Susan R. Sherburne, Ph.D. is the Executive Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at the University of Maryland. She serves as a senior member of the Athletic Director’s Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic oversight for all areas that support student-athlete academic success, health and wellness, development, equity, and overall experience.
Sherburne oversees the Gossett Student-Athlete Center, student-athlete development and inclusive excellence initiatives, and sports medicine and performance services. She also serves as the department’s primary liaison to the University’s Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct and the Office of Student Conduct.
A respected leader within the Big Ten Conference, Sherburne represents Maryland on conference governance committees, including the Big Ten Joint Group and the Big Ten Budget and Review Committee. She advocates for policies that prioritize student-athlete academic achievement, health, safety, and gender equity.
Sherburne has provided continuity and stability across the department, leading complex initiatives while ensuring uninterrupted support for student-athletes. She has also played a key role in securing philanthropic support for student-athlete academic and development initiatives, including the Gossett Student-Athlete Center and the First Impact Program.
In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Sherburne teaches Business of Sport (BMGT383) in the Robert H. Smith School of Business and serves on the Sports Management Program faculty leadership team.
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.Â
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.
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A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sherburne joined Maryland Athletics in October 2014. She and her husband, Mark, both serve as members of the department’s senior leadership team; Mark is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration.
Updated March 11, 2026
