Photo by: Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics
Bjork Announces Leadership Enhancements
Aug 17, 2022 | General
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M Director of Athletics Ross Bjork announced structural enhancements to the department's senior and administrative leadership teams designed to improve overall performance and embrace the changing landscape of collegiate athletics and provide continued opportunities for leadership growth.
The department's senior leadership team consists of:
"Our mission is to create as many opportunities as possible around our championship athletics program and we must always stay at the forefront of our leadership structure, efficiencies, staff development and overall performance of the administrative segment of our department," Bjork said. "These promotions and the new alignment we are unveiling today, allows us to continue to grow our platform of leadership, while also embracing the evolving nature of college sports in the modern era.
"It is important that we have the right people in the right leadership positions for our athletics department. We have a talented administrative leadership team of staff and coaches across the entire athletics program who share a common vision of being the pinnacle of amazing opportunities for our student-athletes and all Aggies."
In addition, Bjork created the "Administrative Leadership Team" and hosted the first meeting in July. This platform consists of Associate and Assistant Athletics Directors, as well as other key leaders within the Athletics Department. Bjork and the Senior Leadership Team will meet quarterly with the group to discuss pertinent topics within Texas A&M Athletics and the ever-evolving collegiate landscape while creating opportunities for these leaders to develop personally and professionally.
Other leaders in Athletics who have been promoted since January:
The department's senior leadership team consists of:
| Ross Bjork | Director of Athletics |
| Justin Moore | Executive Deputy Athletics Director / Chief Operating Officer |
| Kristen Brown | Deputy Athletics Director – Administration & Leadership |
| Joe Fields | Deputy Athletics Director – Administration & Student-Athlete Experience |
| Chris Park | Deputy Athletics Director – External Relations & Business Development |
| Jeff Toole | Senior Associate Athletics Director – Chief Financial Officer |
| Craig Valka | Senior Associate Athletics Director – Capital Projects |
| Brad Barnes | Associate Athletics Director – Athletics Compliance |
| Rebekah Parkhill | Associate Athletics Director – Engagement |
| Jonathan Wallace | Director of Administration |
"Our mission is to create as many opportunities as possible around our championship athletics program and we must always stay at the forefront of our leadership structure, efficiencies, staff development and overall performance of the administrative segment of our department," Bjork said. "These promotions and the new alignment we are unveiling today, allows us to continue to grow our platform of leadership, while also embracing the evolving nature of college sports in the modern era.
"It is important that we have the right people in the right leadership positions for our athletics department. We have a talented administrative leadership team of staff and coaches across the entire athletics program who share a common vision of being the pinnacle of amazing opportunities for our student-athletes and all Aggies."
- Veteran athletics administrator and Texas A&M baseball letterman Justin Moore was promoted to Executive Deputy Athletics Director / Chief Operating Officer. Moore will work alongside the Director of Athletics in directing the overall planning, implementation, administration and day-to-day operations of the athletics department. He will play an integral role in the department's upcoming capital projects and Centennial Capital Campaign and continue to serve as the sport administrator for football and men's basketball. Moore will also oversee the implementation of a new sports medicine model in conjunction with Texas A&M Health Sciences.
- Houston native Joe Fields was promoted to Deputy Athletics Director - Administration & Student-Athlete Experience after previously serving as Senior Associate Athletics Director. In his expanded role, Fields will serve as the "Director" of all initiatives and activities related to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for Texas A&M Athletics and oversee the evolving nature of supporting our student-athletes. He will also now oversee equipment operations, the Lettermen's Association, and all major apparel-related contracts and relationships. He will continue as the sport administrator for the cross country, track and field programs. Joe will report directly to Ross Bjork.
- Entering her third year at Texas A&M, Deputy Athletics Director Kristen Brown's responsibilities were adjusted to oversight of "Administration & Leadership." Brown will direct the newly-created Engagement unit that works to ensure the talents of all coaches and administrators are supported at the highest level, and she will oversee the compliance department on a permanent basis. Already working closely with Ross Bjork and serving as the department's Senior Woman Administrator, Brown becomes the permanent sports administrator for men's and women's swimming and diving, while continuing to oversee women's basketball, volleyball, soccer, and men's and women's tennis.
- The newest addition to the senior leadership team, Chris Park was hired last month as Deputy Athletics Director - External Relations & Business Development after successful stints at Washington State, UTEP and Texas State. He will have sport oversight of baseball.
- Brad Barnes will continue his role as Associate AD for Athletics Compliance and handle the day-to-day operations of all components of the compliance office. Barnes will report to Kristen Brown and work alongside her on a daily basis.
- Jeff Toole continues in his role as Senior Associate Athletics Director – Chief Financial Officer for Texas A&M Athletics and oversees all operations within the Internal Operations department. He also serves as the sport administrator for softball and men's and women's golf.
- Recent new executive Craig Valka was hired in June 2022 as Senior Associate Athletics Director – Capital Projects and oversees all capital projects for athletics and will spearhead the projects that are part of the recently announced Centennial Campaign.
- Rebekah Parkhill was promoted to Associate Athletics Director – Engagement after previously serving as Director of Administration. In her role she will serve as the Chief Diversity Officer for Athletics and oversee the department's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She will oversee all leadership and professional development for Athletics staff and collaborate with Human Resources to establish strategies and initiatives for recruitment, on-boarding and retention of staff and coaches. Additionally, Parkhill will serve as the sport administrator for equestrian.
- Jonathan Wallace was promoted to Director of Administration and will work directly with Bjork on all matters related to the AD's office, administration of the Athletics Department, senior staff management, scheduling and logistics. Wallace's previous role was Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Engagement.
In addition, Bjork created the "Administrative Leadership Team" and hosted the first meeting in July. This platform consists of Associate and Assistant Athletics Directors, as well as other key leaders within the Athletics Department. Bjork and the Senior Leadership Team will meet quarterly with the group to discuss pertinent topics within Texas A&M Athletics and the ever-evolving collegiate landscape while creating opportunities for these leaders to develop personally and professionally.
Other leaders in Athletics who have been promoted since January:
- Chris Barttelbort, Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Whitley Bradley, Student-Athlete Engagement Coordinator of Leadership and Personal Development, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Jess Busto, Associate Director for Learning Services/Learning Specialist, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Dan Childs, Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Josh Collins, IT Manager, Information Technology
- Samantha Finglass, Manager, Lettermen's Association
- Rena Frank, Assistant Athletics Director, Human Resources/Athletics Youth Camps
- Josh Hadley, Assistant Director for Academic Services, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Dan Jacobi, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine
- Jonny Kerr, Broadcast TV Engineer, 12th Man Productions
- Elissa Killebrew, Senior Broadcast Producer, 12th Man Productions
- Kylie Lee, Scholastic Supervisor, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Kaley Markos, Assistant Director of Athletics Marketing
- Nick McKenna, Assistant Athletics Director for Sport Fields
- Kristi Mejias, Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Tim Michl, Director of Athletics Marketing
- Abby O'Mara, Associate Head Coach, Equestrian
- Kevin O'Shea, Associate Head Coach, Men's Tennis
- Molly Tye, Director of Academics for Football, Center for Student-Athlete Services
- Wendy Wright, Assistant Director for Learning Services/Math Specialist, Center for Student-Athlete Services
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