Springfield, Mass. – July 10, 2018 – The National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) is proud to announce that after five years of serving as the Executive Director, Jen Miller-McEachern has accepted an Assistant Director of Athletics, Compliance position at Brown University. Miller-McEachern, who will no longer be able to continue in her role as Executive Director of the NCGA, began her new role with the Bears on June 20.
Jon Santer, the Director of Communications and Strategic Media for the NCGA, began as the interim Executive Director on July 1, and will continue in that role until a national search to fill the position is complete.
Over the past five years, Miller-McEachern was in charge of administering and enforcing the association’s policies and procedures, while also working hand-in-hand with the association’s administrators and coaches.
“I owe a great deal of gratitude to Gary Karner who has shown tremendous commitment to the sport of women’s gymnastics by creating the NCGA Executive Director’s position five years ago,” said Miller-McEachern. “I am very thankful for the trust and support of the administrators and coaches during my tenure with the organization and proud of what we have accomplished in a short amount of time. I look forward to beginning a new chapter of my professional career, and will continue to be an advocate for the sport of women’s gymnastics at all levels.”
Beginning in 2013, Miller-McEachern began to grow the sport of women’s gymnastics at the Division III level, as she is credited with major initiatives including the sponsorships of the National Gymnastics Foundation, GK Elite Sportswear and AAI Northshore Gym Sales, while also locking in a partnership with FloGymnastics. Miller-McEachern also obtained a partnership with Champions Choice and Adidas, a revenue generating program, while also creating and implementing NCGA By-Laws and Operating Codes.
“The NCGA is indebted to Jen for her efforts to bring structure, organization and unprecedented levels of accountability and communication to the organization,” said WIAC Commissioner Dr. Gary Karner. “Jen has been a tireless worker and advocate for women’s gymnastics and her leadership has been the single biggest factor in stabilizing and advancing the sport within Division III. While Jen will most certainly be missed, I am confident the foundation she established over the past five years will serve the NCGA and women’s gymnastics very well for many years to come. “
During the 2017-18 year, Miller-McEachern also oversaw the creating and implementation of a new logo for the NCGA, while also laying the foundation of an NCGA alumnae group, which helped hundreds of former Division III gymnasts, coaches and administrators reconnect with the governing body. Miller-McEachern also brought a development aspect to the NCGA, as an agreement with FlipCause has helped the governing body receive online donations to help support women’s gymnastics at the Division III level.
In addition to her role with the NCGA, Miller-McEachern also spent four years at the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference’s (NEWMAC) as the Assistant Director/SWA. With the NEWMAC, Miller-McEachern was responsible for governance process, timeline and management of all sports, sports information directors, athletic trainers, SAAC, officiating and administrator’s committees and handbook/sports manual updates. In addition, she produced championship timeline, policies and process, seeding, sites, officiating, awards and automatic qualify submissions for championship events.
A native of Fairport, N.Y., Miller-McEachern earned her bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in Elementary Education and was a four-year varsity gymnast for the Pride. Miller-McEachern was also an assistant women’s gymnastics coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2003-2004, before becoming the head coach of the Engineers from 2004 through 2009. In 2007, Miller-McEachern was named the NACGC/W Division III East Coach of the Year.
Miller-McEachern also holds a Master’s degree in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University.