By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is proud to announce the appointment of Danielle Harris as its next commissioner. Harris brings nearly two decades of experience in collegiate athletics to the role.
Her selection follows a national search chaired by Western Colorado University President Brad Baca and marks a new chapter for one of the nation’s oldest and most respected athletic conferences.
“I am thrilled to welcome Danielle Harris as our new RMAC commissioner,” said David Tandberg, President of Adams State University and Chair of the RMAC Presidents Council. “She brings a wealth of experience, new ideas, and infectious enthusiasm. She won over the entire search committee and Presidents Council with her bold vision and track record of success.
“I would also like to express, on behalf of the Presidents Council, our sincere and deep appreciation to Lexie Vernon for her leadership as interim commissioner over the past several months. She led and managed the conference operations with professionalism and grace.”
Harris will be the seventh commissioner of the RMAC, having served as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) since 2020. During her tenure, she led a full rebranding effort that included launching the WIAC Network, an end-to-end digital streaming platform for conference events, and helped expand sponsorships.
Harris began her career in athletics in 2005 as a media relations intern at the Mid-American Conference. She graduated from the NCAA Leadership Institute in 2013 and participated in the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators Division II Governance Academy in 2014. Since then, she has risen swiftly through the ranks of collegiate athletics, including serving as Associate Commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to President Baca, the Presidents Council, and the search committee for their confidence and support in my candidacy,” Harris said. “The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference continues to elevate Division II through its unwavering commitment to academic and athletic excellence. I am excited to continue this important work and chart an even more ambitious and innovative path forward for our student-athletes, institutions, and the future of Division II athletics.”
In addition to her administrative track record, Harris is highly regarded among peers across the NCAA.
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Commissioner Harris for 18 years, first as a mentee and always as a trusted colleague,” said Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. “Her journey has been defined by hard work, vision, and an unwavering commitment to leading and serving others. With her return to NCAA Division II, I have no doubt she will be a tremendous contributor. We need her leadership, voice, and passion in Division II now more than ever.”
“Danielle is a phenomenal choice for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference,” said Kris Dunbar, Commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. “Her leadership, passion for student-athlete success, and proven track record in collegiate athletics make her the perfect fit to guide the conference into its next chapter. I'm excited to see the tremendous impact she'll make both with the RMAC and Division II.”
Harris will officially begin her role as commissioner on December 1, 2025.
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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