GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Michael McKinney Ed.D. ’02 has been selected to attend the 2024 NCAA Division III New Athletics Direct Report Professional Development Program. The event will be held in January in conjunction with the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
McKinney, already the Vice President for Student Affairs at Thiel, had his role expanded and title changed to reflect the addition of overseeing the Department of Athletics at the College in July 2022. With Thiel President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., serving as chair of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Presidents’ Council and Thiel administration chairing all PAC Councils for the 2023-24 academic year, McKinney is also providing guidance and strengthening collaboration and engagement throughout this academic year.
Each fall, up to 15 ADRs who are new to their role or who have never attended the ADR Institute are selected to attend programming at the NCAA Convention.
McKinney began working for his alma mater after graduating in 2002. He started his career as a resident director while attending graduate school at Youngstown State University. His original two-year appointment has grown into a 20-year career. McKinney rose to Dean of Students and began serving on the President’s Cabinet by the time he was 29 and four years later, he became Vice President of Student Life.
McKinney was recognized as an influential leader in 2016 as one of the Mercer County chambers of commerce’s “40 under Forty.” In 2018, McKinney was among a group of Thiel faculty and staff who were selected by the Council of Independent Colleges to participate in the inaugural Diversity, Civility, and the Liberal Arts Institute. He completed his education doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh, holds a master’s degree in counseling/higher education from Youngstown State University and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and communication from Thiel.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.