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Kelsie Gory Harkey enters her first season at Cleveland State University as the deputy director of athletics for student-athlete experience and senior woman administrator.

A proven leader with a background that includes experience as an athletics event manager at Ohio State and championship operations with the NCAA, Gory Harkey comes to Cleveland State from Johns Hopkins University having most recently served as assistant athletics director and senior woman administrator.

Gory Harkey will work closely with Garrett and the athletics senior leadership on the strategic and day-to-day operations of Cleveland State's athletic program, which encompasses 18 sports and more than 300 student-athletes. Gory Harkey will oversee all of the department's internal units and functions including academics, business affairs, equipment, facilities, sports medicine,  strength and conditioning and student-athlete development. In addition, Gory will work with CSU’s Office of General Counsel to supervise the university’s athletics compliance program.  She will also directly supervise the women’s cross country, track and field and softball programs.

Gory Harkey joined Johns Hopkins as an assistant athletics director in 2014 and  was charged with operations oversight for 24 varsity sports, the implementation of student-athlete development initiatives for over 600 student-athletes as well as expanding the Blue Jays marketing and community outreach efforts.  Gory Harkey also recently served as Johns Hopkins’ point of contact for the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship, managing 15 full-time staff members and over 150 game day workers.

Over the last two years, Gory Harkey co-led the Blue Jays LEAD Committee, a program empowering student-athletes to actualize leadership abilities and inspire action in their communities. She designed and implemented over 25 hours of annual leadership workshops focused on a multitude of skills including emotional intelligence, effective communication and accountability.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Gory Harkey was chosen for the highly selective NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program in 2013. At the NCAA, Gory Harkey worked with the championships and alliances offices and assisted NCAA staff with championship operations for Division I women’s volleyball, men’s ice hockey, men’s tennis, baseball, FCS football and National Collegiate Rifle.

Gory Harkey began her professional career as an event management coordinator at Ohio State University in 2010. During her three years in Columbus, she was the primary event manager for women’s volleyball, women’s gymnastics, women’s ice hockey, women’s golf, men’s gymnastics and men’s golf.

Gory Harkey has been involved in professional development throughout her career. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA) and is a member of the NCAA Division III senior woman administrator program.

Gory Harkey earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Ohio State in 2013 and received her master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio in 2019.