WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell has elevated current Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations Crystal Westphal to Senior Woman Administrator, it was announced Tuesday, July 18.
"Crystal's familiarity with the needs of our student-athletes and coaches helped her stand out from a talented candidate pool," Howdeshell said. "This experience along with her acute attention to detail and strong communication skills will help her represent UCM's best interests at both the MIAA and NCAA levels."
Westphal has been with the University of Central Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics since 2012, beginning as an Office Professional before being promoted to Insurance Specialist and Assistant to the Athletic Director in 2014 and Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations in 2022.
"I'm honored to serve as the new Senior Woman Administrator for University of Central Missouri Athletics," Westphal said. "I'd like to thank Matt Howdeshell and [Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Intercollegiate Athletics] Syed Moinuddin for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to continuing to help our student-athletes, coaches and staff succeed!"
As the Senior Woman Administrator, Westphal will represent UCM student-athletes, coaches and staff's best interests at MIAA and NCAA meetings, monitor UCM Athletics' gender equity through regular analysis and recommend improvement opportunities, coordinate, and oversee student-athlete experience initiatives and feedback, and represent UCM Athletics on select NCAA and campus committees.
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Westphal graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing with a biology minor from Simpson College in Iowa and received a master's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Central Missouri.
She and her husband, Kyle, reside in Warrensburg and have a daughter, Zoey, and son, Kobe.
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