University of Puget Sound

Dr. Chelsea Herman is entering her second year as the Director of Athletics at The University of Puget Sound in 2026, bringing over 20 years of senior-level collegiate leadership to the Loggers. 

A native of the Pacific Northwest and a former Division I athlete, Dr. Herman's career is defined by a fierce commitment to building championship cultures, driving operational excellence, and advocating for gender equity and student-athlete success. 

Before taking the helm for the Loggers, Dr. Herman built a powerhouse resume across the West Coast. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator at California State University, San Bernardino. There, she led the department's revenue and engagement operations, including marketing, communications, ticketing, game operations and facilities. She also held key administrative leadership roles at Seattle University during their pivotal transition back to NCAA Division I competition, and built her foundational roots in student-athlete development at Boise State and Gonzaga. 

Dr. Herman's extensive on the ground experience is paired with a deep academic background in sports philosophy and ethics. After captaining the women's basketball team at Gonzaga, she earned both her Master's degree in Sport Ethics and Sports Administration and her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho, where her doctoral dissertation focused on supporting NCAA athletes through career and identity transitions. She also holds an Executive MBA from CSUSB, blending elite sports mentorship with business. 

Now overseeing Puget Sound's 23 varsity sports, coaching staffs and athletic facilities, Dr. Herman has brought her career full circle. She enters her second year focused on a singular, powerful mission: empowering every Puget Sound scholar-athlete to realize their highest potential, embrace their identity and dominate both in competition and in life.