The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) announced the appointment of Lexie Vernon as the league’s Executive Director on Dec. 3, 2025. Vernon officially began her role on Jan. 1, 2026.
A native of the Chicagoland area, Vernon returned to the Division and region where she first established her roots as a collegiate administrator and leader. She brings a student-athlete-centered leadership philosophy and a progressive portfolio of executive experience across both NCAA Division II and Division III.
Vernon most recently served as Interim Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), where she led one of the nation’s most competitive Division II conferences through a period of transition and strategic growth. Her oversight included governance, championships, compliance, media and external relations, financial sustainability and membership services across 15 institutions.
During her tenure, she successfully guided enhancements to the RMAC Network, the conference's official streaming platform. She expanded RMAC staff capacity through the creation of a new graduate assistant program, secured external grant funding to establish a dedicated marketing and promotions position, strengthened internal and external communications, increased fan engagement and enhanced championship branding, experiences, and partnership opportunities – all aimed to enhance the experience of every RMAC student-athlete.
Before joining the RMAC, Vernon spent 11 years at NCAA Division III Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. She last served as Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, Business, and Internal Operations and as the Senior Woman Administrator. During her time in Galesburg, she also served as Interim Director of Athletics, Assistant Softball Coach and Assistant Athletic Trainer, among others. Her campus leadership work included budget oversight, human resources, gender equity planning, recruiting strategy, student support, strategic planning, sport supervision, academic integration and external relations.
Vernon also brings significant NCAA governance experience, including service on the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) and as chair of the NCAA Softball Rules Committee. She is a graduate of Lewis University (B.A., Athletic Training), where she competed for four years as a softball student-athlete, and Western Illinois University (M.S., Sport Management), and she is an alumna of the NCAA Pathway Program.
What Colleagues Are Saying
Chris Graham – Commissioner, Sunshine State Conference:
"The CCIW hit a homerun with the hiring of Lexie. There are few commissioners in college athletics with her range of experience, her broad view of our industry landscape, and her understanding of day-to-day conference administration. Lexie leads with great conviction and builds strong, productive relationships. There are great things ahead for both her and the CCIW."
Mike Zapolski – Director of Athletics, Augustana College:
"Small college athletics is in the midst of a challenging time on many fronts, and I look forward to working closely with Lexie to best position the CCIW and our student-athletes for academic and competitive excellence. Lexie's past professional experiences position her well to make an immediate impact with our membership."
Kim Nelson-Brown – Senior Associate Director of Athletics/SWA/Head Volleyball Coach, Illinois Wesleyan:
"Lexie has excelled in various roles over her career. She brings a wealth of perspective to the CCIW through her roles as a former coach, assistant athletic director, SWA and senior associate commissioner. Through discussions, you could tell that Lexie remains focused on the overall student-athlete experience; fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that a student focused approach drives the daily operations of our conference office."