Grinnell, Iowa – Nnenna Akotaobi has joined Grinnell College as Coordinator for Diversity and Achievement in Athletics/Assistant Coordinator for Athletic Facilities and Event Management.
Prior to coming to Grinnell, Akotaobi served as the Midwest Conference Director of Championships and Assistant to the Commissioner.
At the MWC, she was an NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority & Women’s Internship Grant recipient. Akotaobi organized the first-ever MWC Diversity Summit, a professional development opportunity for representatives from intuitions in the MWC to come together to discuss issues of diversity. She also compiled data and created conference and institution-specific diversity reports.
She was a 2010 West graduate of the NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement, served as a meet management volunteer at the D-III National Swimming and Diving Championships and was freshman girls basketball coach and a summer camp coordinator at Ripon High School.
Her duties at the MWC included supporting and managing the execution of all conference championship and tournament events, administering the NCAA Strategic Initiative Conference Grant program, grant writing, assisting the MWC commissioner with eligibility and compliance, and assisting with sports information work on an interim basis.
“Nnenna made significant contributions during her time with the MWC Office including championship enhancement and formation of administrative policy, along with our important efforts regarding all forms of diversity within the conference,” said MWC Commissioner Chris Graham. "We are pleased she will remain with us in the conference at Grinnell and we wish her well."
She grew up in Thornton, Colo., where she graduated from Thornton High School. She continued her education at the University of Denver, graduating with a double major in marketing and management.
A 2008-09 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award nominee and former Division I scholar-athlete, Akotaobi was a four-year member of the University of Denver basketball team. She holds the school record for games played in a career, ranks in the top 10 in numerous other categories and three times was named Academic All-Conference.
Akotaobi continued to play basketball after college with the Rock County Robins of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League. The team won the national championship in August 2010.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Grinnell College community,” she said. “Grinnell has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, and I’m excited as we continue the journey of strengthening that commitment.”
“We are extremely pleased to have Nnenna Akotaobi as our new Coordinator of Diversity and Achievement in Athletics,” said Grinnell Director of Athletics and Recreation Greg Wallace. “Her background as a student-athlete, and her work on diversity in the Midwest Conference make her an excellent choice to lead our program.”