COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland Athletic Director Damon Evans has announced a pair of updates to the department's executive administration, naming Shawn Flynn as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Dr. Sue Sherburne as Senior Woman Administrator. Sherburne will also continue in her role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academics & Student Development.

Shawn Flynn returns to Maryland, leads internal operations

Flynn will be responsible for providing daily oversight of the areas of human resources and staff relations, facilities, operations and events, information technology and equipment. He will be on familiar ground at Maryland in his new position, having spent 17 years in College Park between roles with the Athletics Department and Campus Recreation Services from 1988-2006, before an 11-year tenure at Under Armour.

"We're excited to welcome Shawn, his wife Debbie and his family back to the University of Maryland," said Evans. "Shawn's institutional knowledge and experiences working in college sports and at Under Armour give him a unique perspective on the ever-changing athletics industry. I am confident our internal units will flourish under his direction."

Most recently, Flynn worked as a Sports Consultant and was the Director of Global Football and North American Sports Marketing at Under Armour in Baltimore from 2013-17. In the role, Flynn developed three-year and eight-year North America strategic plans across product, brand, sports marketing, digital and PR units. He oversaw scouting strategy, negotiated top North America endorsement contracts and managed North America player endorsement budgets while integrating campaigns with other partners, such as EA Sports' FIFA series.

"I'm thrilled to return to Maryland and rejoin the university community where I was a part of the Terrapin family for 17 years," said Flynn. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to work under the leadership of Damon Evans and help execute his vision for this department. I've been fortunate to hone my skill set in the private sector working with Under Armour not only domestically, but globally in the sports world. I'm looking forward to bringing that perspective and my experience in college sports administration back to College Park."  

Flynn developed partnerships with international soccer clubs, which activated brand initiatives in the UK and US. He negotiated and finalized a sponsorship deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) while signing top endorsee, Jermaine Jones, in addition to 60 (8 USMNT players) professional players in North America and Europe.

From 2010-2014, Flynn was Under Armour's Director of NCAA Brand and Sports Marketing. Flynn negotiated all partner contracts with the NCAA, while overseeing yearlong planning and activation calendar. He led event planning and activation at multiple BCS National Championships Games, including branding, marketing, retail, social and on-site activation. Additionally, he identified and recruited all new NCAA assets (universities, conferences, and events) and developed a grassroots strategy for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and basketball.

Before serving as the Director of Brand and Sports Marketing, Flynn held roles as the Director of Operations for Sports Marketing and a Senior Manager for NCAA Sports Marketing with Under Armour.

From 2002-06, Flynn held the title of Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations at Maryland, serving as senior administrator for 12 varsity athletic programs (Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Water Polo, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track) and six support units (facilities, championships, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, band and cheer).    

He directly supervised eight final four teams, four ACC Championships, and two National Championship teams during his time with the Terps. Flynn also assisted with fundraising efforts for the construction management for the now-XFINITY Center.

Prior to his role with Athletics, Flynn spent 11 years as the Associate Director of Facilities and Operations for Campus Recreation Services. There he played an integral part in developing, opening and operating two major facility initiatives with the 206,000 sq. ft. Eppley Recreation Center which opened in 1998 and Ritchie Coliseum renovation project in 1997. He also assisted with developing policies, procedures and strategic visions for a comprehensive campus recreation program.

Flynn earned a Master of Arts in Kinesiology with a Sports Administration concentration at Maryland and his Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he was a four-year varsity baseball student-athlete.

Flynn's wife Debbie (Frankel) Flynn was a member of Maryland's first two varsity soccer teams in 1987 and 1988. The couple has two sons, Shane, who graduated from Maryland in May of 2018, and Mathew, who plays soccer at Army West Point.

Sue Sherburne expands leadership role as new Senior Woman Administrator

As the Senior Woman Administrator, Dr. Sherburne will provide continued leadership in the areas of student-athlete and staff development and will take on new roles in the management of Title IX, diversity and inclusion, and serving as the primary liaison to the University's Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct. She will strategize ways to support and facilitate gender equity in addition to advocating issues important to female and male student-athletes, coaches and staff. She will be responsible for annually reviewing the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act Report and the Gender Equity Plan. Sherburne will also serve as the athletics department representative on a variety of University, NCAA and Big Ten Conference committees.

Sherburne will also continue to serve as the Senior Associate AD for Academics and Student Development, a position she has held since February of 2016. In her role, Sherburne provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction to Academic Support; Community Engagement; Student-Athlete Advocacy; Student-Athlete Development Units and the Cheerleading Program.

"Dr. Sherburne has been an integral part of our staff during her time at Maryland, and will thrive in her role as our Senior Woman Administrator," said Evans. "Her passion for student-athlete development and advocacy has been invaluable to our department, and her leadership as our SWA will further benefit our programs."

In collaboration with the Vice President for University Relations, Sherburne drafted and illustrated a comprehensive three-part support model for the academic success of student-athletes' personal and career development, which helped secure a $21.25 million legacy gift for the formation of The Barry and Mary Gossett Center for Academic and Personal Excellence. The Gossett Center will provide student-athletes with the foundation needed to be successful global citizens and make a positive transition to life after college.

"I would like to thank Damon Evans for this tremendous opportunity," said Sherburne. "I appreciate his confidence in me and am excited to step into this elevated role as part of the executive leadership team. I look forward to taking on these new responsibilities, advancing the department's mission and working as an advocate on behalf of our student-athletes, coaches and staff."

Sherburne joined the University of Maryland in 2014 as the Assistant Athletic Director for Life Skills and Career Development. In that role, she developed and implemented Brand U, a 5-year, seminar-style and on-line module, cohort-specific educational curriculum for Maryland student-athletes. The launch of the Brand U program has been praised as innovative and forward-thinking in the ever-changing landscape of Division I college athletics. In addition, ·       she initiated and collaborated with the Emerging Leaders Program to create the InTERPship Academy and serves as a member of the Step-Up Bystander Intervention National Advisory Board.

Prior to joining the Terrapins, Sherburne was an adjunct faculty member in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University and an Associate Director at the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes.  Sherburne also served as an academic counselor for the Men's and Women's Basketball Teams, was the founder and director of the Athletic Director's Leadership Institute (ADLI) and directed the three-time National Championship Penn State Lionettes Dance Team. She previously served  as the Big Ten Representative to the Division 1A Athletic Directors Association's CHAMPS Life Skills Advisory Committee that established student development best practices and recognized 1A institutions with the "Program of Excellence" award.

A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Sherburne obtained a Master of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University in Health Education with an emphasis in Community Health.  She completed her Ph. D. in Interpersonal Communication, and her doctoral research focused on communication, interpersonal competence and relational development of college athletes.

Sherburne's husband, Mark, joined the Terrapins staff in February 2017 and oversees the day-to-day management of the Facilities, Operations and Events Office and serves as the sport administrator to the wrestling program.  

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