Dr. Stefanie Whitby is the first to tell you she did not earn this designation alone.

Since she became Wilmington University’s athletics director in February 2018, the Wildcats have strengthened a program defined by hard work, shared standards, and people who care about students as much as scoreboards. WilmU teams have earned 23 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championships, and the program has received six men’s Restaino Cup honors.

That sustained progress is why the CACC has named Dr. Whitby its 2025-26 Athletics Director of the Year, an honor decided by a vote of the conference’s Directors Council.

Under Dr. Whitby’s leadership, the 2024-25 academic year was one of the strongest in program history. Wilmington University (WilmU) posted its best finish in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup standings (74th) and recorded a 3.23 grade-point average. The Wildcats won five CACC championships, added two regular-season titles, advanced eight teams and one individual to NCAA championship events, and produced eight All-Americans.

CACC Commissioner Dan Mara pointed to that combination of excellence and purpose in a press release announcing the Athletics Director of the Year title.

“Dr. Whitby is a talented leader and administrator,” Mara said. “Since assuming leadership of the WilmU athletics department, she has guided a strong era for the Wildcats, with a focus on student-athlete welfare and academic achievement while producing championship teams.”

Within the WilmU community, Dr. Whitby is known for keeping the focus where it belongs: on student-athletes and the people who support them. When she talks about any recognition, she shares the spotlight.

“This recognition reflects the work of our team,” Dr. Whitby says. “Our coaches are exceptional, and our staff brings the same level of care and professionalism every day. They make all of us better, and I’m grateful to represent them.”

That same care shows up in details that rarely make headlines. During Dr. Whitby’s tenure, Wildcat student-athletes have recorded a departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester. Dr. Whitby has overseen WilmU’s hosting of 10 NCAA regional or super-regional championships. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work that takes planning, patience, and steady follow-through.

Senior Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer Dr. Tina Barksdale says Dr. Whitby’s leadership shows up across the program, in the expectations she sets and the support and guidance student-athletes receive on and off the field.

“I’m incredibly proud to see Dr. Whitby recognized as the CACC Athletics Director of the Year,” says Dr. Barksdale. “This honor reflects her leadership, clear vision, and deep commitment to our student-athletes. She leads with passion and heart, and she keeps their support and well-being at the center of everything we do, on the field and beyond. Her impact is felt across our entire Athletics program, and this recognition is truly well deserved.”

Dr. Whitby also serves on the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Selection Committees and is the CACC supervisor for men’s and women’s track and field. In 2025, she was named one of Delaware’s Most Influential People in Sports by The News Journal and Delaware Online.

Dr. Whitby’s approach to athletics leadership is grounded in her own experience as a student-athlete. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Villanova University, where she was an All-Big East performer in indoor track and field. Dr. Whitby later earned an M.Ed. in Education Counseling from Temple University and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from WilmU.

This latest recognition comes from years of consistent work. It’s rooted in wins, academic success, and a student-centered culture. Dr. Whitby would be the first to point out that it takes a whole team to sustain that kind of standard.

And at WilmU, that’s the point. 

— Maria Hess