Calabrese Named UofL's Senior Woman Administrator
November 06, 2020 | General
Former Cardinals student-athlete has been a member of the UofL staff since 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Amy Calabrese, a former UofL student-athlete and member of the UofL staff since 2007, has been named as the Cardinals' Senior Woman Administrator and Associate Athletic Director.
The Senior Woman Administrator, a designation created by the NCAA in 1981, is the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.
"We are excited to elevate Amy into the Senior Woman Administrator role," said UofL Vice President/Director of Athletics Vince Tyra. "Amy's leadership skills and experience as a former Cardinal student-athlete have provided great value to the athletic department. Her 17 years on campus make her uniquely positioned to assist progress not only in the athletic department, but also with the university as a whole."
"I would like to thank Dr. (Neeli) Bendapudi and Vince for this opportunity and entrusting me to serve our student-athletes, coaches, athletic department and university in this role," said Calabrese. "I have the highest level of respect for their leadership and the culture they are continuing to create on-campus and in our athletic department. As I am a product of this athletic department, I wholeheartedly believe in our mission to support and counsel our student-athletes so they maximize their potential and prepare them for life after sport. As a life-long Cardinal, I look forward to fulfilling this role and serving our athletic department with humility and gratitude.
Calabrese was elevated to Associate Athletic Director in July 2019. She had served as Assistant Athletic Director for six years. In addition to serving as the sport administrator for women's lacrosse, softball, women's soccer and field hockey, Calabrese is the liaison with the Dean's Office and several other departments on campus. She manages the department's Title IX educational efforts for staff and student-athletes. Her areas of oversight will be adjusted in her new role.
Calabrese is one of 20 senior level administrators selected to participate in the 2020-2021 NCAA Pathways Program, with the goal of preparing those individuals to attain positions as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
Calabrese operated as Director of Student-Athlete Development at UofL from May of 2010 until her administrative appointment in 2013. Her duties have included developing and implementing UofL's life skills program for student-athletes, including leadership development, educational programming and career education. She has had oversight for the UofL Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, managed the department's Performance Team, which provides support and mental health resources for student-athletes, managed multiple event, LCare progarm and implemented a senior seminar program and leadership groups.
She worked nearly three years as assistant director of student-athlete development and championships from 2007-10. In that role, she aided in UofL's efforts in serving as host for conference and NCAA championships, event management, community outreach projects and life skills program.
Calabrese joined the UofL staff as a graduate assistant in development in 2007. She assisted the Cardinal Athletic Fund with its annual fund, event management, game-day donor areas and student-athlete scholarship program. She also worked briefly as an intern with US Paralympics at the US Olympic Committee and as a sales representative for the Louisville Bats Triple-A baseball team.
Calabrese was a four-year letter winner for the Cardinals' soccer team from 2003-06, earning Academic All-America honors as a junior and senior. The stellar defender started all 77 matches of her career, playing every minute of every game but one as a junior, as the Cardinals won 43 games over her four years. A team captain her last two years, she was an All-Conference USA third-team selection as a sophomore after coming to UofL from Centennial, Colo.
She earned her bachelor's degree in sport administration with a minor in business administration from UofL in 2007 and went on to earn a master's degree in business administration, also from UofL, in 2009. She is a former "Big" with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a former board member for Girls on the Run in Louisville. She is a graduate of Ignite Louisville and Leadership Louisville as well as a member of Women Leaders in College Sports.
She and her husband Rich have three children, Jack, Colin and William.
Calabrese was selected for the position after the departure of Christine Herring, who had served as the Cardinals' SWA for seven years.
The Senior Woman Administrator, a designation created by the NCAA in 1981, is the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.
"We are excited to elevate Amy into the Senior Woman Administrator role," said UofL Vice President/Director of Athletics Vince Tyra. "Amy's leadership skills and experience as a former Cardinal student-athlete have provided great value to the athletic department. Her 17 years on campus make her uniquely positioned to assist progress not only in the athletic department, but also with the university as a whole."
"I would like to thank Dr. (Neeli) Bendapudi and Vince for this opportunity and entrusting me to serve our student-athletes, coaches, athletic department and university in this role," said Calabrese. "I have the highest level of respect for their leadership and the culture they are continuing to create on-campus and in our athletic department. As I am a product of this athletic department, I wholeheartedly believe in our mission to support and counsel our student-athletes so they maximize their potential and prepare them for life after sport. As a life-long Cardinal, I look forward to fulfilling this role and serving our athletic department with humility and gratitude.
Calabrese was elevated to Associate Athletic Director in July 2019. She had served as Assistant Athletic Director for six years. In addition to serving as the sport administrator for women's lacrosse, softball, women's soccer and field hockey, Calabrese is the liaison with the Dean's Office and several other departments on campus. She manages the department's Title IX educational efforts for staff and student-athletes. Her areas of oversight will be adjusted in her new role.
Calabrese is one of 20 senior level administrators selected to participate in the 2020-2021 NCAA Pathways Program, with the goal of preparing those individuals to attain positions as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
Calabrese operated as Director of Student-Athlete Development at UofL from May of 2010 until her administrative appointment in 2013. Her duties have included developing and implementing UofL's life skills program for student-athletes, including leadership development, educational programming and career education. She has had oversight for the UofL Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, managed the department's Performance Team, which provides support and mental health resources for student-athletes, managed multiple event, LCare progarm and implemented a senior seminar program and leadership groups.
She worked nearly three years as assistant director of student-athlete development and championships from 2007-10. In that role, she aided in UofL's efforts in serving as host for conference and NCAA championships, event management, community outreach projects and life skills program.
Calabrese joined the UofL staff as a graduate assistant in development in 2007. She assisted the Cardinal Athletic Fund with its annual fund, event management, game-day donor areas and student-athlete scholarship program. She also worked briefly as an intern with US Paralympics at the US Olympic Committee and as a sales representative for the Louisville Bats Triple-A baseball team.
Calabrese was a four-year letter winner for the Cardinals' soccer team from 2003-06, earning Academic All-America honors as a junior and senior. The stellar defender started all 77 matches of her career, playing every minute of every game but one as a junior, as the Cardinals won 43 games over her four years. A team captain her last two years, she was an All-Conference USA third-team selection as a sophomore after coming to UofL from Centennial, Colo.
She earned her bachelor's degree in sport administration with a minor in business administration from UofL in 2007 and went on to earn a master's degree in business administration, also from UofL, in 2009. She is a former "Big" with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a former board member for Girls on the Run in Louisville. She is a graduate of Ignite Louisville and Leadership Louisville as well as a member of Women Leaders in College Sports.
She and her husband Rich have three children, Jack, Colin and William.
Calabrese was selected for the position after the departure of Christine Herring, who had served as the Cardinals' SWA for seven years.
