Jessica Vormelker ’19 was named the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Thiel College on July 1, 2024.
As SWA Vormelker will serve as a member of the Department of Athletics Leadership Team and as Thiel College’s NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Designee. She will take part in Thiel College, Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) and NCAA committees as well as support and manage diversity, equity and inclusion and Title IX planning and education.
The SWA is the highest-ranking female involved in the management of an institution’s intercollegiate athletics program. NCAA membership voted to create the SWA designation in 1981.
The head coach of Thiel College’s women’s basketball team, Vormelker attended a WeCoach workshop in April. She was selected to participate in the NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy in May of 2023.
A Thiel alumna, Vormelker was the assistant women’s basketball coach at Allegheny for two seasons. Prior to her time at Allegheny, she served as the graduate assistant coach at Waynesburg University for two seasons.
Vormelker was one of the most decorated players in Thiel women’s basketball history. She was a member of the D3hoops.com 2019 All-America Team. An honorable mention selection, she was the first player in Thiel history to be named to a D3hoops.com All-America Team. She was a two-time D3hoops.com Great Lakes All-Region Team honoree, including Second Team accolades in 2019.
A two-time finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy (2019, 2018), Vormelker was the first women’s basketball player in Thiel history to be named the PAC Player of the Year (2019). Vormelker earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education from Thiel in 2019. She received a master’s degree in special education from Waynesburg in 2021.
