The Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Board of Directors announced on Monday the appointment of Rebecca Mullen as the conference’s next commissioner, effective immediately. Mullen has served as the league’s interim commissioner since July 2024.
“Rebecca has done an outstanding job as the interim commissioner,” said Dale Caldwell, president of centenary and chair of the Atlantic East Presidents Council. “Her exceptional communication skills, years of experience, extensive knowledge of Division III sports, and outstanding leadership ability have convinced me and the other presidents that she is the perfect person to serve as the Commissioner of the Atlantic East Conference.”
Mullen joined the conference in October 2022 as assistant commissioner. She brings more than a decade’s worth of intercollegiate athletics experience with her into the role both at the conference and institutional levels.
In her time as interim commissioner, in addition to her daily responsibilities, she spearheaded a number of initiatives to elevate the conference. Most notable was the continued promotion of the AEC’s distinction as the first NCAA conference to offer women’s flag football as a varsity championship sport.
Leading into its first varsity season, the conference — in partnership with RCX, NFL FLAG, and the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles — held a media day at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles’ home stadium. Additionally, Mullen spoke to a number of national organizations, including ESPN, about the league and the growth of the sport.
Mullen has also made strides in growing the conference’s membership. During her tenure as interim commissioner, the AEC added three women’s flag football associate members (Holy Family, Chestnut Hill, Penn State Schuylkill), while also adding Saint Elizabeth to its core membership.
“I would like to thank Dr. Caldwell and the entire Atlantic East Board of Directors for their confidence in me to continue serving the conference,” said Mullen. “Our membership has demonstrated its commitment to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
In addition to her service to the conference, the former Worcester State University field hockey and lacrosse student-athlete is also involved in the NCAA at the national level. She is currently a member of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee and has previously served as a site representative for the NCAA Division III Football Tournament and the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Regional Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining the AEC, Mullen served as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Elmhurst University. Immediately prior to her assignment just outside of Chicago, Mullen worked at Stevens Institute of Technology serving in several different roles. She was an assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach, aquatics coordinator, student-athlete advisory committee advisor, and athletics assistant.
Mullen is also no stranger to the demands of working in a conference office. She began her intercollegiate athletics career working for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference as the assistant to the commissioner, a position funded by the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant. From there, she went on to serve as the first-ever full-time assistant commissioner of the New England Collegiate Conference.
Mullen earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and urban studies from Worcester State University and completed her masters in sport industry management from Georgetown University.
