Educator and collegiate athletics professional Patty Raube Keller will join the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College as program director of its Master of Sports Administration degree program, assuming the position in May.
Keller brings to the role extensive experience in both college and high school athletics, having worked at every level of the NCAA in compliance and internal operations. She comes to Boston College following five years as a faculty member in the sports administration program at the University of Cincinnati, where she was responsible for teaching key undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of sports management, NCAA compliance, and athletic and physical education administration, among others. During her UC tenure, she created more than a dozen new bachelor's- and master's-level courses, as well as established a minor in coaching.
At Boston College, she will oversee a graduate program in sports administration that addresses the challenges and opportunities of an industry in rapid growth. Designed to propose new thinking and broaden leadership competencies for those in sports management as well as administrators and coaches, the master's degree program focuses on balancing the needs of the many stakeholders within the world of sports.
Patty Raube Keller
“Patty has expertise in sports administration, experience in building programs, and a diverse network," said Woods College Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Tristan Johnson. "We were looking for an innovative and networked leader who could build on the growth we were seeing in the MSSA program; Patty stood out among numerous applicants due to her skill in taking on growth initiatives, as well as her level of critical thought. We're very pleased to have her join us."
"I am excited to lead the BC MSSA program into its next phase of development," said Keller. "The program will seek to be a national leader by equipping students to seek solutions—as analysts, educators, and leaders—that ethically address the sports industry's most pressing issues and prepare for the challenges of the future."
In addition, she said, the program will emphasize professional development and networking to assist students in career development. "I want our students to be able to hit the ground running when they graduate with their master's in sports administration. We want our graduates to be sought after for positions in the industry, thanks to their real-world, ethics-based education."
A four-time winner of the University of Cincinnati Golden Apple Award, presented annually by students to faculty members demonstrating excellence in teaching and student-faculty relations, Keller developed strong relationships with many industry partners during her UC tenure, including the NCAA, the National Junior College Athletic Association, SAY Soccer, the Western & Southern Tennis Tournament, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Greater Cincinnati YMCA. She also maintained a broad partnership with UC Athletics, as a member of its faculty committee, a co-chair of its annual observance of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, and a collaborator on several other projects.
Prior to UC, Keller was assistant athletic director for compliance and student services at the University of Mary in North Dakota, where she also served as program director for the school's physical education and health academic program and created their online master’s program in athletic administration and coaching. In addition to her time there she worked at Rowan University, Rutgers University, and Campbell University.
Keller holds a bachelor's degree in physical education and sports medicine from Greensboro College, a master's degree in education with a concentration in counseling and administration from Campbell University, and a doctorate in education leadership from Rowan University. A former college student-athlete in soccer and lacrosse, Keller began her career as a physical education teacher, athletic trainer, and soccer coach at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Patricia Delaney | University Communications | April 2021