In her 25th year as Athletic Director at CSB, Carol Howe-Veenstra is now able to add a national award to her list of accomplishments: the 2011 Nell Jackson Administrator of the Year.
Honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), this award recognizes one athletic administrator each year for her outstanding work and is given to the individual who best embodies the personal and professional qualities of former Olympian Dr. Nell Jackson. The qualities include: leadership, passion, vision and commitment to diversity and gender equality.
Howe-Veenstra learned of her award in July, after being nominated by Mary Geller, the Vice President for Student Development, but was honored at the 2011 NACWAA National Conference on Oct. 11.
“I was blown away to have a national award. It is incredibly humbling and honoring,” Howe-Veenstra said. “I was thrilled that my Vice President and whoever else helped would nominate me. I love St. Ben’s, and I love the Blazers.”
The NACWAA is an organization that advocates for and empowers women working in intercollegiate athletics, a mission that Howe-Veenstra strives to accomplish.
“I bring a voice to our women,” Howe-Veenstra said. “I love mentoring and seeing our women move from 18 to 22. This environment is so amazing. It’s pretty special.”
Directing a staff of over 40 coaches, Howe-Veenstra has received immense support from the CSB athletic department.
“I was so happy for her,” Head Basketball Coach Mike Durbin said. “I’m sure there are lots of deserving people, but I can’t think of someone more deserving than Carol. She understands what D-III is all about, the needs of our student athletes and she cares about their well-being in and out of competition.”
Not only is this award meaningful to Howe-Veenstra, but to CSB as well.
“It continues to put us in a deserving spotlight, institutionally and athletically,” Durbin said. “I think it is always a feather in your cap when somebody in your institution receives national recognition. It is something to boast about and Carol’s deserving of that.”
Howe-Veenstra began her career at St. Ben’s in 1985 as the head volleyball coach. After two years, she assumed the responsibility of athletic director. Howe-Veenstra served dual roles for 15 years before transitioning solely to the Athletic Director position.
“I saw an opportunity here to do more than coach volleyball when needs changed as we moved from seven to 12 sports,” Howe-Veenstra said. “I am making a difference here, and I see that. I am helping the program develop and meet long range goals.”
This award both reaffirms the work that Howe-Veenstra has done at CSB and pushes her to continue to work hard to support the program.
“This award has completely reenergized me,” Howe-Veenstra said. “I can be more. It is a jump start for a new year. I have responsibility to be like Nell Jackson: to support collegiate athletics.”