5 Questions for Rebecca Mullen ’13

Above: Rebecca Mullen ’13

Rebecca Mullen ’13, is commissioner of the NCAA’s Atlantic East Conference, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and taking its intercollegiate athletic programming to new heights. We caught up with Mullen to learn more about the role, and how her time as a Worcester State field hockey and lacrosse player informs her work.

Tell us about your professional journey.

My career in athletics started with the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, where I was assistant to the commissioner, a position funded by an NCAA grant. From there, I went on to work as the first full time assistant commissioner at the New England Collegiate Conference. My next stop, I was a swim coach and aquatics coordinator at Stevens Institute of Technology. I ultimately ended up with the AEC, as assistant commissioner and now commissioner.

What does the job entail?

Every day is different. I manage all aspects of conference operations, but all of the focus is to ensure a great student-athlete experience. For example, we launched women’s flag football as a varsity sport for the first time last year. To promote that, we held a media day at the Philadelphia Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Stadium.

What do you see as the future of women’s flag football?

Elevating it to a varsity sport was a response to the game’s growth at the high school level. We want to give students who love the game in high school the opportunity to play in college. No one knows what the future holds, but as it will be featured in the 2028 Olympics, we see potential for growth.

How did your education prepare you for your current work?

I was a criminal justice and urban studies major. This helped to transition to handling NCAA compliance. I was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. That experience was hugely valuable. I’ve definitely drawn on that when thinking about what’s most important to student-athletes.

Does your experience as a former lacrosse and field hockey player help?

College athletics is a huge part of my life, personally and professionally. I understand how much athletes juggle, between practice, travel and keeping up with classes. Having that understanding is huge. It helps me understand feedback I receive from athletes, coaches and administrators. I loved my time as a studentathlete. Ensuring others have a positive experience is really important to me.