Courtney Lovely Evans was named Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Director of Athletics by President William M.B. Fleming, Jr. on April 19, 2019.
Lovely Evans is the first minority female to serve in the role and is the third athletic director during PBA’s NCAA era. Lovely Evans joined the Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics Department in August 2015 as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). In that role, she oversaw gender equity and Title IX issues. She was also responsible for all mandatory reporting to both the NCAA and the Sunshine State Conference. In addition, she oversaw athletic training, strength and conditioning, human resources and business operations while also serving as a sport administrator.
Lovely Evans has a diverse background within intercollegiate athletics administration and most recently worked at the NCAA National Office. As an Assistant Director in Academic and Membership Affairs, she was responsible for developing the Division II educational strategic plan, serving as a liaison to the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Division II Legislation Committee and the Division II Membership Committee. As an Assistant Director in Leadership Development, she was the primary administrator for the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, NCAA Career in Sports Forum and NCAA Division II and III diversity grants.
Before working at the NCAA Lovely served as the Assistant to the Director of Athletics at Georgia State University in Atlanta. In this position she was a member of the athletic department’s senior staff and was responsible for managing the Georgia State University Athletic Association and the planning and coordination of athletics’ special events including activities with the University’s inaugural football season.
Prior to her experiences at Georgia State, Lovely Evans worked in the not-for-profit sector as an event planner.
She received her master’s degree in sports administration from Georgia State University and her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia.
Lovely Evans is actively involved within the NCAA governance structure. She currently serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council as the Vice Chair and as the SSC representative, NCAA Division II Championships Committee and chair of the Division II Convention Planning Team.
She is a member of the College Women Sports Awards (CWSA) Board of Directors, an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA), the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS) and a graduate of the NCAA and Division II Athletic Directors Association Women and Minorities Mentoring Program, Women Leaders in College Sports/NCAA Institute for Administrative Advancement and NCAA Leadership Institute.
