Donna DeMarco has been part of the conference staff since 1988 and was named to her current position of chief operating officer in 2017.
DeMarco had been senior associate commissioner for administration since 2009.
DeMarco oversees the organizational aspects of the conference, including management of the conference staff. As the conference’s primary administrator, she ensures that direct lines of communication exist between the conference office and the 12 member institutions.
Additionally, DeMarco assists with overall administration and management of conference matters pertaining to service, governance and facilitation.
DeMarco has further oversight of the fiscal, legal and business affairs of the American and is the conference’s liaison with institutional personnel in those areas. She supervises the approval of the conference’s annual operating budget, ensures appropriate legal contract review and manages the league’s human resource operation.
DeMarco had been associate commissioner for women’s basketball from 2006-09, during which time she was the primary administrator for one of the conference’s most successful and high-profile sports.
DeMarco was the associate commissioner for sport administration from 1996-2006, overseeing all operational and governance matters for 23 conference sports. She began her career as an administrative assistant for public relations & championships in 1988 before being promoted to director of championship operations and subsequently assistant commissioner for championships.
DeMarco completed a term on the NCAA Division I Administration Cabinet — which is responsible for addressing governance issues, the Division I membership process and all committee selections — in July of 2015. She was a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee from 1999-2003 and served as the committee chair from 2000-03.
DeMarco is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism.