DePauw University

Stefanie 'Stevie' Baker-Watson was named DePauw's Theodore Katula Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports in January 2012, replacing Page Cotton who served in that capacity since 1996.  

She oversees 23 varsity sports which compete at the NCAA Division III level in addition to the intramural and club sports programs and is just the ninth DePauw director of athletics in the last 88 years.

"The opportunity to join DePauw University as director of athletics and recreational sports is tremendously exciting and humbling," Baker-Watson said at the time of the announcement.

"DePauw has a clear commitment to the personal success of its students - both in the classroom and on the playing field - and I look forward to working with a staff that strives for excellence in every endeavor. The success DePauw has experienced at the conference and national level reflects a high level of institutional dedication to an outstanding student-athlete experience."

Since arriving at DePauw in 2012, Baker-Watson has played a significant role in the development of the Athletics and Recreation Facilities Master Plan and in 2014, DePauw completed Phase I of the Plan, totaling $26 million in improvements to the Lilly Center and the Athletics Campus.  She has also overseen the transition of men’s and women’s lacrosse to NCAA varsity status and established a new logo system for athletics.  In June 2015, Baker-Watson also assumed the role of Associate Vice President for Campus Wellness managing a portion of DePauw Health, a collaborative relationship between DePauw University and Hendricks Regional Health to provide health and wellness services to all students.

Beginning in 2007 and through her appointment at DePauw, Stevie served as the Assistant Athletics Director/SWA at North Central College where she directed the department's compliance and eligibility activities as well as all aspects of its student-athlete leadership development programming.  Through her work with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student-Athlete Mentors and Cardinal Marketing and Promotions, she provided student-athletes leadership awareness training and leadership development opportunities.

Additionally, she supervised undergraduates and post-graduate interns in areas of athletics administration, academic services and athletics marketing and promotions and previously served as the manager for all of North Central's indoor and outdoor athletics facilities.

Prior to North Central College, Baker-Watson spent eight years at Aurora University where she was the head athletic trainer, senior woman administrator and instructor of physical education. As part of the athletics management team, she oversaw all aspects of game operations, directed student-athlete education as CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator, helped develop marketing and promotions initiatives and served as advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

In 2018, Baker-Watson was named NCAA Division III Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports and was named a Community Award Winner by the Indiana Youth Services Association for her work on DePauw's campus with the "Make Good Decisions" campaign which promotes the Indiana Lifeline Law.  In 2022, she was named one of four NACDA Cushman & Wakefield NCAA Division III Athletic Director of the Year and in 2023, Baker-Watson was named a Champion of Diversity and Inclusion by the NCAA.

Baker-Watson currently is a member of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Executive Board and serves as part of the advisory team for DIECE, and recently finished work with the NCAA Division III Athletic Trainer Working Group.  In 2020, Baker-Watson completed a four year term as a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council, and in her final year, served as chair and a member of the NCAA Board of Governors (ex officio), Division III President's Council (ex officio), and NCAA Division III Championships Committee.  At that same time, she also completed a four year term on the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports; today, she still serves as a member of the Drug Testing Appeal Board.  Baker-Watson has also served on the NCAA Division III Membership Committee, NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant selection committee, and NADIIIAA and NACDA Executive Boards.  She was a member of the NCAA Constitution Committee and followed this with service to the Division III Advisory Committee.

She holds memberships in National Association of College Athletic Directors Association (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA), Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA), American College Health Association (ACHA) and has been a member of the local organizing committee for the Women's Leadership Symposium. Baker-Watson also has facilitated programs at the NCAA National Convention, NCAA Gender Equity and Issues Forum, NCAA Career in Sports Forum, College Athletic Trainers Society and been a member of the faculty at the Emerging Administrators Academy.