Vanessa Seljeskog is the Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Macalester College. Seljeskog has extensive administrative and coaching experience at the NCAA Division III level, including 12 years as an Associate Athletics Director and 10 years as an Assistant Athletics Director at Macalester College. Additionally, she served as Macalester’s Head Women’s Cross Country and Track coach from 1986-2000. Seljeskog holds a BA in Education from St. Olaf College and a MA in Physical Education (Exercise Physiology) from the University of Minnesota.
As a member of the athletics department’s senior management team, Seljeskog works directly with the Director of Athletics and assists with the day to day management of a 21 varsity sports program. Seljeskog is directly responsible for overseeing departmental compliance and eligibility requirements, provides direction and guidance to the Sports Information department, and is Chair of the Physical Education Department. During her time at Macalester she assisted in the planning of the new $45 million Leonard Center Athletics facility, oversaw the $1.5 million renovation of the track complex, and has organized and managed numerous MIAC championships and NCAA post season playoff events.
Seljeskog also has had extensive coaching experience at the Division III level. During her 14-year tenure as Macalester’s Head Women’s Cross Country and Track Coach, Seljeskog coached numerous All-Americans and All-Conference athletes, was named the 1999 MIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year, and led her 2000 cross country team to an 8th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Additionally, Seljeskog served as Co-Meet Director for the 1998 and 2002 NCAA Division III National Track and Field Championships held at Macalester College and has hosted several MIAC Cross Country and Track Championships,.
Seljeskog has served on numerous Macalester College and MIAC committees, is currently the AD liaison to the MIAC men’s and women’s track and cross country coaches group, and previously served on and chaired the NCAA Division III Track and Field subcommittee. Seljeskog has been a longtime member of NACWAA (a graduate of the NACWAA/HERS Institute), NADIIIA and the Haverford Group, and through the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship program has served to mentor or supervise many NCAA intern grant recipients. In Feb. ’09 Seljeskog was honored with a Special Merit award during the 23 Annual Minnesota Girls and Women in Sport day celebration at the state capitol.
