Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ahleasha McNeal as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator. In her new role, Dr. McNeal will provide leadership and oversight for academic services, compliance, and the promotion of women in collegiate sports management.
 
Dr. McNeal brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her elevated position at LMU. She holds a Doctor of Education with Honors in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy, specializing in Sports Leadership with an emphasis on Sports Health/Fitness. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the perceptual congruence of leadership behaviors between collegiate athletes and their coaches. Additionally, she earned a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and Physical Education from Lincoln Memorial University.
 
"I am excited for this opportunity and incredibly grateful for the trust and confidence Lincoln Memorial University has placed in me with this new position," Dr. McNeal said.  "I am thankful for a position that allows me to combine my long-time passions of academics and women's athletics as well as my more recently discovered intrigue and interest of NCAA Compliance.  I appreciate the challenges and opportunities that this position offers and I am looking forward to working alongside our coaches and support staff while providing our student-athletes with an incredible student-athlete experience."

 "Dr. McNeal is a consummate professional whose primary passions are the student-athlete experience, academic services, and advancing opportunities for women in sports. She maintains a constant focus on life after collegiate athletics for our student-athletes, while displaying fairness and a commitment to holistic development. Dr. McNeal has excelled in all positions she has served in for LMU Athletics, and I'm confident this will continue. We are fortunate to have Dr. McNeal serving our student-athletes", stated LMU Executive Vice President for Administration, Dr. Jody Goins.
 
Prior to this promotion, Dr. McNeal served as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Compliance/SWA, where she was responsible for monitoring initial and continuing eligibility, rules interpretations, investigating and reporting potential rules violations, and conducting preliminary academic/transcript evaluations. She also served as the departmental liaison to various offices across campus, including the registrar, admissions, financial aid, and academic affairs.
 
Dr. McNeal's professional experience also includes serving as an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at LMU, where she restructured academic concentration curricula to align with accreditation standards and developed proposals for Nursing Home Administration and Healthcare Administration Concentrations. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Sport Management and served as an academic advisor to Sport Management and School of Business majors.
 
Additionally, Dr. McNeal has held various leadership roles within LMU, including Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), where she served as the liaison between academics and athletics, monitored academic progress of student-athletes, and represented the university at NCAA and conference meetings and events. She has also served on numerous committees, including the Faculty-Athlete Advisory Committee, Athletics Compliance Committee, and Equity in Athletics Committee, among others.
 
Outside of LMU, Dr. McNeal has been an active member of professional organizations such as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the National Association for Athletics Compliance, and WeCOACH - Women Coaches Organization. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
 
Dr. McNeal's dedication to academia and athletics has been recognized through her involvement in dissertation committees, presentations at conferences, and ongoing professional development.
 
With her extensive background in athletic administration, academic services, and compliance, Dr. McNeal is poised to continue making a significant impact on the student-athletes and the overall athletic program at Lincoln Memorial University.