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AMHERST, N.Y. - Brandi Guerinot, senior associate athletics director for internal operations, will serve as interim athletics director at ˿����Ƶ College while a national search is conducted to find a permanent successor for Bridget Niland, who announced her intention to pursue new opportunities beginning in early January.

The appointment was announced today by ˿����Ƶ President Gary Olson who expressed confidence in Guerinot's ability to guide ˿����Ƶ's NCAA Division II athletics program for the foreseeable future.

“We are delighted to have someone of Brandi's character and experience to fill the position of interim athletics director while we conduct a national search for a permanent director," said Olson. “She brings a great deal of hands-on experience from her work with the NCAA and other institutions.”

While Olson has not established a definitive timetable for the search, he hopes to have the position filled prior to the start of the 2018-19 academic year.

Guerinot has been a lead administrator for ˿����Ƶ Athletics since her arrival on campus in March 2016. She has overseen ˿����Ƶ’s adherence to NCAA and East Coast Conference rules and regulations, as well as the department's academic and life skills programming for student-athletes. Following her recent promotion to senior associate athletics director, Guerinot assumed more oversight of the department's operating budget. She has also served as the department’s direct liaison with the offices of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Business Affairs, and Human Resources.

A well-respected member of the NCAA compliance community, Guerinot was recently appointed to the Compliance Think Tank, a panel that is working to address several challenges that are presently facing Division II compliance offices. She’s also worked on a separate national committee that has been tasked with the development and launch of the Division II Online Coaches Education Program, which will deliver legislative and health and safety content to Division II coaches beginning this spring.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to step into the interim athletics director role," said Guerinot. "I want to first thank Dr. Olson for the confidence he's shown in me, as well as Bridget for the incredible work she has done for ˿����Ƶ Athletics. I am excited to continue the good work of ˿����Ƶ Athletics and plan to lean on the fantastic staff we already have in place to help as we move through this leadership transition.”

Before coming to ˿����Ƶ, Guerinot served as assistant athletic director for compliance at the University at Buffalo, working there for nearly three years. Her stint at UB followed a three-year run at Boston College, where she held the title of associate director for compliance and recruiting.

Guerinot’s professional pursuits followed a one-year internship at NCAA headquarters, where she primarily worked with the National Letter of Intent program.

A former member of the George Washington University women’s rowing team, Guerinot holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She went on to complete a master’s degree in sport management from The Ohio State University. While there, she completed a graduate assistantship in OSU’s Athletics Compliance Office.