Julia Martin ’09 joined the William & Mary Athletics Department as the Coordinator of Athletics Strategies and Engagement/Chief of Staff in January, 2018.
Martin, a former Tribe Lacrosse team captain, works directly with W&M Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge as a member of the department’s senior leadership, assuming a broad range of duties in support of the department’s strategic and operational planning.
“Julia brings a diverse set of skills to our leadership team,” Huge said at the time of Martin’s appointment. “Her experience as a student-athlete, coach and administrator will provide a unique and informed perspective. As an alumna, she is passionate about W&M and our mission of building championship programs while embracing high academic and ethical standards. I am thrilled to welcome Julia home.”
Martin returned to W&M after most recently serving as the Assistant Director of Leadership and Community Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, where she assisted with the implementation of the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy and organized various athletics department events and initiatives. Additionally, she served as the director of women’s lacrosse operations and supported the program’s day-to-day management, logistics and travel.
Prior to her promotion into the leadership role at Penn in 2017, Martin held the position of Athletics Coordinator for three years, in which she supported the department’s senior-level administrators in planning, organizing and leading special projects.
“I am excited and energized to be coming back to Williamsburg,” Martin said. “My experience as a student-athlete provided the foundation for my career and for my love of college athletics. I want to help provide the same experience for the next generation of Tribe student-athletes. I look forward to working with Samantha and her team.”
Recognized nationally as one of collegiate athletics top emerging administrators, Martin is a former Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Award Winner and a Women’s Leaders in College Sport “Administrator of Tomorrow” Award Recipient.
Her extensive work at the national level includes participation in numerous conferences, including: NCAA Inclusion Forum, NCAA Athlete Development Professional Program, Women Leaders in College Sport Institute for Administrative Advancement West, Alliance of Women Coaches Coaching Academy, Nike LGBT Sports Summit, Women Leaders in College Sport Convention and NCAA Women’s Leadership Symposium.
Martin participated in an educational fellowship with the Ivy League where she worked directly with the commissioner and leadership team in various capacities.
In addition to her administrative experience at Penn, Martin served as an assistant coach with the Penn women’s lacrosse team from 2012-14 and helped the program earn back-to-back Ivy League Championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths.
Martin’s wide-ranging experience in collegiate athletics also includes working as the Assistant Director of Media Relations at W&M. In that role, she was responsible for implementing the department’s visual impact and developed annual multi-media schedules for all 23 varsity teams, staff members, alumni and events.
Martin earned a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in art at W&M, while she holds a Master’s degree in organizational dynamics from Penn.
