Lori Hopkins Named Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell announced the hiring of Lori Hopkins as the new Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics on Wednesday, August 30.

Hopkins will join the Mules and Jennies on October 1 after spending more than 20 years at fellow MIAA school Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo.  

"Lori Hopkins separated herself from a deep and talented candidate pool with her knowledge, experience, communication skills and relationship-based approach," Howdeshell said. "She is a well-respected leader within the MIAA conference and throughout NCAA Division II and has been a key piece to Northwest Missouri's sustained success. Lori will be an outstanding addition to our team, and I could not be more excited to work alongside her."

Hopkins began her time at Northwest Missouri as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach for the Bearcats from 2002-2010 before being elevated to her current position as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator.

"After spending the last 20 years at Northwest Missouri State and in the MIAA, I am very familiar with UCM and its outstanding athletic department," Hopkins said. "I am very excited to become part of the UCM family!"

In her current role as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at Northwest Missouri, Hopkins is responsible for coordinating student-athlete eligibility, collaborates with campus partners to ensure NCAA compliance, serves as a liaison for SAAC, serves as the Senior Woman Administrator, completes all NCAA documentation, and reports, and serves on the MIAA AAC and IR Councils.

She has also previously served as a representative on the MIAA COVID Task Force, NCAA-II Women's Basketball Regional Committee and was the Chair of the NCAA-II Women's Basketball National Committee.

Hopkins will take over on a full-time basis for UCM Athletic Hall of Famer and former administrator Kathy Anderson, who has been assisting UCM Athletics on an interim basis since the resignation of Syed Moinuddin July 28.

"I again would like to thank Kathy Anderson, for her longtime dedication and service to UCM Athletics, and for her willingness to assist on an interim basis during this transition period," Howdeshell said.