Nationally recognized administrator named senior advisor to the president for athletics

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Mike Alden, a highly respected athletics administrator who most recently served as athletic director for the University of Missouri, has been appointed senior advisor to the president of 91������Ʒ for athletics. In that role, Alden will lead 91������Ʒ’s 18 Division I sports and athletics operations. He will assume the role on February 1.

“Mike Alden has a tremendous history of success at multiple institutions and a national reputation for promoting athletic and academic excellence,” says Harlan M. Sands, president of Cleveland State. “We are looking forward to having his advice and counsel on campus as we seek a permanent leader for Vikings athletics.”

“I am looking forward to working with President Sands during this exciting time,” Alden says. “He is committed to building upon the success of 91������Ʒ athletics, and I am committed to helping advance the cause.”

Alden served for 17 years as athletic director at the University of Missouri before retiring in 2015. During his tenure, Mizzou made the move from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference and raised over $240 million for capital projects in the athletics program, including construction of a new basketball facility as well as renovation of its historic football stadium. On the field, the football team reached national prominence, making 10 Bowl appearances and winning back-to-back SEC East championships. In the classroom, Mizzou consistently ranked as one of the top academic programs in Division I, finishing second in the SEC and 20^th nationally for student-athlete GPA in 2015.

Alden has served as an associate teaching professor at the University of Missouri, focusing on leadership, ethics, management and process design for higher education. Alden has also worked extensively with children and families in poverty in Vietnam; through this work, he has developed several projects and initiatives incorporating faculty and students in teaching, research and partnerships. He played college football at the University of Evansville and coached football at both Evansville and the University of Pennsylvania. Alden holds degrees from the University of Evansville (B.S. Business Administration; B.A. Business Education) and Arizona State University (MEd Educational Administration/Supervision).

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