LEBANON, Ill. (Nov. 29, 2022) – McKendree University Director of Athletics Anthony Francis has announced the hiring of Amanda Howett as the school's new Assistant Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator. Howett began her duties at McKendree on Nov. 28.

"I am excited to add someone with the experiences of Amanda to the McKendree University family," Francis said. "From the outset of this search process, Amanda stood out due to having experiences at every level of intercollegiate athletics.  I'm excited to see her immediate impact on our department."

Howett, who replaces Hallie Sample-Erlinger on the McKendree Athletics senior staff, comes to McKendree after spending nearly two years as the Director of Athletics at Penn State Shenango, an USCAA and PSUAC school located in Sharon, Pa.

"I want to thank Anthony (Francis) for the opportunity to join the McKendree Bearcat family. I am excited to learn and grow with the staff, coaches and student-athletes of this department, and will assist in the continued success of McKendree Athletics," Howett said.

Howett, who was named to the Forbes' 2022 30 Under 30 List in December 2021 and has also earned a Slippery Rock University Rock Solid 10 Under 10 Alumni Award in June 2022, oversaw a rapidly growing PSU-Shenango athletics program that began with men's basketball and women's volleyball in 2018 and 2019 and recently added women's basketball in 2021 and added golf programs for both men and women. Howett also established the school's first-ever Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and hired the school's first-ever full-time Athletic Trainer.

The new McKendree assistant athletics director has experiences working in intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels.

Prior to going to Penn State Shenango, Howett served as a Career Coach at Slippery Rock University. In that role, she provided individual career coaching to students and alumni, coordinated and participated in special projects such as career fairs, alumni events, and conducted workshops and presentations on career-related topics.

Before going to Slippery Rock, Howett served as a Graduate Assistant for the Mountaineer Athletic Hospitality at West Virginia University. In that role, she assisted in the oversight of concessions to Mountaineer Athletic Club donors in premium seating areas on football game days, assisted with executing and planning donor events, and managed 80+ workers on football game days.

The Saegertown, Pa., native began her career working in intercollegiate athletics at Allegheny College. She worked as an intern under the Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation. Some of her duties included coordinating the transportation of varsity sports, acting as assistant game day manager to all home athletic contests, promoting the intramural program, and aiding in the planning and execution of events such as the NCAC Track and Field Invitational and three AAU Volleyball Tournaments.

Howett earned her bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Slippery Rock University in 2018 and received her master's degree in Sport Management from West Virginia University in 2020.

TRANSACTIONS: McKendree University names Penn State University Shenango Director of Athletics Amanda Howett as the school's new Assistant Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator