Dedra Palmer Named Assistant Commissioner for Championships
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – Dedra Palmer has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner for Championships at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), announced today by MAAC Commissioner, Rich Ensor. Palmer previously served as a Director of Championships and served in that role since August of 2015.
“The promotion of Dedra reflects her excellent work in hosting MAAC and NCAA Championships since she joined the staff in 2015. Dedra brings a great attention to detail, works well with the leagues’ coaches and administrators to conduct MAAC Championships at a very high level,” notes Commissioner Ensor.
In her new role as the Assistant Commissioner for Championships, Palmer will be responsible for the supervision of in-season and postseason competition for all MAAC sports except men’s and women’s basketball. She will oversee conference officiating operations, the development of league schedules in conjunction with other championship administrators and conduct meetings for all assigned sports. Additionally, Palmer will supervise the championships staff and have oversight of all championship event staffing and operations.
Palmer said, “I truly appreciate the opportunity that Commissioner Ensor has provided to me in being named the Assistant Commissioner for Championships. In my time at the MAAC, I have developed a great network across membership administrators, coaches and staff members. I am eager to grow with my expanded role within the championships department, while also looking forward to the continued success of our conference.”
Prior to her arrival at the MAAC, Palmer served as the Athletic Facilities, Game Operations and Championships Assistant at Duke University from 2014-15. While at Duke, Palmer held the title of primary game day operations manager for women’s volleyball, swimming & diving, and both men’s and women’s tennis, while also serving as a secondary operations manager for football and both men’s and women’s basketball. In addition, Palmer served as the tournament director for the 2015 NCAA Men’s First and Second Regional Rounds hosted at Duke University, and assisted with the NCAA Fencing Regionals, and NCAA Women’s Basketball First and Second Rounds
Palmer has also gained valuable experience while working at The College at Brockport in the capacity of Event Management and Facility Operations Assistant in 2014 while completing her Master of Sport Administration degree at Canisius College. During this time, she also volunteered for the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Second and Third Rounds which was hosted by the MAAC in Buffalo, New York.
A native of Whitesboro, New York, Palmer graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 2012 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology. A former women’s soccer and softball student-athlete, Palmer began her post-graduate career by serving as an Assistant Coach for women’s soccer at her alma mater and Herkimer County Community College.