CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State University President Dr. Laura Bloomberg has announced that Kelsie Gory Harkey will serve as the Athletics Director for a one-year term extending through the 2024-25 academic year, as approved by the CSU Board of Trustees during Thursday's meeting.
"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the student-athletes, coaches and staff at Cleveland State University over the next academic year," Gory Harkey said. "I'm thankful for the trust placed in me by President Bloomberg to lead our Athletics Department as we continue building Champions in the Classroom, in the Community and through Competition. As a department, we will continue to provide a transformational experience, helping our student-athletes develop as people, students and athletes, while also enhancing the university's mission and goals on a daily basis."
Gory Harkey, who assumed the role of Interim Athletics Director following the departure of Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett, will serve a one-year term as Athletics Director ending in the spring of 2025.
With Gory Harkey in the role, the Vikings have continued to see success over the last three-plus months, including; Men's Tennis winning its ninth Horizon League tournament title, Softball capturing the 2024 Horizon League tournament championship, Lacrosse earning its first-ever postseason bid, Men's & Women's Basketball making postseason appearances in the CBI and WBIT, five individual league champions in Wrestling, Men's Fencing, Men's & Women's Swim & Dive, and Track & Field, and numerous All-League accolades across all sports.
In the classroom, the department closed out the fall semester with a combined 3.47 cumulative grade point average, with 18 of the 19 sport programs posting a 3.00+ GPA for the term. Last weekend, over 80 student-athletes participated in the CSU commencement ceremonies, including 60 that graduated with honors and two college valedictorians.
The athletics department has also continued to have support from the community during this span, as the Vikings had a record-setting Giving Day, leading the university in dollars raised and individual donors during the 24-hour fundraising campaign.
Prior to her role as Interim Athletics Director, Gory Harkey served as the Deputy AD for Student-Athlete Experience, overseeing the department's internal units and functions including; academics, business affairs, equipment, facilities, sports medicine, sports performance, and student-athlete development. In addition, Gory Harkey was the department's Senior Woman Administrator and sport supervisor for the women's soccer, men's & women's fencing, lacrosse and softball programs.
The University plans to launch a national search in the coming academic year with the goal of having the next Athletics Director in place by the summer of 2025.
