General | 7/12/2023 9:02:00 AM
July 12, 2023-A Kansas native with over 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics has returned to the Sunflower State. Emporia State Vice President, Director of Athletics David Spafford has announced that Colleen Mischke will be the next Senior Associate Athletic Director, Internal Relations/Senior Woman Administrator for the Hornets.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to join Emporia State Athletics and return to my home state of Kansas," said Mischke. "It's been encouraging to see the constructive changes occurring within the Hornet Athletic department and I believe they will have a positive impact not only for our athletic programs but our student-athletes as well."
Mischke spent the last year as the Event and Activity Director at The Box Elder Events Center in Rapid City, S.D. The Box is a flexible event space, with over 55,000 square feet of space that can be used for sports tournaments, weddings, galas, and trade shows. In that role she created an engaging atmosphere and experience for a variety of athletic events for the first-year facility.
Prior to her time in Rapid City, she spent ten years with the athletic department of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. She began as a program assistant with the Yellow Jackets, assisting with all facets of the athletic department. She was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations/SWA in July of 2014.
"I am excited to welcome Colleen Mischke into the Hornet family," said Spafford. "As we both worked together in the RMAC, Colleen is very well respected among her peers and I have been impressed with her work ethic, attention to detail and ability to work with all of the different constituents in college athletics."
At BHSU, Mischke supported the Athletic Director in the organization, management, and oversight of all aspects of the University's athletic programs. She had direct oversight of multiple athletic programs and was involved in all aspects of the recruitment and hiring process for coaches. She served as the Title IX coordinator for the athletic department and was the NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee. She was the staff liaison to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and helped them develop and implement several initiatives to enhance the student-athlete experience.
Mischke served on several RMAC committees and regularly attended NCAA Regional Rules and Inclusion seminars. She had a four-year term as a member of the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships Committee.
She began her career in intercollegiate athletics as an assistant track and field coach. She served as a graduate assistant at Nebraska from 1996-98. She was an assistant at Neb.-Omaha from 1998-2001, St. Cloud State from 2002-05, and College of St. Benedict/St. John's University in Minnesota from 2006-12.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska, she was a standout hurdler and heptathlete for the Huskers. She was a ten-time scorer in the Big 8 conference meet and a four-time Phillips 66 Academic All-Big 8 Award winner. She is a member of the Topeka West HS Hall of Fame after winning three state championships for the Chargers. She is still ranked 16th all-time in the state of Kansas in the 300m hurdles and second all-time in the 400m hurdles.
Mischke and her husband Seth have three children, Brooklyn, Tanner and Micah.
Collegiate Consulting assisted Emporia State throughout the search process.
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