FAIRBANKS - Brock Anundson, Director of Athletics for the Alaska Nanooks, has named Dr. Nicole Bernsen the department's next SWA. 

"We're thrilled to add SWA to Dr. Bernsen's role." Said Anundson after adding SWA to her title, Assistant Director for Athletics Academic Services, "Her contributions and experience making high-level decisions at the administrative level, along with her mentorship to our student-athletes has made this enhancement a perfect fit. Dr. Bernsen's SWA duties will take effect immediately, as she continues to be a tremendous asset within Alaska Nanook athletics." 

Dr. Bernsen joined the Nanooks athletic department in late-October of 2020 after spending time as an Education Director of the American Collegiate Rugby Association in Philadelphia, Penn. There she was assisting in development and implementation for a nationwide intercollegiate athletics governing body. 

The Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) represents the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation    of women in the leadership and management of college sports. With the SWA designation, it creates opportunities such as enhanced quality of decision-making, resulting from inclusion and diverse perspectives at the campus, conference and national levels. With professional success of the SWA, it results in leadership demographics more reflective of the student-athlete population, it creates visible presence of female role models for student-athletes and staff and creates diverse points of contact on the senior management team for student-athletes and staff to bring issues or concerns. 

"I am extremely honored and excited to be designated as the SWA." Said Dr. Bernsen about the opportunity, "This appointment illustrates Chancellor White's and Dr. Anundson's commitment to promoting meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports. I hope to enhance decision-making by bringing diverse perspectives to the table and serve as role-model for our outstanding student-athletes."

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks athletic department, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Twitter or Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks athletic page on Facebook.