DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca announced the appointment of Danielle Shank as Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). Shank, Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations and Chief Marketing Officer, assumes the role following an expansion of responsibilities for Dr. Heather Hunter, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Executive Director of the Letterwinners Club.
 
Hunter, who previously held the SWA designation, will now focus on her elevated role overseeing the Varsity Letterwinners Club, alumni engagement, corporate partnerships (Learfield), NIL programs, and external components of Aggie Leverage. She retains sport oversight for volleyball, equestrian, and men's basketball, as well as the department's broadcast unit. She also serves as a member of the NCAA Division I Softball Committee.
 
"I want to thank Heather for her continued partnership and the collegiality she has shown in her work with our Conference offices, peer institutions, and within our department," said DeLuca. "I'm grateful for her leadership and excited about the impact she'll make in this next chapter."
 
"I'm thrilled to appoint Danielle to this vital role," DeLuca added. "She brings tremendous vision, energy, and strategic thinking to our leadership team. Danielle has earned the respect of her peers and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our mission, student-athletes, and campus values."
 
The SWA role, established by the NCAA in 1981, ensures meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports. SWAs contribute to high-level decision-making, provide diverse perspectives, and serve as role models for student-athletes and staff.
 
"I am excited to add this important work to my portfolio and want to thank Rocko DeLuca for the opportunity," said Shank. "UC Davis has a strong foundation of equity and access, and I'm thrilled to help advance that work in support of our department and university."
 
As Senior Associate AD and Chief Marketing Officer, Shank oversees marketing, communications, digital media, and ticketing, while serving as sport administrator for field hockey and swim & dive.
 
Since joining UC Davis in 2019, Shank has led significant external growth, including a 150% increase in ticket sales revenue and a 130% rise in attendance, along with multiple UC Davis Health Stadium records. She also introduced a department-wide communications system and built strategic partnerships to elevate the fan and student-athlete experience.
 
Prior to UC Davis, she held fundraising and marketing roles at Boston College, Miami University (Ohio), Tennessee, and UNC-Chapel Hill. A former Division I field hockey captain, Shank holds two bachelor's degrees from Miami and a master's in sport administration from UNC.