Senior Woman Leader Committee. The Senior Woman Leader (SWL) committee will be comprised of designated campus SWL’s. The SWL Group shall address concerns and the welfare of female student-athletes and make recommendations to the Council of Athletic Directors.
The following are suggestions intended to support both athletics directors and senior woman leaders in collaboratively defining the designation on their respective campuses and successfully optimizing the role while leveraging each SWL's strengths. Based on the NAIA's published Senior Woman Leader's Responsibilities (as noted in bold), SWL functions can include, but are not limited to the following:
- Communicate regularly with the athletics director, not only for leadership development but also to consult on major departmental and university initiatives
- Participate in providing leadership and guidance in the area of Title IX and gender equity planning for the overall department, to include both men's and women's sports
- Assist the athletics director and senior management with strategic planning processes and decision-making for the athletics department
- Participate in budget development and major financial decisions for the athletics department operations and initiatives
- Advocate for student-athlete well-being while also serving as a mentor and resource for direct reports and other athletics staff members
- As assigned by the athletics director, the SWL's functions could also include the following: Fully engage in the hiring, onboarding, and evaluation processes for coaches and staff; Meet regularly with institutional senior leaders (e.g., president/chancellor, vice presidents, etc.); and Assist in providing leadership oversight for both men's and women's sports
NAIA SWL Resources
2025-26 SWL's