TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Florida A&M University's new VP/Director of Athletics, Kortne Gosha, announced on Friday the appointment of Southeastern Louisiana University's Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support Services/Senior Woman Administrator, Michelle Harper, as the next Associate AD for Student Athlete Welfare and Competitive Excellence for FAMU Athletics.
 
"We are excited to welcome Michelle to the highest of seven hills," Gosha said. "It was clear in the vetting process that Michelle is a dynamic leader with a transformational skillset.  Our top priority is student success and identifying a key role within the department to focus on the academic track, NCAA compliance, and the holistic student-athlete experience. Michelle will be the front-line of administration as we realign our focus on our student-athletes success. She will have oversight of areas that directly touch our student-athletes daily. I have no doubt that Michelle is an excellent fit. Michelle will oversee academics, compliance, student- athlete development, athletic training, strength and conditioning."
 
"I am thrilled to be joining the Rattler family, and I want to thank Kortne for this opportunity," Harper said. "I am looking forward to working with such a talented group of student-athletes, coaches, and staff as we continue to strive towards academic excellence in the classroom and community. I am eager to help support our student-athletes to become the absolute best versions of themselves and take the department to the next level."
 
A native of Gulfport, Miss., Harper comes to Florida A&M after serving two years with Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) as the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support Services/SWA.
 
During her time at SLU, Harper oversaw academic progress, student-athlete development, and monitored the academic progress rate (APR) for the Lions' 16 NCAA Division I sponsored sport programs. As a member of the athletic certification and APR team, she was instrumental in increasing the Lion's APR score to a 980; while increasing the sport of football single year score to over 970, the highest score in the sport's program history.
 
Also, for the first time in departmental history, Harper increased the Lion's cumulative GPA to a 3.0 four consecutive semesters with the recent cumulative GPA of a 3.14. Under her leadership, the Lions combined for nearly 7,500 community service hours for the 2018-2019 academic year. Harper also implemented the Lion's Summer Bridge program and Leadership Institute.
 
Prior to arriving to SLU, Harper served as Alcorn State University's Assistant Athletic Director for Academics & Student-Athlete Development.  During her time at Alcorn, Harper successfully utilized the NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) Grant funding to provide resources and programming opportunities to student-athletes.  Under her leadership, the Braves increased the number of student-athletes with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, and the departmental GPA reached an all-time high of 3.20.
 
Prior to her time at Alcorn, Harper worked on the NFL Player Engagement grant funded project through the Family League of Baltimore as an Academic Coach.  She also served as an Athletic Academic Counselor at the University of Southern Mississippi.
 
Harper is an active member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and Women Leaders in College Sports (formally NACWAA).  She is a graduate of NCAA/NACWAA-Institute for Administrative Advancement (2012).  Harper was selected to participate in the NCAA Leadership Academy Workshop, and she presented at the NCAA AASP, Big Ideas Short Time…First Year Course in New Orleans, Louisiana (2017). She was also selected as a participant for the 2019 Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute.
 
Harper is a two-time alum of the University of Southern Mississippi.  She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing in 2003 and master's degree in Sport Management in 2008.
 
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