Stanzi McGowan currently serves as the Interim Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations at California State University, Bakersfield. Since joining the CSUB Athletics Department in 2022, McGowan has been instrumental in strengthening the university’s NCAA Division I compliance framework, fostering student-athlete success, and enhancing operational efficiency across the department.
In her current role, McGowan oversees internal operations supporting all 16 varsity sports, including compliance, eligibility, financial aid, and roster management. She provides leadership in policy development, strategic planning, and risk mitigation, ensuring the department’s full alignment with institutional, Big West Conference, and NCAA regulations. McGowan also leads staff training and education initiatives, supervises graduate and student personnel, and manages key technology systems integral to department operations and data integrity.
Prior to her current appointment, McGowan advanced through several roles within CSUB Athletics—from Compliance Specialist to Director of Compliance and Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance—demonstrating her ability to lead with integrity, collaboration, and precision in the complex landscape of collegiate athletics governance.
Before arriving at Bakersfield, McGowan served as the Assistant Director of Athletics Compliance at California Baptist University, where she played a vital role in the institution’s transition to NCAA Division I status. At CBU, she oversaw eligibility for more than 500 student-athletes, submitted legislative relief waivers, and participated in cross-departmental committees focused on mental health and student-athlete engagement.
A decorated former student-athlete, McGowan was a 15-time Division I All-American swimmer at the University of Tennessee, where she helped lead the Lady Volunteers to their first SEC Championship in program history and was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year. She also previously qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and held a Junior World Record as part of the USA Junior National Team.
McGowan earned her Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from California Baptist University, where she was named the program’s Outstanding Graduate in 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Tennessee, where she graduated magna cum laude.
