Maureen ‘Mo’ White named Director of Athletics

Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron and Dean of Students Victor Arcelus announced today that Maureen “Mo” White has been named the next Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education at Connecticut College, effective Oct. 1. 

As the first woman to serve as director of athletics at Connecticut College, White will take the helm “at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the athletics program,” Bergeron and Arcelus said in a letter to the campus community. 

“We are very fortunate to have found in Mo White a talented leader with the skills, values and experience to take our athletics program to the next level of excellence,” Bergeron said.

As director, White will be responsible for overseeing the success of 28 intercollegiate sports together with 45 coaches and staff. This includes overseeing plans for the renewal of athletics facilities, leading the department in developing a vision for the future of athletics at Conn, and supporting the College’s student-athletes to compete within The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) at the highest level of Division III.

White comes to the position with extensive experience in athletics marketing, consulting and higher education. As an athlete, coach, faculty member and administrator, she has twice before served as a director of athletics, developing highly competitive programs at two institutions. She joined Conn last fall as assistant director of athletics for business operations to lead a review of Conn’s athletics operations and to design new approaches for funding the department. Since that time, she has had a transformative effect on athletics, Bergeron and Arcelus said, noting that one of the goals of the College’s strategic plan, Building on Strength, is to heighten the competitiveness, success and integration of the College’s athletics programs. 

White said she is extremely grateful and excited for her new role. “The New England Small College Athletic Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in Division III athletics, with a deep history of academic excellence and athletic achievement. Connecticut College is well­­­­-positioned to deliver an even stronger student-athlete experience, and with our talented coaches, we are well on our way to getting there.”

White holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Providence College, where she played Division I tennis, and a master’s in sport management from the University of Connecticut. Prior to Conn, she served as the director of athletics and chair of the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. During her tenure at the Academy, she reorganized the department, developing an inclusive team approach that led to greater equity across programs. She also initiated facilities improvements, including new construction, to enhance competitiveness. One of her key priorities was to grow programs and develop new recruitment strategies to increase the number of women and other underrepresented students. The Academy teams had their most successful years under her leadership and developed a nationally televised rivalry with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. 

Previously, White served in a variety of roles at Mitchell College in New London, including head men’s tennis coach, assistant professor for business and professional studies, department chair for sport management and physical education and director of athletics. Among her accomplishments, she launched the sport management bachelor’s degree, and, as director of athletics, worked closely with the NCAA to build a model Division III athletics program. Through her leadership, student participation increased by 60 percent, and teams won both conference championships and NCAA championship berths.   

White has played and continues to play leadership roles within the NCAA, with service on a variety of committees including the cross-division group that handles competitive safeguards and medical aspects in sport.

Executive Director of the NESCAC Andrea Savage lauded White’s appointment. “In Mo White, Connecticut College has selected an accomplished and veteran leader. She brings a breadth of experience in higher education as a professor, coach and administrator committed to the well-being of student-athletes and to developing programs to achieve success. With 20 years in higher education, 15 years leading Division III programs, as well as her work nationally with the NCAA, Mo is superbly positioned to become the next director of athletics at Conn.” 

White was selected after a highly competitive national search led by a committee comprising students, faculty, staff, and a member of the board of trustees, supported by Spelman Johnson, a leading U.S. college athletics search firm. White succeeds Fran Shields, who has served as director for the past 16 years and will now become the inaugural director of the Camel Athletics Network and athletic director emeritus.