Bio

Willamette University welcomes Leslie Shevlin as its new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Bringing over 22 years of progressive NCAA senior athletic leadership and coaching experience, Shevlin returns to Willamette with a strong passion for the student-athlete experience.

Shevlin's deep connection to Willamette spans 14 years. Her journey at the university began as the head coach for men's and women's swimming, a position she held for nine years. During her time as head coach, the Bearcat swimming teams achieved over 30 record-breaking performances, and she was recognized as the Men's Swimming Coach of the Year by the Northwest Conference in 2014.

In 2018, Shevlin transitioned to an administrative role, serving as the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Willamette. In this capacity, she oversaw compliance, student-athlete development, student-athlete success, day-to-day financial operations, and SAAC. She also held roles as Deputy Title IX Coordinator for athletics and the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, representing athletics on various university committees, including the CAS Equity, Diversity, Inclusion committee and the Trans Advocacy committee.

Shevlin's commitment to supporting student-athletes both on and off the field has been a hallmark of her career. She served as a strong advocate for students, notably as the advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and co-chair of the Division of Student Affairs Student Leadership Development committee, and in her involvement with the University Student CARE team.

Prior to her return to Willamette, Shevlin served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Sports Supervision at Williams College. In this role, she managed long-term planning and daily operations with 11 head coaches. In the fall of 2020, Shevlin was one of 20 senior administrators selected to participate in the NCAA Pathways Program, a year-long leadership development program for senior-level athletics administrators. She was also a recipient of the NADIIIAA Transitioning Athletics Administrator Award in 2022.

Before her extensive tenure at Willamette, Shevlin gained valuable experience as an assistant swimming coach at the University of New Mexico for four years and as a graduate assistant swimming coach for the men’s and women’s programs at Duquesne University.

A North Carolina native, Shevlin was a swimmer at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. During her collegiate career, she served as the Vice President of SAAC and was honored with the student-athlete leadership award in 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from UNCW and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Management from Duquesne University.

Shevlin expressed her enthusiasm for her new role, stating, "This opportunity fills me with enthusiasm, and I look forward to reconnecting with a community and an institution I believe in deeply. I am eager to begin this new chapter, working alongside the department, students, and colleagues across campus." She emphasized her commitment to continuing the mission of delivering an exceptional and transformative student-athlete experience at Willamette.