KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Women Leaders in College Sports announced today its 2023 award recipients. The honors include the Nike Lifetime Achievement Awards, Nike Executives of the Year, and Herff Jones Rising Executive Awards.
 
Milwaukee Director of Athletics Amanda Braun has been named the NCAA Division I Nike Executive of the Year by the organization.
 
Braun enters her 11^th year with the Panthers this fall and since her arrival on campus in 2013 has played an instrumental role in helping the Milwaukee Athletic Department reach new heights, seen most recently by the official opening of the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Center. The state-of-the-art on-campus basketball practice facility features a full-sized basketball court, a basketball strength and conditioning center, video/film room, auxiliary sports medicine and treatment center, and basketball student-athlete lounge.
 
Braun was honored as the one of the Under Armour AD of the Year Award winners in 2020 and has also played a key role in Horizon League administration, in addition to being recently appointed as a member of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.
 
Fundraising has increased dramatically under her watch and Milwaukee student-athletes continue to excel, extending their streak of recording a GPA of 3.0 or better to 46 consecutive semesters, as well as the 17^th straight with a 3.20 GPA or higher and the eighth in a row of 3.30 or better.

Women Leaders is committed to recognizing the achievements and successes of women working in sports. Celebrating these accomplishments is an integral piece of advancing women in sports.
 
The Nike Executive of the Year Award that Braun was honored with, formerly known as the Administrator of the Year Awards, is presented to Women Leaders in College Sports members for significant contributions made as a senior-level executive of intercollegiate athletics. This award recognizes administrative excellence in each division [NCAA Division I, FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA/NJCAA/Community College and Conference/Organization].

"We are thrilled to celebrate this group of outstanding women who are blazing trails in the sports industry," says Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports. "These women are the definition of leaders and innovators. They are highly deserving of their awards, and we can't wait to honor them in New Orleans."

These recipients will be recognized at the Women Leaders National Convention held in New Orleans from October 8-10th. Learn more about the Women Leaders' annual awards here. A special thanks to our partners, Nike: the presenting sponsor of the Lifetime Achievement and Executive of the Year Awards, and Herff Jones: the official award provider of Women Leaders in College Sports.
 
Nominated by their peers and selected by the Women Leaders Awards Committee for their service during 2022-2023, the award recipients are:

Nike Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
Nike Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Jean Cerra, Former Dean of Human Performance and Leisure Sciences, Barry University 
Nike Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Former Director of Athletics, DePaul University 
Nike Lifetime Achievement Award: Cathie Schweitzer, Former Director of Athletics, Springfield College 
Nike Lifetime Achievement Award: Delores "Dee" Todd, Former Assistant Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference 

Nike Executive of the Year Award Recipients: 
Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year: Cricket Lane, Senior Associate Athletic Director, University of North Carolina, Capel Hill
NCAA Division I FBS Nike Executive of the Year: Julie Cromer, Director of Athletics, Ohio University
NCAA Division I FCS Nike Executive of the Year: Lisa Archbald, Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Governance/SWA, Northeast Conference 
NCAA Division I Nike Executive of the Year: Amanda Braun, Director of Athletics, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NCAA Division II Nike Executive of the Year:  Jennifer Bell, Director of Athletics, Converse University
NCAA Division III Nike Executive of the Year: Kristin Hughes, Director of Athletics, Smith College
Association/Organization Nike Executive of the Year: DeeDee Merritt, Director of Leadership Development, NCAA
NAIA Executive of the Year: Janet Eaton-Smith, Vice President of Athletics, Lourdes University

Rising Executive Award Recipients:
Rising Star Award: Christine "C.C" Colwell, Assistant Director of Enforcement, NCAA
Promising Professional Award: Jana' Boyd, Assistant Director for Creative Services & Digital Content, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Commitment Award: Jashell Mitchell, Chief of Staff for Football Operations, Jackson State University