Dr. Stefanie Whitby:“It’s a team effort”
In typical fashion, Dr. Stefanie Whitby deflected personal recognition and credited her team after being named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2025–26 Athletics Director of the Year in February.
“This recognition reflects the work of our team,” she 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 humility is classic Dr. Whitby — and exactly what has come to define Wilmington University Athletics since she took the helm in 2018. In the years since, the Wildcats have earned 23 CACC championships, six men’s Restaino Cup honors, and a reputation for doing things the right way — focusing on people as much as performance.
Her selection by the conference’s Directors Council caps one of the most successful years in WilmU’s sports history. The University posted its best-ever finish in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, maintained a department-wide GPA of 3.23, captured five CACC championships, and sent eight teams and one individual to NCAA championship competition — producing eight All-Americans along the way.
In making the announcement, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara said, “Dr. Whitby is a talented leader and administrator. 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.”
Inside WilmU, that commitment is evident in hundreds of small decisions that add up over time. Dr. Whitby’s teams have achieved a departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher every semester during her tenure, while she has overseen 10 NCAA regional or super-regional championships hosted by the University — logistical undertakings that require months of planning.
Dr. Tina Barksdale, senior vice president and chief Student Affairs officer, says that level of consistency springs from Whitby’s values. “I’m incredibly proud to see Dr. Whitby recognized as the CACC Athletics Director of the Year,” Barksdale says. “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.”
Dr. Whitby serves on the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Selection Committees, oversees CACC men’s and women’s track and field, and was named one of Delaware’s Most Influential People in Sports by The News Journal and Delaware Online in 2025.
An All–Big East track and field athlete at Villanova University, Dr. Whitby understands firsthand what it means to balance academics and athletics. After earning her bachelor’s in Psychology, she completed an M.Ed. in Education Counseling from Temple University and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University — the institution she now helps lead to new heights.
For Dr. Whitby, success has always been collective. It’s not just about trophies or standings; it’s about the culture, and a program that cares deeply about people, progress, and purpose.
—Bob Yearick
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Dr. Stefanie Whitby:“It’s a team effort”
In typical fashion, Dr. Stefanie Whitby deflected personal recognition and credited her team after being named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2025–26 Athletics Director of the Year in February.
“This recognition reflects the work of our team,” she 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 humility is classic Dr. Whitby — and exactly what has come to define Wilmington University Athletics since she took the helm in 2018. In the years since, the Wildcats have earned 23 CACC championships, six men’s Restaino Cup honors, and a reputation for doing things the right way — focusing on people as much as performance.
Her selection by the conference’s Directors Council caps one of the most successful years in WilmU’s sports history. The University posted its best-ever finish in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, maintained a department-wide GPA of 3.23, captured five CACC championships, and sent eight teams and one individual to NCAA championship competition — producing eight All-Americans along the way.
In making the announcement, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara said, “Dr. Whitby is a talented leader and administrator. 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.”
Inside WilmU, that commitment is evident in hundreds of small decisions that add up over time. Dr. Whitby’s teams have achieved a departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher every semester during her tenure, while she has overseen 10 NCAA regional or super-regional championships hosted by the University — logistical undertakings that require months of planning.
Dr. Tina Barksdale, senior vice president and chief Student Affairs officer, says that level of consistency springs from Whitby’s values. “I’m incredibly proud to see Dr. Whitby recognized as the CACC Athletics Director of the Year,” Barksdale says. “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.”
Dr. Whitby serves on the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Selection Committees, oversees CACC men’s and women’s track and field, and was named one of Delaware’s Most Influential People in Sports by The News Journal and Delaware Online in 2025.
An All–Big East track and field athlete at Villanova University, Dr. Whitby understands firsthand what it means to balance academics and athletics. After earning her bachelor’s in Psychology, she completed an M.Ed. in Education Counseling from Temple University and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University — the institution she now helps lead to new heights.
For Dr. Whitby, success has always been collective. It’s not just about trophies or standings; it’s about the culture, and a program that cares deeply about people, progress, and purpose.
—Bob Yearick
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
