After returning home from a vacation in Arizona, Michelle Morgan turned on her phone and began reading through three days’ worth of emails.

“I was reading through all of my emails. I got this one from the NCAA and I was ecstatic,” said Morgan.

Morgan, University of St. Thomas Associate Athletic Director, has been selected as one of the 25 senior-level administrators in the nation to participate in the NCAA 2017 Pathway Program. The Pathway Program is designed to boost those who are currently in senior-level positions aspiring to become a director of athletics, through skill building and mentoring.

“My aspiration is to be an athletic director one day,” Morgan said. “There are things that I’m not immersed in solely. So there are certain areas that I look forward to — to really foster more knowledge and develop myself.”

A committee made up of current administrators and past program attendees selected the participants representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III for the year-long program.

Morgan, a graduate of St. Thomas and former Tommie hockey player, is in her seventh year with the St. Thomas Athletic Department. She has been in her current role of Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator for the last three years.

“She’s a great employee on a day-to-day basis, has great vision and gets things done,” said Steve Fritz, the Director of Athletics at St. Thomas.

Morgan manages sports information and event management for the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex and leads external relations and marketing initiatives. She also serves on the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Committee developing administration and conduct policies for NCAA Division II Women’s Ice Hockey Championship.

In the fall of 2015, Morgan arranged the very first department-wide athletic apparel contract with Eastbay, supplying all UST athletes with Nike apparel, equipment and accessories.

In the four years she was the Director of Marketing at St. Thomas, Morgan played a vital role in growing attendance at Tommie athletic events. In 2011, she drove the athletics department to implement season ticket packages for St. Thomas football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Along with her duties at St. Thomas, Morgan also serves as the Director of Events for the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association, planning the annual Keith Magnuson Scholarship luncheon and Stan Mikita Alumni Golf Tournament.

Through the Pathway Program, Morgan will be taught knowledge in budgeting, strategic planning and fundraising to be applied to her current position and the role as the director of athletics. Participants will identify how certain values fit into the philosophy and execution of leadership within college athletics and higher education, the NCAA website said.

“That’s bound to benefit us, currently and in the future, of things that she already brings to the plate and can add to it through this program,” Fritz said.

Along with the in-person programming throughout the year, each participant will be mentored by both a current university chancellor or president and a NCAA athletics director.

The NCAA Pathway Program began in 1997, accumulating more than 100 alumni. Almost 25 percent of the participants reached the aspiration of becoming the director of athletics, while more than 60 percent have received promotions in their careers, the NCAA website said.

“I’m honored to be selected,” Morgan said. “This is the next logical step in my career to help me identify what my blind spots are and areas that I need to develop both personally and professionally.”

Samantha HoangLong can be reached at samantha.hoanglong@stthomas.edu.