Alverno College Names Katari Key Director of Athletics

Milwaukee, (Sept. 21, 2020) – After a nationwide search, Katari Key has been appointed Alverno College’s director of Athletics, Heidi Anderson-Isaacson, Ed.D., interim director of Student Development and Success, announced Monday.

Key, who comes to Alverno with 12 years of progressive collegiate athletics experience, begins her tenure on Oct. 1.

“It’s a true privilege to join the Alverno Athletics department,” Key said. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt the community spirit and spirit of sisterhood that can only be experienced at a women’s college. Let’s get to work.”

Key demonstrated substantial impact as an associate athletic director for compliance at Morehouse College, a Historically Black College (HBCU) in Atlanta. While at Morehouse, she navigated the college through a major infraction and enhanced its compliance program. She also played an integral role in having Morehouse host the 2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Prior to Morehouse, Key was the assistant athletic director for compliance and senior woman administrator at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa., where she oversaw compliance for 21 varsity sports and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“Katari has the depth and breadth of experience we were seeking, and her enthusiasm and passion are evident to all who have the opportunity to work with her,” Anderson-Isaacson said. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Alverno community and know our student-athletes will continue to thrive under her leadership.”

Key’s first stop in college athletics was at Clark Atlanta University, where she was the assistant cross country/track and field coach and compliance assistant. While Key was the assistant coach, Clark Atlanta University won two conference titles in cross country and had two third-place conference finishes in track and field. She was instrumental in turning around the compliance program and assisted with game-day operations for 12 sports, including serving as game-day manager for football and basketball. Key was most recently at Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C.

A native of St. Louis, Key received a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., and a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Georgia State University.

Key enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and traveling. She is a member of the NCAA Leadership Institute and Institute for Administrative Advancement-Women Leaders in College Sports. She also served on the 2018 organizing committee for the Women Leaders in College Sports national convention in Atlanta.