As the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA), presented by Honda, proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary season, Executive Director Chris Voelz announced the appointment of five new board members. The CWSA Board of Directors is excited to welcome Keri Becker (Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State University), Charmelle Green (University of Utah Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Woman Administrator), Olga Harvey (Chief Operations Officer for the Women’s Sports Foundation), Erin McDermott (John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics at Harvard University) and Noreen Morris (Commissioner of the Northeast Conference).
Founded in 1976, the CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for five decades, recognizing excellence in athletic performance, leadership, academic achievement, and community service.
“This new class of board members is especially diverse and distinguished in many ways,” said Voelz. “The CWSA will benefit greatly from their wide-ranging academic backgrounds, their professional experiences across the industry, and their leadership within a variety of divisions, conferences, and organizations. While they bring unique perspectives, they also share a deep, authentic commitment to advancing the sport experience for women and a strong appreciation for the Collegiate Women Sports Awards as we celebrate our 50th year. We are honored and excited to welcome these five accomplished professionals to our already illustrious Board of Directors.”
New Board Members
- Keri Becker
Keri Becker has spent her entire career in intercollegiate athletics spanning 25+ years. She is currently in her ninth year as the Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State. Becker’s career has always been on a college campus. She began her journey in 1990 as a softball student-athlete at Saginaw Valley State University, moved into the head softball coaching position in 1996 at yet another rival school, Ferris State University, where she stayed for 15 years. In 2011, GVSU brought her on board as the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.
“It is an honor to be invited to the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Board,” stated Becker. “Having a chance to select the absolute best of women in sports presents an exciting opportunity. Coming on during the 50th anniversary of these awards is special, and I look forward to being part of the planning and working with an amazing team.”
“Keri's leadership at one of the top Division II universities does not go unnoticed,” added Patty Viverito, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors. “Grand Valley State University has won the Learfield Cup a record 17 times and has been a longtime part of the CWSA family, consistently producing numerous finalists for the Honda Division II Athlete of the Year Award. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome Keri to the Board as a terrific representative for Division II athletics and look forward to working with this experienced and yet fresh voice in intercollegiate athletics.”
- Charmelle Green
Former Utah Softball All-American and Utah Athletics Hall of Fame member Charmelle Green returned to her alma mater in March of 2021 after spending the previous 10 years at Penn State. A veteran of more than 20 years in intercollegiate athletics administration and coaching, Green serves as Utah’s Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Woman Administrator. In her role as Deputy A.D., COO and SWA, Green leads all facets of the day-to-day operations of the Utah Athletics Department with Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. This includes direct oversight of the academics, compliance, facilities, marketing & fan experience, student-athlete wellness, success and student belonging units, as well as the sport supervisory group. Green also serves as the department’s liaison to the University’s Dean of Students, Office of General Counsel, Faculty Athletics Representative and Campus Safety and Police.
"I’m deeply honored to join the Board of Directors for the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to serve alongside such inspiring leaders who champion excellence in women’s athletics, and I look forward to supporting and celebrating student-athletes as they achieve greatness in the classroom, in competition, and in their communities.”
“Charmelle’s experiences at Notre Dame; Penn State and now the University of Utah, her alma mater, will especially serve her well as an institutional representative and as a representative from the Big 12 conference,” said Viverito.
- Olga Harvey
Olga Harvey brings 20 years of business experience and boundless passion for sports to her role as Chief Operating Officer at the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Ms. Harvey joined WSF in 2017 to lead the Foundation’s Athlete and Community Engagement and a year later assumed the role of Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, allowing her to apply her business acumen and strategic thinking to all WSF’s programmatic initiatives – including research, advocacy, and community impact. Under her leadership, WSF strengthened its advocacy footprint; launched two fellowship programs that seek to close the gender gap in collegiate and professional coaching; developed the We Play Interactive digital platform for community leaders working with girls; and expanded Foundation’s grant-making portfolio to support underserved communities, foster multi-generational connections through fitness and movement, and allow mom-athletes to compete without barriers.
“I’m honored to join the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards’ Board of Directors at such a momentous time for women’s sports. As a former collegiate athlete, CWSA’s mission holds deep personal meaning for me. For nearly five decades, CWSA has celebrated and elevated women athletes, a mission deeply aligned with the Women’s Sports Foundation’s work to empower girls and women across the sports ecosystem. I look forward to bringing WSF’s perspective to the Board and contributing to CWSA’s continued impact and growth.”
“We are pleased to welcome Olga Harvey, the Chief Operating Officer, as she replaces CEO Danette Leighton to represent Women’s Sports Foundation on the Board of Directors,” stated Viverito. “Olga is familiar with our awards program and our honorees and is a welcome addition, bringing her and WSF’s commitment to support women.”
- Erin McDermott
McDermott is Harvard’s eighth John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics. She leads the largest Division I intercollegiate program in the country with 42 varsity teams.
Focusing on sustaining the Crimson’s success and future development, Harvard has enjoyed one of the most competitive periods in Crimson history. Since 2021, Harvard has made its mark, winning conference and national championships, to achieve its best LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup finishes in school history. McDermott announced the first-ever Harvard Athletics strategic action plan in 2024, which includes a long-term vision for capital projects.
“I am thrilled to serve on the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards Board, especially in the 50th Anniversary year. It’s a meaningful milestone at a significant time for women’s sports, with a heightened platform and tremendous breadth and depth of nominees. It is a true honor to have witnessed the growth of women’s sports over time and to understand the incredible talent this award recognizes and symbolizes.”
“Erin, having led both Division III and Division I athletics departments, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of Women Leaders in Sports, will bring a valued perspective to our organization,” said Viverito.
- Noreen Morris
Noreen Morris is now in her 15th year as Commissioner of the Northeast Conference. During her tenure, Morris has worked extensively with the Council of Presidents and athletic administrators to implement the Conference’s Strategic Plans, which include initiatives to enhance the NEC’s overall brand, enhance the student-athlete experience as well as strengthen the marquee sport of basketball. Morris has an extensive background in intercollegiate athletics that dates back more than 25 years.
“I’m honored to be joining the CWSA Board of Directors and humbled to have the opportunity to work alongside this incredibly talented and dedicated group of professionals,” said Morris. As a long-standing advocate for collegiate women’s sports participation and recognition, serving on the CWSA Board is one of the highest honors I could imagine. I’m excited to serve this organization and the longest-standing collegiate women’s sports awards program in the country.”
“Noreen has long been a national leader and especially recognized for her service on the NCAA Council, the NCAA Division I Strategic Planning Committee, and chairing the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force,” added Viverito. “We especially welcome her perspective as a conference commissioner to the mix of great institutional leaders on our Board.”
The CWSA 50th Anniversary celebration will culminate with a live national broadcast of the 2026 Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda on Monday, July 27, 2026, from the CBS Studios in New York City on CBS Sports Network.
Since partnering with the CWSA in 1986, Honda has contributed more than $3.7 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation
For over 65 years in the U.S., Honda has committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that help people reach their full potential while conducting business sustainably and fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace. Through the Honda USA Foundation, the company supports initiatives in education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community enrichment.
Learn more at http://csr.honda.com.