Nnenna Akotaobi was promoted to senior associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator (SWA) in the fall of 2018. Prior to that, Akotaobi held the title of associate director of athletics/SWA since August 2012. She also serves as a campus Title IX deputy. At Swarthmore, Akotaobi manages both internal and external relations for the department and serves as a liaison to several campus departments and committees. Akotaobi also oversees critical infrastructure related to student-athlete well-being, diversity/equity/inclusion, and professional development of staff and coaches.
Prior to arriving at Swarthmore, Akotaobi worked at Grinnell College, where she worked as both the coordinator for diversity and inclusion in athletics and assistant coordinator for athletic facilities and event management where she worked to promote diversity within the department and was responsible for the retention and recruitment of student-athletes from underrepresented backgrounds as well as department wide-educational initiatives. As the assistant coordinator for athletic facilities and event management, Akotaobi helped manage Grinnell's $90 million Charles Benson Bear '39 Recreation and Athletic Center. Akotaobi was the director of championships and assistant to the commissioner at the Midwest Conference before arriving at Grinnell, a position supported by the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant Program. A 2009 graduate of the University of Denver, Akotaobi, was a standout student-athlete on the Pioneers' basketball team during her four-year playing career.
A native of Thornton, Colo., Akotaobi served as a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council (2014-2018) and chaired the Management Council Subcommittee on Legislative Relief during her tenure. Akotaobi was also chair of the NCAA Minority Opportunity & Interests Committee (MOIC) from 2016-2018 and served on that committee for six years.
Akotaobi is a member of numerous professional organizations, including Women Leaders in College Sports, the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators, (NADIIIAA). Akotaobi has served as a panelist, speaker, presenter, and consultant locally and nationally on a variety of topics ranging from gender equity and sexual violence prevention in sports, to diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education.
