Philadelphia, Pa., (July 21, 2026) — Rose Kelly, the Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator/Compliance Officer for Thomas Jefferson University's athletics department, will transition from her role after a celebrated career of supporting the Rams programs. As her family grows, she has made the decision to focus on raising her young children during this season of life.
Kelly has been part of the Rams athletic office since her time as a student-athlete for the university, serving as a student worker while competing on the Rams field hockey team. She continued her work for the department as a graduate student, earning a promotion to Administrative Assistant in June 2011. Her upward trajectory continued with a promotion to Assistant AD/SWA in August 2013 and to her current role in July 2016. Kelly has been involved with multiple programs of the department and Division II. These include serving on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Committee, and the NCAA & DII Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Women & Minorities Mentor Program. She recently celebrated her 15-year anniversary as full-time University employee.
"Jefferson has been home to me for so much of my life. I'm incredibly grateful for the relationships I've built with our student-athletes, coaches, colleagues, and the broader campus community along the way," said Kelly. "One of the greatest privileges of my career has been having the opportunity to support our student-athletes' growth not only as competitors, but as people as they prepared for life beyond Jefferson. While it is bittersweet to leave a place that has meant so much to me, I'm excited to begin this next chapter and focus on my family."
Tom Shirley, the Rams head women's basketball coach who served as Assistant Vice President for Athletics from 1992 to 2024, shared his thoughts on his long-time coworker and friend.
"It is challenging to say goodbye to someone who I met when she was a freshman athlete and has remained at Jefferson for 20 years," said Shirley. "I have watched Rose Kelly blossom as a student, a colleague, a wife and a mother. It has been terrific watching her grow as a professional and seeing the happiness that her family provides."
From a professional standpoint, Shirley noted that Kelly was the thread who connected athletics with the wider campus community. "Each time a student or staff member posed the question 'Who should I ask about that?', the answer was Rose," he said. "As the saying goes, she left it better than she found it. Hundreds of student athletes benefited from her expertise, but more importantly, her kindness.
Echoing those sentiments was Pemi Areola, class of 2028.
"For the past two years, I have worked with Rose, and she has become a mentor for me," said Areola. "She is reliable and kind to everyone. Rose is the backbone of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the reason we have been able to accomplish so much! I will miss you Rose!"
Kelly primarily oversaw the NCAA Division II compliance office for Jefferson's 17 intercollegiate athletic programs, totaling more than 300 student-athletes, in accordance with the CACC. In addition, she also managed and organized special events within the athletic department such as senior days, Rammys, and Ram Madness. Additionally, she led the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the advisor and liaison to the CACC SAAC. Kelly is also a member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) and previously served a term on each the NCAA DII men's and women's soccer regional advisory committees (RAC).
Corey Goff, the Assistant Vice President for Athletics, noted that Kelly's impact extends far beyond her title.
"For more than two decades, she has been a trusted resource, mentor, and advocate for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff," said Goff. "Her dedication to compliance, student-athlete success, and the overall student experience has helped shape the culture of our department and strengthen our connection to the University community. Rose's professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to serving others have left a lasting mark on Jefferson Athletics, and we are incredibly grateful for all she has contributed. While we will miss her daily presence, we are excited for her and wish Rose and her family all the best in this next chapter."
