ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir has announced the hiring of Jessie Gardner as the new Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator for Student-Athlete Development and Leadership, adding a nationally respected leader in student-athlete development to UCF Athletics’ executive team.
Gardner will oversee UCF’s comprehensive student-athlete development and wellness efforts while serving on the athletics executive leadership team. In her role, she will help shape strategic direction, manage departmental operations, and represent UCF Athletics at the NCAA and Big 12 Conference levels. Her oversight includes leadership development, academics, health, mental performance, nutrition, and gender equity, along with serving as sport administrator for assigned programs and contributing to budgeting, policy development, and fundraising initiatives. In addition, her area will oversee one of the main priorities of our strategic plan.
“We’re excited to welcome back former student-athlete and alum Jessie Gardner, who is an exceptional leader and brings a student-athlete services centered approach to everything she does,” Mohajir said. “After conducting a national search and conversations with administrators and coaches around the country, she stood out among the many qualified candidates. Her experience at championship-caliber programs, combined with her passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field, makes her a tremendous addition to our executive leadership team.”
Gardner returns to her alma mater after serving as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Leadership and Culture Development and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of North Texas since October 2021. At UNT, she led the holistic development of student-athletes, supported leadership and culture initiatives for staff and coaches, represented the department within the American Athletic Conference, oversaw Academic Student Services and Compliance, and served as sport administrator for volleyball and softball.
“UCF holds a special place in my heart, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to my alma mater,” Gardner said. “This university played such a pivotal role in my growth as a student-athlete and professional, and I am excited to serve our student-athletes while continuing to advance a culture of excellence, development, and success.”
Prior to North Texas, Gardner spent more than seven years at the University of Alabama as Assistant A.D. for Student-Athlete Enhancement. There, she founded the D.R.I.V.E. for Success Career and Leadership Development Program, a comprehensive initiative focused on Dedication, Responsibility, Influence, Vision, and Excellence, and later added oversight of Life Skills and Community Outreach.
During her time at Alabama, Gardner also launched the Emerging Tide Leaders Academy, served as the primary advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and helped organize the annual Alabama Athletics Achievement Show. Her service included roles on several departmental and university committees, including the Administrative Staff, Letterwinner Association Executive Board, and Ideation and Innovation Committee.
Gardner began her career in collegiate athletics at the University of Nebraska as a Life Skills Coordinator, focusing on leadership training, community service, and personal and professional development.
A former soccer student-athlete and three-time UCF graduate, Gardner earned her undergraduate degree in Orlando and completed two master’s degrees through UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program. She is an active member of Women Leaders in Sports and the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), a trained facilitator in gender violence prevention and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through the Institute of Sport and Social Justice, and a certified NCAA DiSC Facilitator.