SEATTLE — Jennifer Cohen, a University of Washington employee since 1998, will serve as the UW’s interim athletic director while the school conducts a national search for Scott Woodward’s permanent replacement.
Cohen, 46, currently serves as senior associate athletic director and oversees the department’s development efforts, according to her UW bio. She worked closely with Woodward, who is leaving UW at the end of the month to become the athletic director at Texas A&M, and was the only UW staff member who accompanied Woodward on a private flight to Boise, Idaho, to hire Huskies football coach Chris Petersen in December 2013.
A native of Tacoma and a 1991 graduate of San Diego State University, Cohen begins her duties as interim athletic director on Feb. 1.
“With her years of experience as a senior administrator in our athletic department, Jen will provide excellent leadership as we undertake a national search for a new athletic director,” UW president Ana Mari Cauce wrote in an official statement. “She understands the needs of the department very well and has a birds-eye view of the challenges it faces, particularly at this time of escalating costs and finite revenues. Her work in managing major fundraising projects will serve her very well in this regard. We’re fortunate to have her able to step right into this role.”
According to UW’s official news release, Cohen was in charge of the “Drive for Husky Stadium” campaign that raised more than $50 million in donations to help pay for the $261 renovation of Husky Stadium, and also led development efforts on several other capital projects.
Cauce announced earlier this month that she plans to form a committee to assist in the search for Woodward’s replacement.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
