WINTHROP, MASS. - Following a thorough national search, the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America have named Michelle Morgan as their next Commissioner, the AHA and CHA Boards of Directors announced Thursday.
 
"I am honored to be named the next Commissioner of Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America," Morgan said. "I'd like to thank the search committee for their dedication throughout the process. I'm excited to get back to my roots in the sport of hockey, to serve our member institutions, student-athletes, coaches and fans at the highest level."
 
Morgan, who has served as the Senior Director of Athletics at John Carroll University since 2018, becomes the second commissioner in Atlantic Hockey history and the third commissioner in College Hockey America history. She replaces outgoing AHA and CHA commissioner Robert DeGregorio, who is retiring from both roles at the end of the 2022-23 season after 20 years with Atlantic Hockey and 13 years with the CHA.
 
"After an exhaustive search by our selection committee, the conference is extremely excited to have Michelle Morgan to lead Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America into the future," Atlantic Hockey Selection Committee Chairman and Air Force Senior Associate Athletic Director George Nelson said. "She highlighted herself to be the best of the best throughout this process and we look forward to the impact she will make on both our men's and women's programs."
 
"In Michelle Morgan, College Hockey America and Atlantic Hockey have found a prepared and proven leader that will provide a strategic vision for our future," CHA Board Chairman and Syracuse Senior Associate Athletics Director Jamie Mullin said. "Michelle demonstrated many qualities that resulted in her selection as commissioner and those qualities will enable her to build upon our established success. I'm confident that the future is in good hands with Michelle."
 
Morgan, who will begin her duties with the AHA and CHA on April 17, has overseen a period of tremendous growth and success for John Carroll athletics during her tenure at the University Heights, Ohio school. The Blue Streaks have won 39 Ohio Athletic Conference championships and have made 37 NCAA postseason appearances. Under her leadership, JCU won the OAC All-Sports Men's Trophy in 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22, and came within a point of the program's first-ever OAC All-Sports Women's Trophy in 2020-21.
 
During the celebration of 100 years of Athletics at John Carroll, Morgan helped to establish a $500,000 fund for the creation of the Champions Endowment, which will help to sustain success at a national level for all Blue Streak athletic programs. Her tenure also saw the addition of women's wrestling as JCU's 24^th varsity sport and $4 million in athletic facility improvements of the university's athletic facilities that greatly enhanced training, competition and quality of experience for the more than 700 student-athletes under her oversight. The university is also breaking ground on a new athletic, wellness and event space that is slated to open in Fall 2024.


In recognition of her efforts on behalf of JCU athletics, Morgan was presented with an Honorary ESPY as the Administrator of the Year in July 2022.  


Morgan is also an active associate member of the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association. As the Association's Director of Events, she spearheaded efforts for a pair of alumni games prior to the National Hockey League Outdoor Stadium Series game in 2016 in Minneapolis and the 2017 NHL Winter Classic in St. Louis. In this role, she served as the liaison to the NHL, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and the Chicago Blackhawks organizations for the alumni weekends at both events. The two games, held at TCF Bank Stadium and Busch Stadium, respectively, hosted nearly 40,000 fans for contests featuring the Blackhawk alumni.