, and oversee day-to-day National Office operations.
Meadows graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise where she was a member of the Hokies' softball team. As a four-year starter, Meadows was a three-time Academic All-American, the first student-athlete to do so at Virginia Tech at that time, and was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Softball Student-Athlete of the Year in her senior season. On October 22, 2010, Meadows was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame for her contributions as a Virginia Tech student-athlete.
