ST. LOUIS, Mo. – William Woods' Venita Mitchell was announced on Thursday as the American Midwest Conference nominee for the 2021 Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award.
 
The Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award is an annual award named in honor of former Associate Executive Director Charles Morris. It is given to administrators who best exemplify the loyalty and enthusiasm Morris had for the NAIA. Nominees must be active as an administrator at a member institution or in conference/A.I.I. committee organizations.
 
Mitchell is the Vice President and Dean of Student Life at William Woods and has worked at the university since 1998. This year, she took charge of the school's Emergency Operations Center set up after the first case of COVID-19 was discovered on campus.
 
Her leadership was instrumental in guiding William Woods through the pandemic, assisting in all return-to-play protocols for the athletics department to aid the Owls in completing all 18 sports in the spring semester.
 
"Her leadership during this process was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal period in our campus' history," said William Woods Athletic Director Jason Vittone. "She coordinated everything from closing down our campus, moving our students off campus, caring for the students who could not leave, and so much more."
 
Another issue she focused on through the chaos of the pandemic was mental health. Mitchell was put in charge of the RESPOND Mental Health training program for the staff, helped build empathy and activism for mental health, and added a mental health screening to student-athlete physicals at the beginning of the school year.
 
Additionally, she set her sights on increased inclusivity on campus by putting together a training program for the staff.
 
"I can think of no other person worthier of this award," said Head Athletic Trainer Mike McElhinney. "William Woods University is lucky to have the caliber of a person Dr. Mitchell is. I shudder to think of what might have occurred at William Woods without her this year."
 
The winner of the Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award will be announced during the NAIA Awards Day presentation in September.

Release from AMC Sports Information