Jean Lenti Ponsetto Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Depaul University

One of the nation's most respected leaders in intercollegiate athletics and a driving force behind the continuing expansion and development of DePaul's athletics program, Jean Lenti Ponsetto is now in her sixth year as DePaul's director of athletics and her 33rd as a member of the Blue Demon athletic family.

The Blue Demons have experienced tremendous success both on and off the playing field since Jeanne was named to her current position on July 1, 2002. During her six years at the helm of the department, 13 of the 15 Blue Demon athletic programs have represented the school in NCAA championships. Success has also come in the classroom during Ponsetto's tenure as the Athletic Director as over 450 Blue Demon student-athletes have been named conference Academic Honor Rolls.

Since moving into an administrative position over 20 years ago at DePaul, Ponsetto has had a significant impact on the status of the DePaul intercollegiate sports scene. She introduced four women's sports - indoor and outdoor track, cross country and women's soccer - to varsity status at DePaul. Under her direction DePaul has built several athletic facilities including the Sullivan Athletic Center that opened in 2000, the Ray Meyer Fitness Recreation Center that opened in 1999, and the recently completed projects in Cacciatore Stadium, Wish Field, and the Cherry Family Indoor Track.

Ponsetto's efforts have not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. For the second time in her career; Ponsetto was presented NACWAA's Administrator of the Year Award in 2003, served as the association's president in 2005-06, and is currently serving as it's past president.

Ponsetto has received several awards for her outstanding work at DePaul and for her leadership serving the NCAA members and student-athletes. At the 1998 Final Four the Women's Basketball Coaches Association named her Administrator of the Year. In addition, that year the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) named her Administrator of the Year. In September of 1999 Jeanne was honored by DePaul with a Spirit of DePaul Award given to five members of the DePaul community for their university leadership and service in the spirit of St. Vincent dePaul.

Aside from her duties at DePaul, Ponsetto currently serves the NCAA as a member of the Division I Women's Basketball Task Force and is an NCAA Champion, a program highlighting key NCAA Administrators to act as spokesperson from the membership on NCAA issues. Ponsetto also chairs the Honda Awards Board of Directors and the Wade Trophy Selection Committee.

A former four-sport standout for DePaul, Ponsetto boasts a wealth of experience in three areas of DePaul athletics: as a student-athlete, a coach, and an administrator. She had spent seven years as the senior associate director of athletics after serving 12 years as the associate director and two as an assistant director before assuming her current job in 2002.

Ponsetto began her association with Blue Demon athletics as a member of the tennis, volleyball, and women's basketball teams in 1974-75. She participated in softball when it was added as a varsity sport two years later.

Married to former Blue Demon basketball star Joe Ponsetto, who is now Chief of Special Prosecution's Bureau in the Illinois Attorney General's office.