Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, the chair of the Patriot League's Council of Presidents and President at American University, announced Monday that Jennifer Heppel has been appointed as the League's fifth Executive Director. She comes to the Patriot League after working the past five years as an associate commissioner at the Big Ten Conference.

"I am delighted and honored to be selected as the next Executive Director of the Patriot League. I am grateful to the Council of Presidents for the opportunity to lead this outstanding group of institutions that are committed to competing in Division I athletics, while holding paramount the academic achievement and personal development of student-athletes. I look forward to working with everyone in the Patriot League in continuing to advance our vision."

"On behalf of the Patriot League's Council of Presidents, I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Heppel has accepted our offer to serve as the next Executive Director of the Patriot League, "said Kerwin. "Jennifer's skills, experience and values deeply impressed those involved in the search process. With her understanding of and dedication to the Patriot League's distinctive approach to intercollegiate athletics, we have appointed an Executive Director who will ensure the continued success of our student- athletes, both in the classroom and in athletic competitions. Further, Jennifer will provide a strong voice for the Patriot League's model of the scholar-athlete and the primacy of the student experience in the ongoing discussions on the future of intercollegiate sports. The Council of Presidents looks forward to many years of Jennifer's leadership and service to our member institutions."

In her most recent role as Associate Commissioner for Governance at the Big Ten, Heppel worked directly with the presidents/chancellors, faculty representatives and administrators in implementing the policy initiatives of the conference. She played a leading role nationally in the recent restructuring of the NCAA Division I governance system, and held the position of Secretary of the conference. Heppel oversaw all aspects of Big Ten men's ice hockey, including representing the Big Ten on the boards of the Hockey Commissioners' Association and College Hockey, Inc.

She was first employed at the Big Ten from 1998-2005, including the last four (2001-2005) as the Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Enforcement. In addition to her responsibilities in those areas, she was a member of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament management team, served as the tournament director of the 2005 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, and was the primary liaison to multiple coaches' and administrative groups, including the Big Ten Administrators Council.

Between her roles at the Big Ten, Heppel was the Associate Athletics Director for Administration at Georgetown University (2005-10) where she served on the Department's senior staff and provided employee services in the areas of staff recruiting, hiring, compensation, gender-equity analysis, performance management, and orientation. She was a member of the BIG EAST Conference Championship and Competition Committee (2006-2010) and NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee (2008-2010). Heppel also was lead sport administrator for seven teams, working closely with the head coaches to create and manage an environment conducive to both academic and competitive success, and served as the tournament manager for the 2006 and 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament games, hosted by Georgetown at the Verizon Center, in Washington, D.C.

Earlier in her career, she worked at the NCAA National Office as a Membership Services Representative and began her professional career as an assistant athletic director and senior woman administrator at the University of Hartford.

Heppel received her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where she was a member of the women's ice hockey team. Later, she earned an MBA from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

She takes over for Carolyn Schlie Femovich, who steps down after 16 years as the League's executive director, on August 1.