Shanda Hayden is in her first year as the senior associate athletics director for academic services at UTSA.
A native of Shawnee, Kan., Hayden came to the Roadrunners after spending over 20 years at The University of Kansas, including functioning as the assistant athletics director for academic and career counseling from 2007-2021.
She moved into her role in the KU athletics program after serving as the director of student recruitment and academic advisor for the KU School of Business.
Hayden is charged with directing UTSA’s academic services department, which supports the academic progress of each UTSA student-athlete. In addition, she serves as the primary administrator for UTSA’s men’s and women’s tennis programs.
Hayden spent 22 years in Lawrence, Kan., as a member of the Kansas staff, including the last eight years as the assistant athletics director for academic and career counseling. She began her athletics career at KU as the associate director in student-athlete support services, working with women’s basketball, track & field and cross country from 2007-08, before earning a promotion to senior associate director, charged with football. She worked with football from 2008-18 and was promoted to assistant athletics director in 2014. Hayden worked with KU’s track & field, cross country, and men’s and women’s golf programs as assistant athletics director from 2018-21.
She was responsible for all aspects of KU’s academic structure, including recruiting and initial visits with prospective student-athletes, academic progress monitoring, advising of degree and course options, individual counseling and assisting with Big 12 Conference and NCAAA certifications.
Hayden also served as the coordinator of KU’s Student-Athlete Support Services Staff Education and Development and the Student-Athlete Support Services Wellness Committee. She also served on the KU Athletics Wellness Committee, was a member of the KU Athletics Women’s Mentorship Program, while also partnering with the creation and coordination of various committees in Kansas Athletics and the KU campus community.
Prior to her start in collegiate athletics, Hayden served as the Director of Student Recruitment & Academic Advisor for the KU School of Business from 1999-2007.
Hayden graduated from Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. She is in the process of earning an intercollegiate athletics administration graduate certificate from Ole Miss.
She is an active supporter of the fight against childhood cancer after losing her seven-year old son, Cole, to the disease in 2016.
A native of Shawnee, Kan., Hayden came to the Roadrunners after spending over 20 years at The University of Kansas, including functioning as the assistant athletics director for academic and career counseling from 2007-2021.
She moved into her role in the KU athletics program after serving as the director of student recruitment and academic advisor for the KU School of Business.
Hayden is charged with directing UTSA’s academic services department, which supports the academic progress of each UTSA student-athlete. In addition, she serves as the primary administrator for UTSA’s men’s and women’s tennis programs.
Hayden spent 22 years in Lawrence, Kan., as a member of the Kansas staff, including the last eight years as the assistant athletics director for academic and career counseling. She began her athletics career at KU as the associate director in student-athlete support services, working with women’s basketball, track & field and cross country from 2007-08, before earning a promotion to senior associate director, charged with football. She worked with football from 2008-18 and was promoted to assistant athletics director in 2014. Hayden worked with KU’s track & field, cross country, and men’s and women’s golf programs as assistant athletics director from 2018-21.
She was responsible for all aspects of KU’s academic structure, including recruiting and initial visits with prospective student-athletes, academic progress monitoring, advising of degree and course options, individual counseling and assisting with Big 12 Conference and NCAAA certifications.
Hayden also served as the coordinator of KU’s Student-Athlete Support Services Staff Education and Development and the Student-Athlete Support Services Wellness Committee. She also served on the KU Athletics Wellness Committee, was a member of the KU Athletics Women’s Mentorship Program, while also partnering with the creation and coordination of various committees in Kansas Athletics and the KU campus community.
Prior to her start in collegiate athletics, Hayden served as the Director of Student Recruitment & Academic Advisor for the KU School of Business from 1999-2007.
Hayden graduated from Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. She is in the process of earning an intercollegiate athletics administration graduate certificate from Ole Miss.
She is an active supporter of the fight against childhood cancer after losing her seven-year old son, Cole, to the disease in 2016.