Cohen Announces O'Connell Hiring, Leadership Staff Changes
August 29, 2016 | General
SEATTLE – Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen announced the hiring of Senior Associate Director of Athletics Erin O'Connell, Monday. O'Connell, who will fill the vacant Senior Woman Administrator position at UW, has been serving as the President and Chair of the U.S. Rowing Board of Directors since 2014. A UW graduate and former Husky rowing team captain and coach, O'Connell was the Director of Athletics at Seattle Pacific University from 2009-2015.
"Erin has over 20 years of professional experience in athletics, has served as an athletic director, and - perhaps most importantly – has a deep, deep understanding of this place and what it takes to be successful here," Cohen said. "Her commitment to excellence and drive to support students and coaches at the highest level will be a terrific fit within our organizational culture, and I'm thrilled to welcome her back to UW."
After graduation, O'Connell served as an Assistant Women's Rowing Coach at UW before moving into athletic administration at Seattle Pacific.
"My time as a UW student-athlete inspired my career in athletic administration," O'Connell said. "It is a serious responsibility to be caretakers of the student-athlete, coach and fan experience, and I want to thank Jennifer Cohen for entrusting me with this responsibility. My family and I are anxious to get back to Montlake – once a Husky, always a Husky."
Cohen will round out her executive staff with the promotion of Kim Durand to the position of Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Student Development. In her new role, Durand will have oversight of Academic Services as well as several Husky sports programs.
"Kim's reputation for excellence in the business is unparalleled, and the academic results our department has achieved under her watch speak for themselves," Cohen said. "The pursuit of academic excellence and student-athlete development is core to our department's mission, and it is important to have a voice representing that pursuit within our highest levels of leadership."
The Huskies also welcome Brian Bowsher to the position of Chief Marketing Officer. Bowsher, a graduate of Xavier University, comes to Seattle from the University of Miami (Fla.), where he held the position of Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Digital Strategy. He will lead the Huskies' Marketing and Creative units.
"Erin has over 20 years of professional experience in athletics, has served as an athletic director, and - perhaps most importantly – has a deep, deep understanding of this place and what it takes to be successful here," Cohen said. "Her commitment to excellence and drive to support students and coaches at the highest level will be a terrific fit within our organizational culture, and I'm thrilled to welcome her back to UW."
After graduation, O'Connell served as an Assistant Women's Rowing Coach at UW before moving into athletic administration at Seattle Pacific.
"My time as a UW student-athlete inspired my career in athletic administration," O'Connell said. "It is a serious responsibility to be caretakers of the student-athlete, coach and fan experience, and I want to thank Jennifer Cohen for entrusting me with this responsibility. My family and I are anxious to get back to Montlake – once a Husky, always a Husky."
Cohen will round out her executive staff with the promotion of Kim Durand to the position of Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Student Development. In her new role, Durand will have oversight of Academic Services as well as several Husky sports programs.
"Kim's reputation for excellence in the business is unparalleled, and the academic results our department has achieved under her watch speak for themselves," Cohen said. "The pursuit of academic excellence and student-athlete development is core to our department's mission, and it is important to have a voice representing that pursuit within our highest levels of leadership."
The Huskies also welcome Brian Bowsher to the position of Chief Marketing Officer. Bowsher, a graduate of Xavier University, comes to Seattle from the University of Miami (Fla.), where he held the position of Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Digital Strategy. He will lead the Huskies' Marketing and Creative units.
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