Tanya Vogel has officially been named the University’s next director of athletics and recreation, University President Thomas LeBlanc announced in a release Monday.
She will assume the role July 1 after serving as the interim athletic director since January. She took on the position when former athletic director Patrick Nero suddenly stepped down in December after more than six years at GW.
“I can think of no one better to lead our program into the future,” LeBlanc said. “I’ve had the chance to observe Tanya in this role for the last three months. I’m impressed with her leadership style, knowledge of NCAA athletics and commitment to the student-athlete experience.”
LeBlanc also announced in the release that Vogel and the athletic department will report to the Office of the President as soon as she takes over the permanent role. Previously, the department reported to the Office of the Provost.
Once at the helm, Vogel will join Saint Joseph’s Jill Bodensteiner – who was announced the Hawks’ athletic director in March – as one of two female athletics director in the Atlantic 10 conference.
Vogel graduated from GW in 1996 and played for the women’s soccer program during her undergraduate career. She is a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame and returned to the University in 2000 to coach the women’s soccer program for 11 years. She served as the senior associate athletics director at Northern Arizona from 2012 to 2015, before returning to Foggy Bottom to serve as senior associate athletic director.
“Having had the experience of being a student-athlete, head coach and administrator at the University, I am forever loyal to GW,” Vogel said in a release. “I am very excited to work with President LeBlanc as we develop the plan for where we go from here.”
As senior associate athletics director, Vogel oversaw strength and conditioning, sports medicine, educational support services, facilities and worked on student-athlete and staff development. She also served as senior woman administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator before becoming interim director.
She will become just the third athletic director over the past 24 years. Nero, who arrived at GW in 2011, led the implementation of a five-year athletic strategic plan and 13 different Colonials teams won championships during his tenure. But in his final 17 months at GW, he faced criticism after multiple investigations were launched into the department.
A-10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade said in a statement that Vogel’s “deep history” with the Atlantic 10 conference and the University makes her the right fit for the role.
“She will be an exceptional asset, role model and leader for the student athletes and coaches in the league and intercollegiate athletics,” McGlade said.
Vogel will address media at a press conference at the Smith Center Thursday at 5 p.m., according to the release.
