General

Maureen Harty Named WIAC Interim Commissioner

MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is pleased to welcome Maureen Harty as Interim Commissioner starting Dec. 1. Harty joins the WIAC with more than 38 years of dedicated and professional leadership experience in college athletics.
 
Most recently, Harty retired as the Executive Director of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), where she also served on the NCAA Division III Championships Committee. During her time at the CCIW, the conference saw meaningful growth in sport sponsorship, student-athlete engagement, and overall visibility. She led a major conference rebrand, expanded opportunities through an enhanced Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), strengthened the league’s commitment to Special Olympics, and introduced new recognition opportunities including the Elite 26 and RESPECT awards.
 
“We look forward to working with interim Commissioner Harty during this leadership transition,” said UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, chair of the WIAC Council of Chancellors. “Interim Commissioner Harty brings extensive knowledge and experience with her to the role that will allow us to continue to learn and excel as a highly competitive conference within NCAA Division III athletics.”
 
Competitively, the CCIW continued to excel during her tenure winning six team national championships and 30 individual national championships.
 
“I am very excited to join the WIAC in this interim role as the Chancellors search for their next great leader,” said Harty. “I look forward to working alongside Matt Stanek and Alisha Markley to continue providing a first-class experience to all WIAC student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.”
 
Before returning to the Chicago area, Harty spent a year as Commissioner of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and served as an Associate Director at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. Her earlier campus roles at Northwestern University, Dominican University, Northeastern Illinois University, and Saint Mary’s College give her a deep, well-rounded perspective on the landscape of Division III athletics and the challenges facing institutions today.
 
Harty remains active within the profession through organizations such as WECoach, Women Leaders in Sport, and the Division III Commissioners Association, where she served on the Executive Board and chaired the DIIICA Championships Committee. She has also served on the faculty at Northwestern University, IUPUI, and North Central College.

Harty replaces Danielle Harris, who was named commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Oct. 13.
 
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