Lexie Vernon was appointed Executive Director of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin on Dec. 3, 2025, and officially began her role on Jan. 1, 2026.
A native of the Chicagoland area, Vernon returned to the NCAA 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 broad portfolio of executive experience across NCAA Divisions II and III.
In her first months with the CCIW, Vernon has focused on strengthening the conference’s administrative foundation, supporting collaborative governance and aligning the conference office with the long-term priorities of its membership. Her early work has included overseeing a comprehensive review and reorganization of the CCIW’s constitution, bylaws, policies and sport guides; strengthening financial oversight and internal operating procedures; expanding the conference office staff; and enhancing championship, communications and officiating support.
Vernon has also worked closely with CCIW administrators and coaches as the membership evaluates opportunities to strengthen the conference’s national competitiveness. That work has included supporting the creation of a membership-led NPI and scheduling working group focused on NCAA Division III selection metrics, nonconference scheduling strategies, championship access and sport-specific competitive models.
Student-athlete engagement has also been an early priority. Vernon has worked to expand the role and visibility of CCIW SAAC and supported the development of a new conference SAAC retreat designed to strengthen student-athlete leadership, build connections across member institutions and create a more direct channel for student-athlete voices within conference governance.
Additional initiatives during her early tenure have included modernizing conference policies and procedures, strengthening championship operations, expanding officiating programs, evaluating conference scheduling formats, supporting new communications and technology initiatives and helping the membership prepare for future growth.
Before joining the CCIW, Vernon spent four years with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, serving as Senior Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator before most recently leading the conference as Interim Commissioner. During her tenure, she held broad responsibility for governance, championships, compliance, media and external relations, financial sustainability and membership services across the RMAC’s 15 member institutions.
During her tenure with the RMAC, Vernon guided enhancements to the RMAC Network, the conference’s official streaming platform. She expanded staff capacity through the creation of a 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.
Before joining the RMAC, Vernon spent 11 years at NCAA Division III Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. She most recently served as Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, Business and Internal Operations and as Senior Woman Administrator. During her time at Knox, she also served as Interim Director of Athletics, Assistant Softball Coach and Assistant Athletic Trainer, among other roles.
Her campus leadership responsibilities 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 and as chair of the NCAA Softball Rules Committee. She is an alumna of the NCAA Pathway Program.
A former collegiate softball student-athlete, Vernon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Athletic Training from Lewis University and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Western Illinois University.
Outside of work, Vernon enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors and supporting her favorite sports teams, especially women’s sports, with her wife, Jamie.