SPARTANBURG, S.C. (courtesy converse.edu) — Converse University Athletics Director Jenn Bell has been named the NCAA Division II Nike Executive of the Year, the Women Leaders in College Sports announced.
“I am humbled to receive such an incredible honor,” Bell said. “I want to thank Women Leaders in College Sports and my Division II colleagues for selecting me for this prestigious award. While my name is on the award, I am blessed to work with an amazing team of administrators and coaches who partner with me to pursue excellence daily and serve our student-athletes to the best of our ability.”
Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said, “Jenn Bell is incredibly deserving of this award in addition to her honor earlier this year as the NCAA Division II Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year. Her efforts over the last few years to help Converse thrive in its efforts to implement men’s athletic programs along with the already long successful women’s athletics programs is second-to-none. We fully believe that Conference Carolinas has some of the best and most elite Directors of Athletics in all of NCAA Division II and this honor for Jenn continues to further our belief. Being a Director of Athletics is a very rewarding, but tough job and Jenn is tireless in her efforts for Converse, Conference Carolinas and NCAA Division II.”
Bell is the first Conference Carolinas executive to win the Nike Executive of the Year Award. Over the past few months, Bell has been named to the Advisory Board for the Business of Small College Athletics (BOSCA), named the NACDA Cushman & Wakefield Athletic Director of the Year for NCAA Division II and was named the Third Vice President for the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA).
Bell enters her sixth year as the director of athletics during the 2023-24 academic year. Under Bell’s leadership, Converse Athletics has developed a winning culture – in the classroom, in the sports venue, and in the community. Throughout the institution’s recent model change, Bell led the department through a successful transition from a single-gender athletics program to a coed program by adding six male sports, esports, and a spirit squad to the list of athletic programs offered at Converse University. With these eight additions, Converse Athletics now offers 21 athletics programs.
The Nike Executive of the Year Awards, formerly known as the Administrator of the Year Awards, is presented to Women Leaders in College Sports members for significant contributions made as a senior-level executive of intercollegiate athletics. This award recognizes administrative excellence in each division [NCAA Division I, FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA/NJCAA/Community College and Conference/Organization]. The Nike Executive of the Year Award in each division is presented in years which an individual is deserving of such recognition, typically annually.