Chelsea Blakely was named the Southland Conrference's Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator in September, 2026. Blakely brings more than 15 years of Division I athletics experience and a broad executive leadership background spanning external affairs, brand and communications strategy, revenue generation, student-athlete experience, sport administration and institutional engagement.
Blakely joins the Southland after most recently serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Annual Giving and Donor Experience at Arizona State University. Prior to ASU, she served as Deputy Director of Athletics for External Operations at Cleveland State University, where she was a member of the department's executive leadership team and was appointed Interim Director of Athletics in 2024.
In that capacity, Blakely provided leadership and continuity for a 19-sport Division I athletics department, represented athletics on the President's Cabinet and worked across the university to advance institutional priorities. Her responsibilities as deputy AD included strategic leadership across development, marketing, communications, corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, NIL, ticketing, fan engagement and sport administration.
Previously, Blakely served as Deputy Director of Athletics, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Woman Administrator at Robert Morris University and spent a decade at the University of Texas-Pan American and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, ultimately serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator. Across multiple institutions, her SWA responsibilities have included leadership related to gender equity, Title IX, student-athlete welfare and development, sport administration and departmental governance. Her career has also included leading major brand and revenue initiatives, navigating conference transitions, supporting NCAA championship events and building collaborative strategies across athletics, university and community partners.
Blakely has contributed to the broader college athletics industry through service on the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Rules Committee and participation in national professional and leadership development initiatives, including the TopConnect AD Symposium. She earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration in marketing from UTPA.
A Houston native, Blakely began her career in college athletics as a Division I volleyball student-athlete at UTPA. A four-year setter, she totaled 3,905 career assists and remains the program's all-time assists leader. Her experience as a student-athlete has remained foundational to a leadership philosophy centered on service, collaboration and creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes and member institutions.