In Memoriam: Meredith Jenkins
11/15/2021 4:05:00 PM | General
Fresno State’s deputy director of athletics Meredith Jenkins was a nationally-recognized trailblazer in intercollegiate athletics and helped serve thousands of student-athletes throughout her impactful career.
Highlights
FRESNO, Calif. – Meredith Jenkins, who served as Fresno State Deputy Director of Athletics since 2018, passed away this weekend.
Jenkins' legacy as a nationally-recognized trailblazer includes providing critical leadership, which improved the infrastructure and foundation within Fresno State Athletics, and those processes provided essential support for the Bulldogs' championship experiences.
"As Athletic Director, I can say there may be no greater reason for the comprehensive success of our department than the contributions of our Deputy Athletic Director, Meredith Jenkins," said Director of Athletics Terry Tumey. "Meredith championed our efforts in creating a grander, more robust offering in our service of students and our entire greater Valley community. She continuously strived to achieve the greatness she thought we deserved here at Fresno State. We are all blessed to have been a part of Meredith's journey."
As Deputy Athletic Director, Jenkins had oversight and managerial responsibility for the internal units, while also coordinating university governance.
During her tenure at Fresno State, Jenkins led efforts to significantly improve internal policies and procedures in areas such as: budgeting and financial reporting, gender equity and Title IX compliance, strategic planning and human resources, and NCAA and Mountain West governance. Additionally, Jenkins played a vital role in supporting and holistically preparing every Bulldog student-athlete for long-term success.
The Bulldogs won seven team conference championships since 2018 with conference titles in football (2018), men's tennis (2019), baseball (2019), women's basketball (2019-20), softball (2021) and women's water polo (2021 - regular season and tournament).
Earlier this year, Jenkins was honored by the Auburn Athletics Department and City of Auburn for her trailblazing career.
On July 29, 2021, Jenkins received a Key to the City of Auburn on a day Auburn Athletics named the Executive and Senior Associate Athletics Directors office suite, which is located in the Auburn Athletics Complex, in her honor as the "The Meredith H. Jenkins Office Suite." The day was also declared "Meredith H. Jenkins Day" in the City of Auburn.
Jenkins, who worked at Auburn University for 24 years, was the first woman to oversee an athletics communications department and serve as the primary football contact at a SEC institution, which at the time, she was one of just four women serving as the primary football contact for a Division I school.
As a difference maker, trailblazer and advocate for women's sports teams, coaches and female student-athletes, Jenkins started the Auburn Athletics WINGS program (Women Inspiring and Nurturing Greatness in Student-Athletes) with focus on mentoring and job placement of female student-athletes and raising funds for Auburn women's sports teams.
During her time at Auburn, Jenkins served on the NCAA Division I Soccer Committee, serving two terms as its chair, and on numerous SEC committees, including the executive committee. She also worked directly with 20 of Auburn's 21 sports during her career with the Tigers, led departmental strategic planning and management efforts with oversight of a $140 million budget.
Jenkins previously was named Auburn University's Woman of Distinction in 2010, and named as the 2014 Pamela Wells Sheffield Award recipient.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
- Meredith Jenkins served as Fresno State's deputy director of athletics from 2018-21.
- Jenkins provided impactful leadership for thousands of student-athletes throughout her trailblazing career.
- Jenkins was the first woman to oversee an athletics communications department and serve as the primary football contact for a Southeastern Conference institution, previously working for the Auburn Tigers for 24 years.
- On July 29, 2021, the City of Auburn was declared "Meredith H. Jenkins Day" and she was presented with a Key to the City and Auburn's Executive and Senior Associate Athletics Directors office suite was named in her honor.
FRESNO, Calif. – Meredith Jenkins, who served as Fresno State Deputy Director of Athletics since 2018, passed away this weekend.
Jenkins' legacy as a nationally-recognized trailblazer includes providing critical leadership, which improved the infrastructure and foundation within Fresno State Athletics, and those processes provided essential support for the Bulldogs' championship experiences.
"As Athletic Director, I can say there may be no greater reason for the comprehensive success of our department than the contributions of our Deputy Athletic Director, Meredith Jenkins," said Director of Athletics Terry Tumey. "Meredith championed our efforts in creating a grander, more robust offering in our service of students and our entire greater Valley community. She continuously strived to achieve the greatness she thought we deserved here at Fresno State. We are all blessed to have been a part of Meredith's journey."
As Deputy Athletic Director, Jenkins had oversight and managerial responsibility for the internal units, while also coordinating university governance.
During her tenure at Fresno State, Jenkins led efforts to significantly improve internal policies and procedures in areas such as: budgeting and financial reporting, gender equity and Title IX compliance, strategic planning and human resources, and NCAA and Mountain West governance. Additionally, Jenkins played a vital role in supporting and holistically preparing every Bulldog student-athlete for long-term success.
The Bulldogs won seven team conference championships since 2018 with conference titles in football (2018), men's tennis (2019), baseball (2019), women's basketball (2019-20), softball (2021) and women's water polo (2021 - regular season and tournament).
Earlier this year, Jenkins was honored by the Auburn Athletics Department and City of Auburn for her trailblazing career.
On July 29, 2021, Jenkins received a Key to the City of Auburn on a day Auburn Athletics named the Executive and Senior Associate Athletics Directors office suite, which is located in the Auburn Athletics Complex, in her honor as the "The Meredith H. Jenkins Office Suite." The day was also declared "Meredith H. Jenkins Day" in the City of Auburn.
Jenkins, who worked at Auburn University for 24 years, was the first woman to oversee an athletics communications department and serve as the primary football contact at a SEC institution, which at the time, she was one of just four women serving as the primary football contact for a Division I school.
As a difference maker, trailblazer and advocate for women's sports teams, coaches and female student-athletes, Jenkins started the Auburn Athletics WINGS program (Women Inspiring and Nurturing Greatness in Student-Athletes) with focus on mentoring and job placement of female student-athletes and raising funds for Auburn women's sports teams.
During her time at Auburn, Jenkins served on the NCAA Division I Soccer Committee, serving two terms as its chair, and on numerous SEC committees, including the executive committee. She also worked directly with 20 of Auburn's 21 sports during her career with the Tigers, led departmental strategic planning and management efforts with oversight of a $140 million budget.
Jenkins previously was named Auburn University's Woman of Distinction in 2010, and named as the 2014 Pamela Wells Sheffield Award recipient.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
2025 Rally The Valley Coaches Caravan
Thursday, May 15
2025 Night of Champions
Wednesday, May 07
Fresno State Athletics: 2025 Black History Month
Wednesday, February 12
Fresno State Athletics: Legendary
Saturday, August 17