Ursula Gurney - Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Ursula Gurney

Title:
Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA
Email:
Phone:
816-235-5093
Alma Mater:
Simon Fraser
Hometown:
Vancouver

Ursula Gurney was named the Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in May 2017.

In her current role, Gurney oversees the areas of academics, compliance, sports medicine, sports performance. In addition, she serves as a Deputy Title IX officer for the institution. She has oversight of 12 of Kansas City's sports, serving as the sport administrator for men’s basketball, women's basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men's golf, women's volleyball, and men's and women's cross country and track and field. She represents the Athletics Department as a member of the Summit League’s Joint Council and serves as a member of the Director of Athletics Senior Staff.

As Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), Gurney provides administrative leadership in the management and governance of the Intercollegiate Athletics program and is heavily involved in key decision-making at the institutional, conference, and national levels. She collaborates to address strategic initiatives and departmental goals, serve as a resource to all student-athletes and coaches, supports gender equity and title IX issues, and evaluates performance of departmental employees. Gurney is charged to help foster a culture that embraces diversity and advocates for student-athlete welfare.

Under Gurney and the academic staff, Kansas City Athletics has built a tradition of academic success. The current cumulative department GPA after the 2021-22 academic year is 3.41. All 14 teams had a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better. The Graduation Success Rate (GSR) remains steady at 95%, while the current cumulative Academic Progress Rate (APR) is 989.

Gurney served on the NCAA Division I Committee of Academics (COA) from 2017-2021 and was appointed the Chair of the COA’s Subcommittee on Student-Athlete Academics from 2019-2021. Between 2011 and 2013 she was also a member of the NCAA Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet

In 2020 Ursula Gurney was presented the Women Leaders in College Sports Division I Nike Administrator of the Year award. She is an active member of Women Leaders, and a graduate of Women Leaders 2012 Leadership Enhancement Institute (LEI), and the 2010 West Institute for Administrative Advancement (IAA).

Gurney is also an active member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). She has served since 2012 on N4A's Board of Directors, most recently serving as the President of N4A in 2020-2021. She is currently a member of N4A’s Executive Team as the Immediate Past President. The N4A is the largest association under the NACDA umbrella with over 2000 members, representing all three Divisions. Gurney is individually certified by the N4A and has presented multiple times at N4A's national and regional conventions. She is also faculty member for the N4A's Professional Development Institute (PDI) Leader/Manager Track. In 2018 she was awarded the N4A's Distinguished Service Award, and in 2015 she was awarded N4A's Lan Hewlett Award, an honor presented to those who demonstrate an unyielding commitment to the profession.
Gurney is currently engaged in the NCAA Pathway Program for 2022-2023. The Pathway Program is a yearlong intensive program led by the NCAA, and an experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in any division.

Prior to her work in Kansas City, Gurney spent seven years at The Ohio State University.

Athletically, Gurney swam competitively at the national level in Canada participating in several National Championships, Olympic and Commonwealth Games Trials.

Gurney earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with First Class Honors in History from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2000. She then went on to earn her master's degree in history from SFU in 2002 and spent time studying history at The Ohio State University.

Gurney earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2000. She then went on to earn her master's degree in history from SFU in 2002.