Jenn Bell enters her seventh year as the Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics during the 2024-25 academic year. Under Bell's leadership, Converse Athletics has developed a winning culture - in the classroom, sports venues, and community. Proof of this winning culture came back in May 2024, the Valkyries won the Conference Carolinas ultimate, comprehensive award, The Body, Mind & Soul Dr. Alan Patterson Cup, for finishing at or near the top in the following categories: graduation rate, athletics competition, and sportsmanship among all conference programs for the first time in school history. Additionally, throughout the institution's model change in 2021, Bell led the department through a successful transition from a single-gender athletics program to a coed program by adding six male sports, esports, and a spirit squad to the list of athletic programs offered at Converse University. With these eight additions, Converse Athletics now offers 21 athletic programs.
FACILITY UPGRADES
Bell has guided the department through several facility upgrades during the transition, including installing a new sound system and LED screen and re-branding the gym floor in Tom and Tracy Hannah Gymnasium, as well as the six outdoor tennis courts. In addition, Bell and her staff led the renovation of the Hayden Abney Fulp Field at Weisiger Stadium, the on-campus field used by field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer teams, where the grass field was converted to artificial turf and track and field spaces. That facility now includes two track lanes, long and triple jump pits, as well as the high jump and pole vault spaces.
The golf team's on-campus putting green was also resurfaced, and the team's swing room recently received updated technology, lockers, and furniture. Bell and her staff were responsible for locating and upfitting a dynamic space for the esports program, which is located within the historic Drayton Mills Marketplace just a few miles from campus. Over the course of her six academic years, Bell has overseen $1.5 million dollars in facility upgrades, including the expansion of the athletic training room, upgrade of the Weisiger classroom, and several smaller projects within the Weisiger Center, which houses the main and auxiliary gyms, the athletic training room, four locker rooms, and several staff offices. Additionally, the student-athlete weight room, housed inside the Marsha H. Gibbs Field House, was recently upgraded with new flooring, equipment, and technology.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
With the help of the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, Bell developed the department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement and Pledge, as well as specific programming for the athletics department. For the third consecutive year, the staff will meet for educational sessions that include discussions on various topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, each athletic program works with the ADID on specific diversity, equity, and inclusion training throughout each semester.
FUNDRAISING
In the fall of 2022, Converse Athletics partnered with eTeamSponsor to assist with the department's fundraising efforts. After a few short months of using the new platform, the department had raised more than $120,000, surpassing the annual goal. Throughout the summer of 2022, Bell and her staff revamped the athletic department’s booster club, now known as the Converse Athletics Club (CAC), and developed a new corporate sponsorship program. Under Bell’s leadership, Converse Athletics held its inaugural golf tournament in the fall of 2021. After four successful tournaments, the department looks to host the 5th Annual Tournament in October 2025. Additionally, in the fall of 2021, Bell and her staff named Hometown Ticketing as the official ticketing partner for Converse Athletics. Ticket sales generated more than $32,000 during the 2023-24 academic year.
PURSUING EXCELLENCE: ACADEMICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY
Upon Bell’s arrival at Converse, she and her staff began to set the standard for all Valkyries. They created “The Valkyrie Way” mantra that notes - Together, we will rise to the occasion and be bold and resilient, as we strive to maintain excellence for Converse Athletics. In addition, the department’s core values were created: Excellence, Respect, Integrity, Strength, Vision, Accountability, Leadership, and Service.
In the classroom, Bell has guided the department to new heights. Every semester since Bell arrived at Converse, the department GPA has been above 3.0. In the fall of 2023, 115 student-athletes were named to the Dean’s List, and 16 out of 20 teams earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher, with 30 student-athletes earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. In 2022-24, the Valkyries recognized 70 Conference Carolinas Academic Team members and 206 (Fall 2023) and 214 (Spring 2024) Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll members. The department’s grade point average for the year was 3.15, with 19 out of 21 teams earning a 3.0 or higher. After 54 student-athletes received the NCAA Division II National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award in 2021, a total of 66 student-athletes were recognized in the summer of 2022, 77 in the summer of 2023, and 89 in the summer of 2024. To show the importance of academics, Bell created the Valkyries Academic Excellence Award which is given to the team with the highest grade point average each semester.
In the sports venue, many programs have experienced a complete turnaround. In 2023-24, 18 out of 21 programs competed in their respective conference post-season tournaments. For the 2022-23 academic year, 15 out of 20 teams competed in their respective conference tournaments. During the winter and spring sports seasons, the Valkyries saw Men's Basketball win their first-ever conference tournament game, while women's golf finished third in their tournament, and women's track and field finished third in the indoor championships and second in the outdoor championships. In the fall of 2022, with three programs winning the championship, one program finishing as runner-up, and one program winning its first-ever tournament contest. With a record of 13-1-5 in just its second season as a program, Men's Soccer finished the 2022 season as the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament champions and competed in the NCAA Super Region II Tournament for the first time in school history. With an overall record of 17-2 and South Atlantic Conference record of 11-1, Field Hockey concluded the season as the Mountain Division regular season champions and won their second consecutive SAC Tournament Championship. Additionally, Women's Cross Country missed winning the Conference Carolinas championship meet by one point, Esports won the Peach Belt Conference Valorant LAN competition, and Women's Volleyball won its first-ever conference tournament match, defeating Lees-McRae in the first round of competition. Throughout the fall competition season, 19 student-athletes were recognized as the conference or national player of week, five were named conference freshman of the month, 59 were recognized as all-conference members, nine received conference all-tournament accolades, eight student-athletes were recognized as the conference player or freshman of the year, one coach received conference coach of the year honors, three student-athletes earned All-American status, and a senior on the field hockey team was named to the NFHCA Senior Team.
Additional awards during Bell's tenure include the Conference Carolinas Allan Sharp Award in 2023 and 2019. The department has been runner-up for this award on two occasions. This award is presented annually to the league member institution having the highest graduation rate of athletes as determined by the Faculty Athletics Representatives. In 2019-20, Converse women's tennis student-athlete, Steffi Kong, won the institution's first-ever Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award. In 2021-22, another women’s tennis student-athlete, Belen Vendrell, won the award. The Murphy Osborne Award is one of the highest academic awards presented by Conference Carolinas.
COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE
In the community, Converse student-athletes and coaches continue to impress by serving others. Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, Converse student-athletes and staff served more than 1,600 hours in the community. In July of 2022, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced their annual Community Awareness Award Winners today, Converse University senior Camryn Wales was named the winner for all of Division II. In the spring of 2021, members of the student-athlete advisory committee joined Omicron Delta Kappa for a service project within the Spartanburg community that allowed Converse student-athletes, coaches, and administrators to connect with nursing home residents through virtual visits. The project that was shared with nursing homes and impacted many residents was recognized as an at-large honoree in the NCAA Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement, and student-athlete leadership. In 2018-19, Converse Athletics finished the year in the top five in community service hours among all NCAA DII institutions, serving more than 1,000 hours. The department was on its way to serving even more hours in the community for 2019-20 until the pandemic caused a complete shutdown for the institution.
CAMPUS LEADERSHIP
As a member of the senior leadership team at Converse, Bell plays a vital role in the strategic vision plan for the institution. Throughout the model change, Bell and her staff worked diligently to build on the existing department by adding additional programs and staff members. Finally, serving as a member of the University's COVID-19 Task Force, Bell played a significant role while leading the department through the pandemic. Her leadership through the pandemic was key to the success of the department and overall institution.
BACKGROUND
Prior to her arrival at Converse, Bell served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations at Coker College for two years after completing 18 years of service at Anderson University as a coach and athletics administrator. A member of the senior leadership team for Coker College athletics, Bell was responsible for compliance for the Cobras’ 22 NCAA sports while serving as the liaison for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and game administrator for home events. In addition, Bell was a member of the college’s Futures Task Force Committee, and she served as a faculty member in the Master of Science in College Athletic Administration program.
During her 18 years at Anderson University, Bell held several administrative roles, including serving as the Trojans’ Associate Director of Athletics (2015-2016). She oversaw NCAA compliance, volleyball, and men's and women’s soccer, and served as the Trojans’ Senior Woman Administrator. As the head women’s volleyball coach for 11 seasons, Bell compiled an overall record of 207-176. After becoming a full member of Conference Carolinas in 1999, Bell’s teams posted a conference record of 116-66, and the Trojans finished in fourth place or higher six times, including a second-place finish in 2001. They captured the 2008 Conference Carolinas Tournament title, marking the Trojans’ first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
At Anderson, Bell coached 27 All-Conference players, one conference Player of the Year, and a conference tournament MVP. In 1998, she was named NAIA Southeast Independent Sectional Coach of the Year after the Trojans won the NAIA Southeast Independent Sectional Tournament for the first time in school history. As an encore, Bell was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year in 1999, after her team set the school record for wins in a season.
Prior to her time at Anderson, Bell served as head volleyball coach at Wofford College for four years, guiding the Terrier volleyball program during its transition from an NCAA Division II Independent to a Division I Southern Conference team.
Bell earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wofford. As a volleyball student-athlete, she set single-match, single-season, and career records in assists and service aces. She currently holds the record for service aces in a season (88) and aces per set in a season (0.79), as well as career aces (287) and career aces per set (0.64). Additionally, she is a member of the 1,000 dig club. During her senior year, she was named Most Valuable Player.
Bell earned her master’s degree in College Athletic Administration from Coker College in 2015 and is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University with an expected completion date of May 2026.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACCOLADES
July 2025: Becomes 1st Vice President for the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA)
May 2025: Converse University won the 2024-25 Conference Carolinas Joby Hawn Cup Men's Champion Award
April 2025: Named to NCAA Division II Management Council as the representative for Conference Carolinas
August 2024: Promoted to Associate Vice President
July 2024: Became 2nd Vice President for the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA)
June 2024: Became Chair of the Conference Carolinas Athletic Director Committee
May 2024: Converse University won the 2023-24 Conference Carolinas Mind, Body & Soul Dr. Alan Patterson Cup, the ultimate comprehensive conference award given annually
January 2024: Named Vice Chair of the Conference Carolinas Athletic Director Committee
September 2023: Nominated for NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award
August 2023: Selected as Division II Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in Sports
July 2023: Named as the 3rd Vice President for the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA).
May 2023: Selected as a mentor in the NCAA and D2 ADA Women and Minorities Mentoring Program. This mentoring program was established in 2011-12, and it pairs mentees with a mentor, who is a sitting Division II athletics director. Bell has gone full circle with this program, as she was a mentee in the program in 2014-15.
March 2023: Selected as the NACDA Cushman & Wakefield Athletic Director of the Year for NCAA Division II.
December 2022: Named to the Advisory Board for the Business of Small College Athletics (BOSCA). In July 2022, Bell served as the moderator for a panel at the BOSCA Convention, where she guided the conversation around “Keys to Success as a Small College Administrator.” In October 2021, Bell served as a panelist at BOSCA Convention, where the discussion was centered around female leadership in college athletics.
May 2021: Selected as a mentor in the NCAA and D2 ADA Women and Minorities Mentoring Program.
May 2020: Named as the Conference Carolinas’ representative on the D2 ADA Board of Directors. She will serve in this role until 2026. She has been a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) since 2014 and D2 ADA since 2018. Bell has also been a member of Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly known as NACWAA) since 2012, and she is a 2013 graduate of the Institute for Administrative Advancement. In the spring of 2020, Bell was a guest speaker for the D2 ADA mentoring program participants, where she shared her experiences from her first 100 days at Converse.
2019: Served as a member of the Conference Carolinas commissioner search committee. Throughout the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, Bell was chair of the Administrative and Marketing Committee for Conference Carolinas, and she served as the liaison for the men's and women's soccer coaches committees. Currently, Bell is the liaison for the women's volleyball coaches committees.
2017 - 2018: Participated in the NCAA Pathway Program
2017 - 2020: Served as the Chair of the Southeast Region Women’s Soccer Regional Advisory Committee. In this role, Bell was an active member of the women's soccer national committee, evaluating teams within the region and across all NCAA Division II. Bell also assisted with the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Championship events from 2017 - 2020.
2014 - 2015: Participated as a mentee in the NCAA D2 ADA Women and Minority Mentor Program
2013: Participated in the NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement
Speaking Opportunities
2022-2023
- Speaker at Dan Tudor National Collegiate Recruiting Conference
- Moderated panel at BOSCA Workshop, Topic: Onboarding in Athletics
- Panelist at NACDA Senior Mentoring Institute, Topic: I Got the Job, Now What?
- Moderated panel discussion on Careers in College Athletics for Converse student-athletes
2021-2022
- Speaker at North Spartanburg Rotary Club
- Moderated panel at BOSCA Workshop, Topic: Keys to Success as a Small College Administrator
2020-2021
- Served as panelist at BOSCA webinar, Topic: Maximizing the Role of the SWA
- Guest speaker on D2 ADA webinar for mentors and mentees, Topic: First 100 Days as an AD
- Featured on Conference Carolinas Chats with Basketball coaches, Topic: Provide a “Behind the Scenes” look into conference institutions and discuss the future of Converse Athletics
2016-2017
- Panelist at the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Regional Leadership event
