American University

Natalie Rogers left American in July, 2023

Bringing in 17 years of experience providing program direction, innovation and coordination for athletic organizations and institutions of higher education, Natalie Rogers was hired as the Associate AD for Student-Athlete Well-Being in the American University Department of Athletics in September, 2020. In July of 2022, Rogers switched to a new role within the Department of Athletics and now serves as the Associate AD for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as the department's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

In addition to her duties as a sport administrator, Rogers focuses on continuing her efforts to create a culture of inclusion. In her role, she is responsible for supporting, developing, managing and implementing diversity, equity and inclusion strategies that promote and foster an accessible, welcoming and affirming environment.
 
Rogers has been in the Washington, D.C. area since 2012, recently working for the United States Tennis Association in Reston, Va. While working with the USTA, Rogers’ focus was on the youth brand Net Generation as she managed a team that drove the member engagement and diversity and inclusion efforts. 
  
Among her roles in higher education was a stint at Howard University as the Associate Director of Compliance from 2012-13. Rogers was recruited to Howard to help develop innovative new compliances practices for the athletic department. She was well-suited for this work as an athletic department administrator after spending the 10 previous years on the NCAA staff, first as an Assistant Director of Enforcement and then as the Associate Director of Amateurism Certification for the NCAA Eligibility Center. 
 
Rogers, a Division I tennis player at the University of Michigan, also has a background in coaching. She spent four years early in her career as the tennis coach, badminton coach and an assistant professor of physical education at Bryn Mawr College. In 2000, she moved on to the University of Chicago where she spent two years as the head coach for men’s and women’s tennis, assistant professor of physical education and athletics, and a special events manager for the Division III institution. 
 
Gaining extensive experience outside of athletic departments has added to Rogers’ portfolio, as she ran her own consulting business from 2014-16 to provide guidance and education to coaches and athletic organizations regarding complex NCAA legislation as it related to the eligibility process. 
 
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Rogers graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and later earned her master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University. Rogers, formerly Natalie Butler, resides in Alexandria, Va., with her husband.