Kelsie Gory Harkey began her tenure as Cleveland State's Director of Athletics on May 16, 2024, and served as the interim athletics director for six months prior to her appointment to the full-time role by President Laura Bloomberg. In this role, Gory Harkey oversees the day-to-day operations of the athletics department and is a member of President Bloomberg's cabinet and senior leadership team. She is responsible for supporting Cleveland State's varsity athletics programs, encompassing over 360 student-athletes in addition to coaches and support staff.
Gory Harkey currently serves on the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Fencing Committee, and is a board member of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
Under Gory Harkey’s leadership in 2024, Cleveland State has enjoyed athletic success, including 11 Horizon League team or individual championships. Two teams – men’s tennis and volleyball – competed in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s Fencing’s Jesse Ndjeka was a two-time NCAA Finals qualifier as well. In her first year as athletics director, Cleveland State has collected 54 all-Horizon League honors, including 14 major award winners.
Gory Harkey guided the Vikings lacrosse program into the Northeast Conference, after previously competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Academically, the athletics department has had three valedictorians under Gory Harkey’s tenure, with Kiersten Clark (women’s soccer), Jenna Deang (softball) and Brooke Brockman (women’s soccer) all earning the honor.
Prior to her appointment, Gory Harkey served as Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator for four years. She worked closely with former Director of Athletics Scott Garrett and the athletics senior leadership on the strategic and day-to-day operations of Cleveland State's athletic program, including overseeing all of the department's internal units and functions including academics, business affairs, equipment, facilities, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and student-athlete development. In addition, Gory Harkey worked with CSU’s Office of General Counsel to supervise the university’s athletics compliance program. She has also served as a sport supervisor for a host of CSU athletic programs throughout her tenure.
A proven leader with a background that includes experience as an athletics event manager at Ohio State and championship operations with the NCAA, Gory Harkey joined Cleveland State from Johns Hopkins University having most recently served as assistant athletics director and senior woman administrator.
Gory Harkey joined Johns Hopkins as an assistant athletics director in 2014 and was charged with operations oversight for 24 varsity sports, the implementation of student-athlete development initiatives for over 600 student-athletes as well as expanding the Blue Jays marketing and community outreach efforts. Gory Harkey also recently served as Johns Hopkins’ point of contact for the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship, managing 15 full-time staff members and over 150 game day workers.
Gory Harkey co-led the Blue Jays LEAD Committee, a program empowering student-athletes to actualize leadership abilities and inspire action in their communities. She designed and implemented over 25 hours of annual leadership workshops focused on a multitude of skills including emotional intelligence, effective communication and accountability.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Gory Harkey was chosen for the highly selective NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program in 2013. At the NCAA, Gory Harkey worked with the championships and alliances offices and assisted NCAA staff with championship operations for Division I women’s volleyball, men’s ice hockey, men’s tennis, baseball, FCS football and National Collegiate Rifle.
Gory Harkey began her professional career as an event management coordinator at Ohio State University in 2010. During her three years in Columbus, she was the primary event manager for women’s volleyball, women’s gymnastics, women’s ice hockey, women’s golf, men’s gymnastics and men’s golf.
Gory Harkey has been involved in professional development throughout her career. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA) and is a member of the NCAA Division III senior woman administrator program.
Gory Harkey earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Ohio State in 2013 and received her master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio in 2019. She resides in the Cleveland area with her husband Adam, and their son, Witt.
