NACWAA Honors Athena Argyropoulos With The Division I Non-Football Administrator Of The Year Award

Sept. 17, 2008

WILMINGTON, N.C. - This year, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) will honor Athena Argyropoulos, American University (Division I Non-Football), as one of its eight Administrator of the Year Award recipients.

Joining Argyropoulos are seven other very special women, each of whom has provided outstanding administration in intercollegiate athletics. Recipients of the award include Barbara Burke (for work at University of Wyoming-Division I Football Bowl Subdivision), Dr. M. Dianne Murphy (Columbia University-Division I Football Championship Subdivision), Lynn Griffin (University of Indianapolis-Division II), Dr. Kelly Hart (Springfield College-Division III), Debby DeAngelis (California State University, East Bay-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), Beth DeBauche (National Collegiate Athletic Association-Organization) and Tonia Walker (Winston Salem State University-Nell Jackson Award).

"NACWAA is honored to pay special recognition to each of these eight outstanding women for their hard work and dedication to the field of intercollegiate athletics," said Jennifer Alley, Executive Director.

Athena Argyropoulos joined the American Athletics administrative team in January, 2001, as the associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator. She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the athletics department, while also serving as American's liaison with various NCAA and Patriot League committees; and has administrative oversight of all 16 varsity sports at American University.

Argyropoulos is a 1978 graduate of American with a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice. She has also completed graduate coursework in the Health Fitness Management program at American. A student-athlete during her undergraduate years, Argyropoulos lettered in field hockey and basketball for the Eagles; and following graduation, she went on to join the university's Department of Government in the School of Public Affairs as an Academic Counselor in 1983. While there, Argyropoulos managed the Department of Government's undergraduate advisement office. During her tenure she advised over 800 undergraduate students majoring in political science. In that span, she also served as the NCAA Compliance Liaison for the School of Public Affairs and was a member of numerous university committees, including the University Awards Committee.

No stranger to collegiate athletics, Argyropoulos is a distinguished basketball official. A member of the officials staff in a number of Division I conferences, Argyropoulos has officiated in several conference tournaments, eight NCAA Tournaments, the 1996 U.S. Women's National Team trials, the Jones Cup Trials and numerous other National Team events. She is also a member of the AAU national staff and has officiated at several AAU tournaments.