Jennifer Milo, Cal State San Marcos’ trailblazing AD, moving across campus

Morod Shah, left, is Cal State San Marcos' interim AD, replacing Jennifer Milo.

Jennifer Milo will become CSUSM’s special assistant to the vice president of student affairs; Morod Shah takes over on interim basis

April 16, 2024 3:02 PM PT

Jennifer Milo, the pioneering athletic director at Cal State San Marcos, is moving across campus after 12 years on the job and a lifetime in athletics.

Milo will become the special assistant to CSUSM’s vice president of student affairs. On the Cal State San Marcos campus, student affairs oversees athletics.

Morod Shah, the university’s associate director of facilities and operations, has been named interim director of athletics. Shah has been with the university since 2013.

“We’re going through a new strategic plan,” said Dr. Viridiana Diaz, vice president for student affairs at CSUSM. “We haven’t had a new strategic plan for 10 years, and there is a lot of work to be done.

“Jennifer’s skill set, her position, perfectly align with what we’re trying to do. She will support me. And I assure you, the decision to move over here was absolutely mutual.”

Milo was a softball player at USD, playing every inning of 206 games across a four-year career and finishing with a .354 career batting average. Milo served as an assistant softball coach at USD and San Diego State before being named head softball coach at Cal State San Marcos in 2005.

She was named director of athletics in 2012, one of only a handful of female collegiate athletic directors at the time.

Under Milo, the university transitioned from a member of the NAIA to a full NCAA Division II member. She also was in charge of the building of the 2,100-seat Sports Center, home to men’s and women’s basketball as well as women’s volleyball.

The facility includes a first-class training room as well as locker rooms for all university teams.

“What Jennifer has accomplished here speaks volumes of her leadership,” Diaz said. “Our athletes had a cumulative 3.3 GPA. We’re so proud of that.

“Our campus continues to grow, continues to evolve.”

Milo is on vacation. Several attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.

Mammoth Consulting, a firm based in Meriden, Kan., has been retained in the search for Milo’s replacement.

Shah said he will “absolutely” apply for the job. Shah attended San Marcos High School and graduated from CSUSM in 2008 with a degree in communications. From 2006-08, he played with Afghanistan’s national basketball team in tournaments around the world.

“The university is doing a national search, and I get it. But I feel the best candidate is right here,” Shah said. “Jennifer did a great job and I appreciate everything she accomplished. My goal would be to build off what she has done.

“Plus, I’m from the area. I have deep roots in this community. I’m invested in the university because it has helped me so much.

“This is a great opportunity.”

Diaz said the hope is to name Milo’s replacement by mid-summer, in time to transition into the new school year.

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