In an effort to highlight the NAADD Diversity Working Group, the Association will feature one member from the Working Group on a weekly basis over the next several months. This working group was created back in July 2020 to serve as an advisory group to the NAADD Executive Committee, in addition to cultivating the pipeline for minorities in collegiate athletics development. The NAADD Diversity Working Group aims to be a support network for minorities in the industry through education, advocacy, and awareness.This week, the spotlight turns to Michael Murray of the University of Illinois Chicago. 

Name: Mike Murray
Job Title: Assistant Athletics Director - Advancement
Number of years in your position: 2 years 
Institution: University of Illinois Chicago
Email: mkmurr@uic.edu
Twitter: @MMurrayTU13

Tell us about the last two positions you have held.
Prior to arriving at UIC, I was the Associate Director of the Army A Club serving cadet-athletes at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a great experience being able to work for one of the federal academies building relationships with alumni that were as passionate about their institution as anything else I have witnessed. I worked closely with the ticket office to build and maintain a portfolio of donors at annual giving levels from $100 to $25,000 while providing service to football, basketball and hockey season ticket holders.

Before my time at West Point, I spent three years at the University of Pennsylvania learning most of what I know now about development in college athletics. As an Athletics Development Coordinator, before becoming an Assistant Development Officer, I helped to manage several alumni volunteer boards organized by athletics, provided back office support for gift processing, reporting and mass communications, and eventually managed prospects of my own while working directly with several major gift officers to reach individual program fundraising goals.

When/why did you first become involved in NAADD?
I first became involved with NAADD during my time at Penn in 2015. My unit director at the time, Dr. Scarlett Schneider, was on the NAADD Executive Committee and encouraged every member of our team to be an active participant in what the organization had to offer. Having an opportunity to attend the Convention that year, and in particular participate in the Fundamentals of Athletics Development sessions, helped me build a strong foundation of what it meant to be a fundraiser while networking with others in the industry. Ever since I've taken the opportunity to attend the Convention whenever possible, it has helped a lot as I've navigated my career between very different institutions that approach our work in a variety of ways.

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment to date?
It may sound cliche, but the biggest accomplishment to me has been the amount of meaningful relationships I have created at each place I have been. Knowing that I have been able to connect alumni of multiple institutions to the place that they are incredibly passionate about, while they create a positive impact on the experience of current student-athletes, keeps me motivated to continue doing what I do. When those relationships last beyond my tenure at a particular place it makes me feel like I've accomplished my goal to the best of my ability.

Provide the membership a few thoughts on how you hope this Working Group can impact NAADD and our members long term?
I hope that this working group can accomplish two main goals. One, being a voice for the under-represented groups in our industry that can help the NAADD Executive Committee stay aware of important issues and ways we can come together to fix them. Whether it be coming up with ideas that can diversify the applicant pool for jobs at every level, ultimately leading to more diversity within the ranks of our member institutions, or simply having a group that can bring a fresh perspective to programming and other areas of need. The potential for this group to positively impact the membership by having the attention of the Executive Committee is a win-win. 

Additionally, I hope the NAADD membership, or even prospective members, see this working group as several people from varying backgrounds and different experience levels that are willing to help in whatever ways possible. I know many of us have been helped in our careers by mentors and others willing to pay it forward, and having this platform allows us to do the same while catering specifically to a demographic that does not have much representation.

Tell us something unique/interesting/special about yourself.
According to 23andMe I share an ancient paternal lineage with Pharaoh Ramesses III, who is considered to be the last great monarch of the Egyptian Empire. Sadly, the discovery did not come with any inheritance.