ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University Athletics Department welcomes Shamika Kentish as the new Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk announced today.
 
Kentish joins Gannon Athletics after spending more than a decade working in compliance for universities at a variety of collegiate levels.
 
She most recently served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at Division I Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. At Norfolk State, she was responsible for providing NCAA and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rules interpretations for staff, coaches, and student-athletes. She also was the point of contact for student-athletes for the university's Name, Image, and Likeness initiatives.
 
"We are excited to welcome Shamika Kentish as our next Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance. Her depth of experience as an administrator at both the NCAA Division I and II levels, combined with her extensive NCAA compliance knowledge was impressive," Goddard McGuirk said. "She has a strong commitment to excellence and to providing a positive student-athlete experience. Shamika will assist our department in continuing its positive forward momentum."
 
"As the new Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, I am excited to collaborate with Gannon coaches, staff, and student-athletes to achieve excellence both on and off the field," Kentish said.
 
Kentish attended Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sports Management in 2010. She received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Ariz, in 2012.
 
Kentish started her career as the Director of Compliance at Division II Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C., from August 2013 to July 2015. She monitored eligibility and recruiting practices for 16 athletic teams.
 
She then joined Division I Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., where she served as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance from August 2015 to November 2018. She then accepted a similar position for Division I George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., where she worked from November 2018 to June 2021. She also served as George Mason's Interim Director of Compliance during a transition period.
 
Before going to Norfolk State, Kentish served as the Director of Compliance and Championships at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference from July 2021 to June 2022. In addition to providing NCAA and MEAC rules interpretations to office staff and to the MEAC membership, she also provided oversight of the conference's cross country and volleyball championships.
 
Throughout her career, Kentish has been active with a variety of organizations, including the Women Leaders in College Sports, the National Association for Athletics Compliance, and the Minority Opportunity Athletic Association. She also has served on a several committees with those organizations and others. In addition, Kentish has overseen numerous athletics teams throughout her career.