Bio

Lily Otu enters her second year as the Assistant Athletic Director for Inclusive Excellence in 2020-21.

The newly created position is the result of a university-wide initiative on Inclusive Excellence begun by President Machtley in 2019. Otu's mission is to strengthen and build upon the University's efforts to cultivate policies, practices and structures that ensure an inclusive, equitable and hospitable environment for student-athletes, staff, trainers and coaches. To ensure that there is a coordinated effort in this regard, she will report directly to the Athletic Director, Bill Smith, while working closely with Dr. Kevin Martins, Special Assistant to the President for Inclusive Excellence. Reviewing best-in-class practices in higher education, corporate, and athletic environments, Otu will oversee ongoing training and special workshops that enhance the preparation of all members of the Athletic Department to support Inclusive Excellence.

Otu comes to Bryant after spending the last two and a half years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Muhlenberg College. Her duties included student-athlete development, serving as the liaison between athletics and student affairs and providing professional development for staff. Otu also oversaw SAAC and worked closely with the multicultural office and the office of admissions.

Prior to her time at Muhlenberg, Otu spent five years as an administrator at her alma mater, Mount St. Mary's. In her role as director of compliance and student-athlete development at the Mount, Otu organized all student-athlete leadership programming, community service activities, career workshops and career advising, collaborating with other offices on campus to ensure that the student-athletes were receiving a holistic educational experience. She also served as liaison to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as senior woman administrator.

Otu was a member of the Mount Inclusion and Excellence Committee, facilitating campus-wide initiatives that included cultural workshops and programs to enhance the understanding of the diversity of the campus, societal and global community. She also was one of the University's Title IX coordinators.

A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Otu was a standout track performer at Mount St. Mary's, earning All-Northeast Conference honors as a sprinter five times in her career. She served as the SAAC president, was the vice chair for the NEC Student-Advisory Committee and was selected to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference as a student-athlete in 2008.

Otu is a 2011 graduate of Mount St. Mary's with a bachelor's degree in sport management. She served as a graduate assistant track and field coach at Wagner University for the 2011-12 season and went on to earn her MBA from Mount St. Mary's in 2013.