After more than three decades of contributions to the George Washington University, most recently as an athletics director who prioritized student-athlete excellence in competition and the classroom, Tanya Vogel will depart the university after a search to identify her successor.
Vogel’s journey at GW began in 1992 as a student and soccer player and has included earning B.S., M.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the university while serving as head coach and in various leadership roles before a nearly six-year tenure as athletics director.
“Tanya has an incredible ability to create a culture of excellence, commitment and respect among student-athletes, coaches and staff,” said GW President Ellen M. Granberg. “In every role she has had at GW, she has led with distinction, supporting our student-athletes with warmth, care and tireless devotion. I am grateful for her work in advancing our Athletics Department, and I wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career.”
Guided by Vogel’s vision of striving to be an inspirational model of discipline and excellence on campus, GW Athletics has captured 19 conference championships in the last six years. Women’s basketball, women’s cross country and track, gymnastics, rowing, softball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving have all had participants in NCAA Championships since 2018.
“I want to thank Tanya for dedicating herself to the growth and success of us student-athletes,” said women’s basketball’s Mayowa Taiwo. “She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to GW for many years, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors."
Prioritizing academic achievement in the classroom has also been a cornerstone of Vogel’s leadership. Student-athletes have earned over a 3.25 GPA in each of the past nine semesters. The department continues to set records, earning an all-time department high cumulative GPA of 3.62 in the spring of 2020, while consistently excelling and outpacing the NCAA average in graduation success rate with 94 percent in 2023.
“Tanya is quick to remind students and staff that our team culture is critical, and our competitive advantage is seen in how we treat one another,” said Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Colette Coleman. “Tanya has led with empathy, understanding, accountability and grace. She is a leader who has helped countless students find belonging at GW, grow and thrive.”
Under Vogel’s leadership, GW pursued several key athletics facilities projects, including installing a new videoboard at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park, the opening of the Fassnacht Clubhouse for the baseball program, renovating the Charles E. Smith Center’s upper and lower bowls, improving Tin Tabernacle Club, as well as rebranding two floors of the Lerner Health and Wellness Center to better support the needs of several teams. Work on a new stadium experience on the Mount Vernon Campus, including new softball field lights, is also underway. Meanwhile, in recent years the Athletics Department has set all-time fundraising records with highs of more than 2,300 donors in 2023-24. Likewise, GW Athletics has consistently ranked highly in numbers of donors on GW Giving Day.
Prior to her time as director, Vogel was the women’s soccer head coach for 12 years, assistant director of athletic development and senior associate athletics director. She was the first women's soccer player inducted into the GW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
A nationally respected leader in her field, Vogel has served on multiple NCAA committees, including the championship committee for women’s soccer and the Amateurism Cabinet, and will conclude her term as chair of the men’s soccer championship committee in August. Within the Atlantic 10, Vogel is chair of the Athletic Director’s Council after a two-year stint as chair of the A-10 Finance Committee. She completed a leadership coaching program and was part of the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program and the Women Leaders Executive Institute. Vogel also has taught several courses in the GW School of Business’ Sport Management program.
“Tanya’s legacy is defined by her guidance of a department that operated with the clearest understanding of values and expected behaviors. The respect she garnered among her peers is evident as she has chaired almost all A-10 committees, including this past year as Chair of the Athletic Directors,” stated Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “Tanya is a trusted colleague who is a leading voice in the Atlantic 10 on conference and NCAA issues, due to her expertise as a former student-athlete, coach, and a current administrator. Speaking for the entirety of the conference office and our membership, her wisdom and leadership will have a lasting effect."
A national search, led by Parker Executive Search, will soon be underway for Vogel’s successor. Vogel will remain at GW through the transition, then join the Pictor Group as a consultant.
