Miriam Merrill has been named Hamilton College's associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator. Merrill was the director of athletics at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago from 2012 until 2014. Most recently, she was pursuing her doctorate degree and teaching in the kinesiology department at Temple University.
"We're excited to have Miriam join us as our next associate director of Athletics," Hamilton Athletic Director Jon Hind '80 said. "Her experiences as a student-athlete, coach, athletics administrator, teacher and scholar have her positioned to bring energy and guidance to our department and, more broadly, to our campus community."
At Daley College, Merrill executed day-to-day management of intercollegiate programs and intramurals, managed and provided oversight of the student-athlete support service and coaches, maintained student-athlete compliance, developed and implemented the stategic plan for the largest athletic department in the City Colleges of Chicago, generated and implemented the institution's Title IX and gender equity program and provided fiscal management for the department.
In addition, she created resources that fostered the personal success of Daley College's student-athletes, including a Fall 2013 Leadership Conference and athletic department volunteer events such as the St. James Parish food pantry and the Chicago Park District Park Kids Program.
"It is a tremendous privilege to be part of a rich institution that is committed to excellence and development both inside and outside the classroom," Merrill said. "I would like to thank Jon Hind and the search committee for the opportunity, and I am looking forward to continuing the department's pursuit of success."
Merrill served as the head track and field coach at Robert Morris University in Chicago from 2006 until 2012 and she was an academic advisor/first-year academic advisor her last two years at the University. Merrill was a youth services manager for Chicago's Girls in the Game program from 2006 until 2010. She managed day-to-day operations of 20 after-school sites including elementary schools and park districts, and she provided direct oversight, training and evaluation of more than 15 part-time coaches.
Merrill has been an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators since 2010, and she was on its membership committee in 2012-13. Merrill is also part of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, serving on the Educational and Professional Development Committee, and the Northeast Atlantic Sport Psychology Conference Planning Committee.
Merrill received a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Cincinnati where she was inducted into the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Merrill became the first all-America honoree in Cincinnati women's track and field program history, earning the distinction in 2001 when she finished eighth at the NCAA indoor championship meet.
As of 2012 she still had the top eight marks in the indoor weight throw, including the team record of 64 feet, 1 inch. She was an eight-time all-Conference USA performer (four times each in indoor and outdoor), and was the 2001 recipient of the Helen Norman Smith Award, which honors the top female senior student-athlete in the athletic department.
Merrill has her master's of education degree in sport administration from Xavier University and is working toward her doctorate in psychology of human movement from Temple.
