Noreen Morris has established herself as one of the most respected women in collegiate athletics. During her career, she has developed a strong track record of influence in both campus and conference settings.
Morris is currently in her seventh year as the commissioner of the Northeast Conference (NEC), where she has overseen the growth of the conference’s brand and visibility while strengthening the conference’s marquee sport of basketball. During her tenure, the NEC has introduced NEC Front Row, a state-of-the-art multimedia platform, and developed and implemented a multi-year NEC Brand and Basketball Enhancement Fund. Morris has made some valuable changes to the NEC governance structure, elevating the conference’s senior woman administrators (SWA) into an enhanced leadership role and creating a Sports Management Committee that engages more athletic administrators from across the conference.
Prior to the NEC, Morris served as senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Northwestern for five years. While there, she was tasked with oversight in academics, compliance, athletic training, strength and conditioning, and equipment, in addition to supervising five Northwestern programs. She also served on the Big Ten Joint Group and Administrator’s Council, while co-managing the department’s strategic planning process.
Prior to her time at Northwestern, Morris spent eight years with Conference USA, overseeing the conference’s legislative and governance programs. She first served as the director of legislative services (1996-98) before eventually rising to the position of assistant commissioner. Before moving to Conference USA, Morris spent five years as compliance coordinator and sport administrator at the University of Connecticut.
Morris has sat on multiple national committees throughout her career, including the NCAA Division I Council, Division I Nominating Committee and the NACDA Executive Committee. She also chaired of the NCAA Division I Leadership Council from 2012-14, and served on the NCAA Management Council.
In recognition of her tireless work to better collegiate athletics, Morris was one of eight recipients of the 2009 Administrator of the Year Awards, presented by NACWA, and was also selected as the inaugural ECAC Commissioner of the Year in 2014.