University Southern California Trojans
USC Athletics Announces Merlene Aitken-Smith as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Administration & Risk
September 24, 2026 | USC Athletics
LOS ANGELES – USC Athletics today announced the hiring of Merlene Aitken-Smith, J.D., as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration & Risk.
A nationally respected collegiate athletics administrator with more than 20 years of leadership experience, Aitken-Smith joins USC from the University of Nevada, where she has served as Deputy Athletic Director since 2022. In her new role, she will serve as the department's primary liaison to University Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Athletics Compliance. She will also serve as a member of USC Athletics' executive leadership team.Â
"Merlene's leadership style, collaborative approach and broad institutional perspective make her an outstanding addition to our executive team," said Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen. "She has a proven ability to build meaningful relationships with coaches, staff and campus partners while bringing people together to solve complex challenges. Her experience will strengthen our department, deepen our collaboration across the university and help position USC Athletics for continued success. We're excited to welcome Merlene to the Trojan Family."Â
"Merlene's experience reflects a deep understanding of how to build alignment across complex organizations, and I look forward to working with her as we strengthen the connections between Athletics and key university partners," said Senior Vice President of Human Resources Stacy Roberts.
At Nevada, Aitken-Smith has overseen a broad portfolio that includes human resources, facilities, events and capital projects while serving as the department's liaison to the university's Office of General Counsel. She has led several transformative facility projects, including Nevada's new Indoor Fieldhouse and the Eric & Linda Lannes Basketball Building, while serving as the primary sport administrator for nine Wolf Pack programs.Â
Before joining Nevada, Aitken-Smith served as Associate Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Grambling State University, where she oversaw university compliance, safety and risk management, civil rights and Title IX, contract administration and institutional policy development. She previously served as Grambling's Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, helping lead the university's NIL policy implementation while overseeing student-athlete academic services, leadership development and multiple sport programs.Â
Her career also includes leadership positions at Clayton State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina A&T, Winston-Salem State, Kansas, Washington and Michigan State. Throughout her career, Aitken-Smith has earned a reputation as an accomplished administrator with expertise in organizational leadership, compliance, human resources, risk management and student-athlete success. She has served on numerous NCAA, conference and institutional committees and was selected to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program for aspiring athletics directors and conference commissioners.Â
"I'm honored to join USC and one of the premier athletic departments in the country," Aitken-Smith said. "USC has a proud tradition of excellence, and I look forward to working alongside our coaches, staff and university partners to support our student-athletes, strengthen our department and help advance the university's mission. I'm excited to become part of the Trojan Family."
A native of Yonkers, New York, Aitken-Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brooklyn College and a Juris Doctor from the Massachusetts School of Law.Â
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A nationally respected collegiate athletics administrator with more than 20 years of leadership experience, Aitken-Smith joins USC from the University of Nevada, where she has served as Deputy Athletic Director since 2022. In her new role, she will serve as the department's primary liaison to University Human Resources, the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Athletics Compliance. She will also serve as a member of USC Athletics' executive leadership team.Â
"Merlene's leadership style, collaborative approach and broad institutional perspective make her an outstanding addition to our executive team," said Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen. "She has a proven ability to build meaningful relationships with coaches, staff and campus partners while bringing people together to solve complex challenges. Her experience will strengthen our department, deepen our collaboration across the university and help position USC Athletics for continued success. We're excited to welcome Merlene to the Trojan Family."Â
"Merlene's experience reflects a deep understanding of how to build alignment across complex organizations, and I look forward to working with her as we strengthen the connections between Athletics and key university partners," said Senior Vice President of Human Resources Stacy Roberts.
At Nevada, Aitken-Smith has overseen a broad portfolio that includes human resources, facilities, events and capital projects while serving as the department's liaison to the university's Office of General Counsel. She has led several transformative facility projects, including Nevada's new Indoor Fieldhouse and the Eric & Linda Lannes Basketball Building, while serving as the primary sport administrator for nine Wolf Pack programs.Â
Before joining Nevada, Aitken-Smith served as Associate Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Grambling State University, where she oversaw university compliance, safety and risk management, civil rights and Title IX, contract administration and institutional policy development. She previously served as Grambling's Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, helping lead the university's NIL policy implementation while overseeing student-athlete academic services, leadership development and multiple sport programs.Â
Her career also includes leadership positions at Clayton State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina A&T, Winston-Salem State, Kansas, Washington and Michigan State. Throughout her career, Aitken-Smith has earned a reputation as an accomplished administrator with expertise in organizational leadership, compliance, human resources, risk management and student-athlete success. She has served on numerous NCAA, conference and institutional committees and was selected to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program for aspiring athletics directors and conference commissioners.Â
"I'm honored to join USC and one of the premier athletic departments in the country," Aitken-Smith said. "USC has a proud tradition of excellence, and I look forward to working alongside our coaches, staff and university partners to support our student-athletes, strengthen our department and help advance the university's mission. I'm excited to become part of the Trojan Family."
A native of Yonkers, New York, Aitken-Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brooklyn College and a Juris Doctor from the Massachusetts School of Law.Â
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