Leah McCormack is an emerging leader who has made an early mark on the profession with a commitment and passion to improve higher education. She won AACRAO's Emerging Leader Award in 2019. Leah joined the NAIA during the Eligibility Center’s inaugural year, helping to open the center as a Manager of Eligibility in 2010. She was instrumental in the creation of numerous policies and oversight of international eligibility. In 2012, Leah published the NAIA International Standards and in 2014 launched InCred, a credential evaluation service dedicated to assisting our member schools in recruitment of international students. She ascended to the role of Director of the eligibility center in 2014.
In 2017, Leah was named Vice President of Eligibility Services, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the NAIA Eligibility Center. She oversees 14 full-time and over 30 seasonal team members, allowing her to merge her business acumen and leadership skills.
Leah is passionate about helping others achieve access to higher education through sport. Never having had the opportunity herself to pursue college athletics (the sport of trampoline and tumbling is not yet a collegiate offering), she now works hard ensuring access to first-time eligibility for the 35,000+ student-athletes joining the NAIA for the first time each year.
Before joining the NAIA, Leah worked in finance as well as community literacy through the One Book, One Chicago and America Reads Tudors programs. Leah earned an M.B.A. with a focus in managing and leading people from the UMKC Bloch School and a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from DePaul University.
Leah is active on committees with Women Leaders in College Sports, serves as Content Coordinator and is a published contributor and frequent presenter for AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers). Leah remains active in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community as a mentor for the Regnier Institute’s E-Scholar program and she is proud to volunteer and support KC Scholars, a scholarship program dedicated to increasing postsecondary education attainment in the Kansas City low-income community. Additionally, Leah serves on the board of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.