REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Valentine as its first Deputy Athletic Director.
 
Valentine joins Redlands with nearly two decades of NCAA Division III athletics administration experience, most recently serving as the Director of Athletics & Recreation at St. Joseph's University, Brooklyn, since October 2023. In that role, she supervised 11 NCAA DIII sport programs, a staff of more than 30, and a $1.4 million athletics operating budget — all while leading the launch of the university's NCAA Varsity Women's Flag Football program, growing student-athlete enrollment by 20% in two years, and reviving the school's Athletics Hall of Fame after a 12-year hiatus.

"Megan is a collaborative and forward-thinking leader who understands how to build relationships, inspire teams, and move an organization forward," said Nikki Ayers, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Her broad experience across athletics administration, strategic planning, fundraising, and student-athlete development uniquely positions her to help advance the mission of Redlands Athletics. We are excited to welcome her partnership as we continue building a championship culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and excellence."

Valentine's career spans leadership positions at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Hilbert College, and SUNY Fredonia, where she consistently drove institutional growth through athletics. As Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at SUNY Poly, she grew the student-athlete population by 10% in her first year, added a varsity mixed golf program, and served as the athletics lead on a $25 million campus center renovation. At Hilbert College, she increased student-athlete enrollment by 25%, transitioned five coaching positions from part-time to full-time, and led the design and construction of new baseball and softball fields from the ground up. Earlier, at SUNY Fredonia, she guided a $2.5 million renovation of the Blue Devils Fitness Center and secured a successful NCAA grant that funded new strength-and-conditioning and athletic training positions.

A former three-sport standout at Medaille College — where she captained the soccer and softball teams and earned National Small College Athletic Association First Team All-American honors in soccer — Valentine holds a Master of Education in Sport Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Medaille College.

Valentine has also built a strong national profile within the NCAA, having served on the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee, the NCAA Division III Membership Committee, and as one of four Division III administrators selected for the prestigious NCAA Pathways Program. She has been a longtime advocate for women's leadership in athletics, organizing the first-ever SUNYAC seminar on developing women in collegiate athletics leadership and serving as a Division III representative for the NCAA's Women in the Spotlight Brand Leadership Institute.

"As leaders in the industry, we talk about providing an exceptional scholar-athlete experience- one that balances high-quality academic programs, national champion-caliber athletics teams, and one that provides leadership enhancement opportunities for students to explore their passions outside of the classroom and competitive arena," Valentine explained.

"I truly believe that this foundation exists at Redlands. The investment in athletics is here, and it is evident to me that athletics is a valued member of the Bulldogs community. I'd like to thank Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, Nikki Ayers, and members of the department and campus that I met with during my interview for this tremendous opportunity. The future is very bright for Bulldogs Athletics, and I look forward to working with our student-athletes, staff, and community members to continue building towards greatness! Go Bulldogs!"