Meghan Drader has been hired by Willamette University as the coordinator of athletics facilities and events. She began her duties on Sept. 12, 2023. Drader most recently was the club manager at Physiq Fitness in Salem.

"We are very excited to have Meghan as a part of our admin team," Willamette Director of Athletics Rob Passage said. "This is a very dynamic position and Meghan brings a wealth of experience to the role, across several different organizations. She will be a strong manager and role model for our student staff and an outstanding colleague for our coaches and staff."

Drader will oversee the day-to-day operation of Willamette's athletic facilities. In addition, she will assist in scheduling and setting up some of Willamette's top athletic events of the year such as the Bearcat Awards and the Hall of Fame Induction.

"Meghan, working with other departments on campus, will be responsible for everything that happens in our athletic facilities," Passage said. "She will manage gameday operations such as ticketing, concessions, and promotions. She will supervise our student event staff and help coordinate our game manager assignments. She will also help out with external groups who rent our facilities."

Drader has spent much of her life in Oregon. She grew up on a grass seed farm outside of Amity, Oregon. Later, she earned her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Oregon University, where she also competed on the track and field team. While attending WOU, she was named Academic All-Conference in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).

"I first stepped foot onto Willamette's campus when I was in high school competing in summer track meets," Drader recalled. "I also had the privilege of running at more meets at Willamette while competing on the track team at Western Oregon. I have always loved how beautiful the campus is and how it has a small, tight-knit community. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to work within this amazing department and be back on this campus. I am excited to contribute to the Athletic Department and further enhance the experience of student-athletes, fans, and visitors."

Prior to arriving at Willamette, Drader gained significant experience in a range of gameday duties. She has worked with intramurals and club sports. She handled a variety of scoring table duties during athletic events at Samford University (Ala.) and at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, including the scoreboard for volleyball and men's and women's basketball, as well as the game clock operator for men's and women's basketball, and the libero tracker at volleyball. She also worked as the "red hat" for Samford and USFL football games.

She gained lots of experience while working as a campus recreation intern at Samford, including many facility duties. She also was a facility supervisor at Western Oregon and has been a manager at Physiq Fitness in Salem and Anytime Fitness in Dallas, Oregon, during her career.