ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern College Athletics has named Assistant Professor of Business Dr. Erica Vonk as the next Senior Woman Administratorfor Red Raider Athletics.
As Senior Woman Administrator, Dr. Vonk will have various administrative duties in the athletic department including being a member of the athletic leadership team, reviewing the EADA report, budget review, disciplinary meetings, and serving on select search committees.
“I am honored to join the strong athletic department at Northwestern College in the role of SWA. Overall, I hope to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of Raider athletics,” said Dr. Vonk. “I appreciate how the athletic department has welcomed me into their Christian community and took the forethought to optimize the SWA designation to create an opportunity for NWC to stand out with enhanced quality of decision-making resulting from the inclusion of diverse perspectives and inclusion of leadership demographics more reflective of the student-athlete population.”
Dr. Vonk also is a member of Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) and serves as the director of Northwestern’s Center for Innovation & Leadership.
Outside of teaching in Northwestern’s business department, Dr. Vonk enjoys all levels of sports. She remains active in watching her high school kids compete in various sports, while also serving as an assistant coach for the Seahawks Swim Team. Additionally, Dr. Vonk is an administrative official for USA Swimming, a certified lifeguard, and has dabbled in both triathlons and open-water distance swimming.
“I look forward to serving stakeholders by engaging as a visible presence of a Christian female role model for student-athletes and staff, as well as becoming a point of contact for student-athletes and staff to bring issues or concerns,” concluded Dr. Vonk. “Overall, the role of the SWA should add to the valuable Raider legacy that continues to build courageous and faithful men and women through lessons in character and commitment that last long after a sports season is over.”
A 2000 graduate of Northwestern College, she earned her Master’s in Business Administration (M.B.A.) at the University of South Dakota and earned her Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Concordia University Chicago.
