PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Alisha Tucker as Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Women's Administrator. Tucker joins the Hawk Athletics staff after recently serving as Deputy Athletics Director/Student Services at Campbell University.
Prior to Campbell University Tucker spent 15 years as Associate A.D. for Compliance and Student Health at Norfolk State University.
"Alisha is a proven, experienced, and respected leader in college athletics," UMES Director of Athletics Tara A. Owens said. "We're excited to have her join the Hawk family."
Bringing over two decades of professional experience from the Power 5 and FCS level, Tucker will oversee compliance, student-athlete support, athletic training, as well as lead the department's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and serve as the Senior Woman Administrator. As Deputy A.D., she will also be instrumental in assisting Owens with the overall daily operations of the athletics department.
"It is an honor to be selected as the Deputy Athletics Director at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Hawks have tremendous history and tradition. With the opportunity to work alongside the dynamic and innovative leadership of President Heidi Anderson and Director of Athletics Tara A. Owens, I believe we can build UMES into a perennial championship program," Tucker said. "As the university continues to experience a period of growth and unprecedented success, we are going to represent the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with pride and integrity."
Tucker began her career in athletics administration at Michigan State, and had stops at Villanova, Richmond and Marshall before moving to NSU. She joined the NSU staff in 2006 as the Assistant Athletics Director/Compliance before creating the student services area in 2010. She oversaw student services within athletics through 2019 before assuming additional duties including helping guide the Spartans through COVID protocols prior to her departure.
Tucker has been involved in administrative activities on the national level. She served as the interim chair of the NCAA's Accelerating Athletics Academic Success Program (AASP), which grants funds to HBCUs and other identified universities in support of academic programming for student-athletes. She was instrumental in helping NSU secure $1 million in grant funding for the department's academic initiatives for student-athletes.
A Hampton, Virginia native, Tucker was a track and field athlete at Hampton High School where she still holds records. She competed as a Division I student-athlete at the University of Virginia and she is also an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
She received her Master of Education in Sports Management from Old Dominion University and is currently completing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at Old Dominion.
