WOMEN IN ORTHOPEDICS LUNCHEON

Keynote Speaker - Holly Sheilley

Holly is in her ninth year at Transylvania University as Vice President & Director of Athletics & 26th year in higher education. She began her tenure at Transylvania as its first female Director of Athletics & only third female AD for the state of Kentucky.

As Director of Athletics, Sheilley is responsible for 23 NCAA-sponsored sport teams in addition to co-ed eventing, cheer, & dance teams with over 420 student-athletes. Under her leadership, the student- athlete population has nearly doubled.

Among the athletic successes, include six athletic programs having their first NCAA All-Americans; the most NCAA appearances & conference champions in one year; completion of turf facility & track/field along with support building; renovation of Hall Softball Field; rebranding of the athletic department, adding & diversifying the staff, & the creation of the first triathlon team in Kentucky. She has been instrumental in moving the baseball team to Whitaker Bank Ballpark, a minor league baseball park.

Sheilley's leadership helped to bring NCAA championships to Transylvania, which includes NCAA First & Second Round Women's Basketball, NCAA Regional Softball, NCAA Men's Golf National Championship, & future NCAA Women's Golf National Championship. In October 2020, she began serving on the NCAA Division III Management Council & is also a member of the NCAA Division III Championship Committee & NCAA Subcommittee for Legislative Relief.

Prior to Transylvania University, Sheilley served as the assistant director of championships for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). During her tenure at the NCAA, she managed four Division I Championships, including two of the largest in terms of student-athlete participants, as well as five Division III Championships. In this role, she was responsible for planning & execution of multiple championships in collaboration with hosts, NCAA committees, vendors, playing rules, media constituents, & national coaching bodies. She monitored & negotiated budgets & contracts over $3 million dollars.

Prior to coming to the NCAA, she served as the assistant director for student development & championships at the University of Louisville where she was for over eight years. Sheilley's duties at the University of Louisville included bidding & managing Olympic championship tournaments both at the conference & national levels, as well as coordinating the Cardinals' LCare program as part of the NCAA CHAMPS/LifeSkills. U of L has served as host of the NCAA field hockey Championship, NCAA men's basketball, BIG EAST volleyball, & numerous other NCAA & BIG EAST championships during her stint. During her tenure, U of L hosted over 40 championships.

She coached volleyball & softball for Lindsey Wilson College. During her tenure the volleyball team achieved the school's best record including their first Scholar All American & first NAIA regional appearance. Her softball teams also had the school's best record with 41 wins along with conference player of the year three years consecutive. Team participated in NAIA regionals back to back years with a third place & runner-up finish.

She received her doctorate degree from the University of Louisville in 2004 in Educational Leadership. Her master's degree is from Eastern Kentucky University & her bachelor's degree is from Asbury University. She played volleyball, basketball, & softball for the eagles where she received the female student-athlete of the year her senior year.