Eastern Michigan Athletics
Longtime EMU Athletics Administrator Reifel Werner to Retire
5/12/2014 11:37:00 AM | General
Reifel Werner has been working for the EMU Department of Athletics since 1996
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Dr. Melody Reifel Werner, Eastern Michigan University's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration, who has served 18 years with the school's Department of Athletics, has announced she will retire at the end of June.
Reifel Werner began her career in the athletic compliance office in 1996, and worked her way to Interim Athletic Director, a position she held from April-July 2013.
"Melody Reifel Werner has served Eastern Michigan University extremely well throughout her career," Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke said. "Melody has a tremendous amount of compassion and support for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We will miss having her as a member of our Executive Team and at the same time, we wish her the best in her next adventure."
Reifel Werner, who celebrated her 57th birthday in March, believes the timing is right to conclude her successful athletics administration career.
"There is no perfect time to step away," Reifel Werner said. "To work with student-athletes, coaches, the administration and the Ypsilanti community has been incredibly rewarding. I have had great opportunities to develop as a person and to meet and work with many wonderful people over the course of my career in athletics."
In her current role, she oversaw student-athletes support services, human resources and administrative support areas, as well as serving as the sport administrator for men's and women's cross country/track, men's and women's golf, gymnastics, softball and wrestling. Having previously served as the Associate Athletics Director/Compliance, Reifel Werner assumed the role of interim athletic director for a three-month span in 2013.
Reifel Werner has earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees with honors from Eastern Michigan. She completed her bachelor's degree in marketing and communications in 1979 and her master's in organizational communications in 1998. She was awarded her doctoral degree in educational leadership at EMU in 2006. Reifel Werner is the author of Protecting University Integrity: Managing Risks in Intercollegiate Athletics.
Prior to joining EMU, Reifel Werner worked as an educational consultant for The Pace Group and as a training consultant for GTE.
She is the former Chair of the NCAA Research Committee and a former member of the executive committee of the National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC). She serves on the Advisory Board to the "College Athletics and the Law" publication, which provides guidance on athletics laws and regulations.
Reifel Werner is married to Thomas Werner and has two grown sons: Thomas Joseph and Anthony John.
Reifel Werner began her career in the athletic compliance office in 1996, and worked her way to Interim Athletic Director, a position she held from April-July 2013.
"Melody Reifel Werner has served Eastern Michigan University extremely well throughout her career," Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke said. "Melody has a tremendous amount of compassion and support for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We will miss having her as a member of our Executive Team and at the same time, we wish her the best in her next adventure."
Reifel Werner, who celebrated her 57th birthday in March, believes the timing is right to conclude her successful athletics administration career.
"There is no perfect time to step away," Reifel Werner said. "To work with student-athletes, coaches, the administration and the Ypsilanti community has been incredibly rewarding. I have had great opportunities to develop as a person and to meet and work with many wonderful people over the course of my career in athletics."
In her current role, she oversaw student-athletes support services, human resources and administrative support areas, as well as serving as the sport administrator for men's and women's cross country/track, men's and women's golf, gymnastics, softball and wrestling. Having previously served as the Associate Athletics Director/Compliance, Reifel Werner assumed the role of interim athletic director for a three-month span in 2013.
Reifel Werner has earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees with honors from Eastern Michigan. She completed her bachelor's degree in marketing and communications in 1979 and her master's in organizational communications in 1998. She was awarded her doctoral degree in educational leadership at EMU in 2006. Reifel Werner is the author of Protecting University Integrity: Managing Risks in Intercollegiate Athletics.
Prior to joining EMU, Reifel Werner worked as an educational consultant for The Pace Group and as a training consultant for GTE.
She is the former Chair of the NCAA Research Committee and a former member of the executive committee of the National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC). She serves on the Advisory Board to the "College Athletics and the Law" publication, which provides guidance on athletics laws and regulations.
Reifel Werner is married to Thomas Werner and has two grown sons: Thomas Joseph and Anthony John.
| THE DR. MELODY REIFEL WERNER FILE | |
| Name: | Dr. Melody Reifel Werner |
| College: | Eastern Michigan University - Bachelor's degree in marketing and communications - 1979 |
| Eastern Michigan University - Master's degree in organizational communications in 1998 | |
| Eastern Michigan University - Doctoral degree in educational leadership - 2006 | |
| Family: | Husband - Thomas; Children - Thomas Joseph and Anthony John |
| WORK EXPERIENCE | ||
| YEAR | SCHOOL | JOB TITLE |
| 2013-14 | Eastern Michigan University | Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration |
| April-July 2013 | Eastern Michigan University | Interim Athletic Director |
| 2011-13 | Eastern Michigan University | Associate Athletics Director/Senior Women's Administrator |
| 2002-11 | Eastern Michigan University | Associate Athletics Director/Compliance |
| 2000-02 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Athletics Director/Compliance |
| 1996-00 | Eastern Michigan University | Coordinator of Athletics Rules Compliance |
| 1994-96 | Eastern Michigan University | Educational Consultant |
| 1988-95 | The Pace Group | Educational Consultant |
| 1980-83 | GTE | Executive Accounts Manager |
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