Women Leaders Release

HAMILTON – Colgate University Vice President and Director of Athletics Nicki Moore has been selected as the Nike FCS Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports. 

Moore's honor comes one year after she was named President of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Director Association (FCS ADA), one of many associations and committees she has guided over the past year. Moore is one of three Division I athletics directors to receive this prestigious award – and the only athletics director for an FCS institution. 

NATIONAL LEADER
Moore is a national leader in matters impacting the student-athlete experience, having served as a member of the NCAA Strategic Visioning and Planning Committee, a member of the NCAA Mental Health Task Force, and a Fellow of the Collegiate Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association. She was also the first Vice President of the FCS ADA before being named President for the 2021-22 year. She is driven to deliver excellent student-athlete and fan experiences and to invite alumni, friends, and fans to be an integral part of a greater shared vision to be an inclusive community of competitive excellence. 

The FCS ADA and the I-AAA ADA represent two groups of athletics directors serving 220 institutions of higher education in 22 multi-sport conferences, sponsoring at least 14 varsity sports each, with many offering among the most broad-based programs in Division I.

As a leader for the Executive Committee members of the FCS and I-AAA Athletics Director Associations, Moore has been instrumental in leading the charge to preserve what is best about Division I intercollegiate athletics and to focus on critical elements of the NCAA transformation, including access to and participation in Division I national championships, representation in Division I governance, and revenue distribution. Equally as important, Moore has played an integral role in fostering exceptional educational, competitive, and development opportunities for student-athletes each year. 

Deputy Athletics Director Juliana Smith praised Moore for her work at Colgate University, home of 25 Division I varsity athletics programs. 

"Champion is a word that we often use in our field of college athletics. Nicki personifies a different interpretation of the word champion. She demonstrates what it means to be a champion for others, for causes that she believes in, and for causes that are important to those around her.

"Nicki's relentless pursuit of creating space for others to be heard, to be successful, and to thrive is unmatched. Not only does she exhibit this behavior to hundreds of student-athletes, staff, and coaches, but she also pushes those around her to do the same.

"Not only is Nicki a remarkable leader, but she is also the most selfless and thoughtful person I know. Despite her demanding work schedule, she is the first to make time for service projects, volunteer shifts in support of campus events or initiatives, or even help a new friend move into their house."

SUCCESS IN EVERY FIELD, EVERY ARENA
Under Moore's guidance, Colgate student-athletes have maintained an extraordinary level of academic achievement, boasting one of the highest graduation success rates in the nation at 97 percent. The Raiders under Moore have won eight league championships, with teams going on to compete in 12 NCAA and IRA postseason competitions, garnering six postseason wins. 

"It is great to see Women Leaders recognize Nicki with this award," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Langel. "Under Nicki's leadership as Athletics Director at Colgate, our program has experienced unprecedented success. Without the significant and consistent support Nicki and her team provides, the championship culture that defines Colgate Basketball would not be the same. In her messaging, programming, and tireless work, Nicki's commitment to helping better the lives of student-athletes is intentional, clear, and impressive."

Head Women's Basketball Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan also expressed gratitude and appreciation for Moore. "This is an extremely deserving award for Dr. Nicki Moore, as she embodies everything that Women Leaders stands for and more." Adeduntan continued, "What amazes me the most about Dr. Moore is her person-first approach, and her ability to make you feel seen and heard regardless of the circumstance or situation. 

"Words like servant-leader, genuine, kind, and exceptional only scratch the surface when trying to describe the type of person she is. I write this solely, but truly believe we are all better off and lucky to have Dr. Nicki Moore as our leader of Colgate Athletics!"

Head Women's Hockey Coach Greg Fargo attributed Moore's efforts as a significant contribution to the program's success. "Our program has experienced some pinnacle moments by winning championships and creating memorable experiences throughout some very challenging times. 

"Nicki's leadership throughout the pandemic helped to keep us focused and our department continued to move forward. At a time so different to lead, she remained poised, and provided incredible guidance and hope toward a better future at a time filled with so much uncertainty. 

"Under Nicki's leadership, our department has experienced some of our best years on the field and in the classroom. While some have reached new heights, other programs are on the verge of breakout seasons. Nicki and her leadership are a critical component of Colgate Athletics' recent and future success."

Under Moore's leadership, Colgate student-athletes have thrived in every field and every arena, highlighted by a record total of 350 student-athletes named to the 2021-22 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. 

In the multi-year Academic Performance Report (APR), all 25 Colgate varsity programs scored higher than the APR academic standard of 930, including 18 teams with perfect scores in 2020-21. Colgate Athletics' 97 percent graduation success rate (GSR) ranks among the nation's top institutions. 

STRATEGIC PROGRESS
Most recently, Moore announced organizational changes for the University's Division of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics (PERA) to elevate and expand leadership responsibilities in the athletics division. The restructure includes an expanded executive team, a two-deputy model, and athletics communications merging with university communications to align with the University's ambitious goals set forth in Colgate's Third-Century Plan - guided by the visionary leadership of President Brian Casey. The Third-Century Plan ushers in the most transformative period in University history and will touch on all aspects of the Colgate experience. 

A leading initiative in the Third-Century Plan for Athletics is the complete reimagination and renovation of the Reid Athletics Center. Recently, Colgate announced a transformative $25 million gift from Trustee Emeritus Chase Carey '76, his wife, Wendy, and their children Steve '12 and Tara '13 to spearhead this project. 

On the Carey Family's generous gift, Moore said, "Our Colgate athletics community, and indeed the campus, will be profoundly impacted by this capital project." She continued, "This renewed athletics center will transform the ways we support student-athlete health and performance, dramatically enhance the southern gateway to the Colgate campus, and clearly convey our aspirations for excellence. We believe the new arena will be the best in class, and we are deeply grateful for the Carey family's gift."

The Reid renovation, when fully developed, will include a new basketball and volleyball arena; a new football suite complete with coach offices, position meeting rooms, and a new team room; visitor locker rooms; and locker rooms for a number of Olympic sport programs.; An innovative health and performance center will nearly double the size of existing facilities and will fully integrate Colgate's sports medicine, strength, and conditioning, sports nutrition, and mental health and performance programs, centering the wellbeing of Colgate student-athletes. The facility will also incorporate student and staff meeting spaces, while prominently relocating and enhancing the Chun Academic Support Center.

MOORE REACTS
Moore commented, "As with any leadership recognition, the true credit belongs to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and administrators who have generated the success - in academics and athletics, and in the lives impacted through athletics. Any success I have enjoyed has been co-created with the incredible people whom I've worked alongside, has been supported by my selfless family and the leaders I've served, and has been underwritten by the alumni, donors and fans who believe in the transformative power of intercollegiate athletics within higher education." She continued, "Women Leaders has been an integral part of my professional development and advancement, so I am especially humbled and grateful to receive this award from this impactful organization."

On the future, Moore remarked, "I am just one in a long line of great ADs at Colgate, and I am very excited about the future as we embark on realizing the promise of Colgate's Third-Century Plan. It will take a lot of hard work and sacrificial giving to realize our goals, but I believe in the power and passion of the Colgate community, in the leadership of President Casey, and in our collective will to make it happen. Great things are ahead, and I am so very thankful to do this work that I love, and to be acknowledged for it."

ABOUT WOMEN LEADERS
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women leaders working in intercollegiate athletics. More than 3,800 members strong, Women Leaders promotes the growth, leadership, and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches, and student-athletes.