Lexie Vernon is a strategic, values-driven athletics executive who currently serves as Interim Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), where she leads the operations, vision, and external strategy of one of NCAA Division II’s most historic and competitive conferences. Her career—rooted in her experience as a Division II student-athlete and athletic trainer—spans nearly two decades in intercollegiate athletics and reflects a consistent commitment to the transformative power of sport.
Before being appointed Interim Commissioner, Vernon served as the RMAC’s Senior Associate Commissioner, where she oversaw key strategic areas including championships, governance, compliance, scheduling, and fiscal management. She also served as the conference’s Senior Woman Administrator, a role through which she built inclusive leadership pipelines, championed student-athlete programming, and deepened institutional engagement. In 2024, she spearheaded the development of the RMAC’s first-ever exclusive marketing and promotions arm—a creative and financially sustainable model funded through external grants and new revenue streams. That initiative continues to expand the conference’s digital reach, new partnerships, and strengthen branding throughout the region.
Vernon’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the concept of impact—ensuring every student-athlete has access to meaningful growth on the field, in the classroom, and beyond. Her vision for the RMAC centers on celebrating and capitalizing on the unique strengths of each member institution, and positioning the conference as a national leader in the Division II “Make It Yours” experience. She works to elevate the RMAC not only through competitive excellence but through a shared commitment to academic integrity, regional identity, and student-first priorities.
Prior to joining the RMAC, Vernon spent more than a decade at Knox College, where she served as Interim Director of Athletics and Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, Business, and Internal Operations. There, she managed a $2.4 million athletics budget and led strategic planning efforts including a gender equity review and a sport feasibility study. She helped raise over $1 million in restricted and unrestricted funds in collaboration with advancement staff, while leading a full-scale external relations expansion that revitalized alumni engagement, media partnerships, and social media growth. Vernon also built formal HR structures and equity-focused programming for a staff of 40+, mentored coaches across multiple sports, and implemented inclusive student-athlete development policies that supported long-term success.
At the national level, Vernon is an established thought leader in NCAA Division II. She currently serves as Chair of the Division II Conference Compliance Administrators and sits on the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. She previously chaired the NCAA Softball Rules Committee and is a graduate of the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program. She is a regular speaker and advisor on topics related to governance, inclusive leadership, and student-athlete well-being.
Vernon earned her Master of Science in Sport Management from Western Illinois University and her Bachelor of Arts in Athletic Training and Business Administration from Lewis University. Her diverse career—spanning coaching, athletic training, campus administration, and conference strategy—equips her with a uniquely comprehensive lens to lead modern collegiate athletics.
Outside of her professional role, Vernon gives back to her community as a high school JV softball coach and through service with various local organizations. She enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with her family. She lives in Centennial, Colorado, with her wife Jamie and their daughter Hayden (19).