Dear Campus Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Almazan as interim director of intercollegiate athletics at UC Riverside, effective August 22, 2025. 

Michelle currently serves as senior associate athletics director for student-athlete affairs and academic services, as well as the department’s senior woman administrator. Since joining UC Riverside in 2015 as director of student-athlete academic services, she has held progressively responsible roles, having served as assistant athletics director since 2018 before also stepping into her current role.

Under Michelle’s leadership, UCR Athletics has achieved record levels of academic performance, with all 17 teams maintaining cumulative GPAs around 3.20. She has overseen efforts to enhance student-athlete development, expand life skills programming, and implement cost-containment strategies in response to fiscal challenges. Her role has also extended beyond campus, representing UCR before the UC Regents and engaging in national conversations about the evolving Division I landscape.

Michelle has helped lead efforts related to the NCAA Transformation Committee, conference engagement, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships. Her contributions have helped ensure that intercollegiate athletics at UCR remains mission-aligned, student-focused, and integrated with the university’s broader academic goals. 

Prior to UCR, Michelle spent nearly a decade at California State University, Northridge, where she served as an academic advisor for multiple sports. A former Division I track and field and cross-country student-athlete, she earned her B.A. in sport psychology and M.S. in marriage and family therapy from CSUN.

As previously announced, Wes Mallette is leaving his position as athletics director at UC Riverside to join the University of South Carolina. I want to thank Wes for his service and leadership.

Please join me in congratulating Michelle Almazan on her interim appointment and in offering your full support during this transition.