MARIETTA, Ga. --- Life University Director of Athletics Jayme Pendergast announced the promotion of Alaina Smith Walker into an expanded Deputy Athletic Director role Monday. 

Smith Walker entered her 9th year in the department for Life University in 2024, fulfilling a multitude of roles. Prior to serving as the Assistant AD of Internal Operations, Smith Walker served as Director of Academic Support & Student-Athlete Development before transitioning into the role as the Assistant AD for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Leader.

As an Assistant AD, Smith Walker was responsible for the day-to-day execution of academic support, eligibility, and student-athlete development, while also serving additional roles with compliance and other internal administrative duties. Smith Walker also worked as student engagement and enrichment through the More Than An Athlete program. She also previously served as an assistant coach for the Life U men's volleyball team. 

Working with student-athletes is Alaina's passion. She has coached volleyball and basketball for over a decade at various levels, is a certified high school and collegiate volleyball and basketball official, and has been working in athletics administration since she completed her own time as a collegiate student-athlete. Smith Walker competed in the sports of volleyball, basketball, and track & field at Converse College and Birmingham-Southern College, earning two bachelor's degrees along the way in psychology and religious studies and graduating magna cum laude. She holds a Master's Degree in Positive Psychology from Life University as well. 

Outside of athletics, she serves the Life U community as treasurer of the Staff Council Executive Board, and is a core member of the Southern States Athletic Conference Eligibility Committee for the NAIA. She is a member of the  National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), Women Leaders in College Sports, the SSAC Women's Leadership Committee, and is the SSAC Chair for Cheer & Dance. 

In the expanded Deputy AD role, Smith Walker will work closely with the Director of Athletics providing broad supervision of overall athletic departmental operations to ensure optimal efficiency and effectiveness across many areas. Oversight responsibilities will include all onboarding and off-boarding processes—including those for volunteers—with coordination alongside hiring managers and full management of employment transitions. Additional duties include organizing camps, conducting staff training, ensuring completion of background checks, managing disenrollments, and overseeing all compliance and eligibility matters. Smith Walker will also function as the first point of contact for any eligibility-related inquiries.

Director of Athletics Jayme Pendergast expanded on the promotion, stating, "Alaina has been such a consistent presence in the department and her capacity for critical thinking, problem solving, and balcony leadership has grown tremendously.  This promotion is not only well-deserved, but essential for us to continue to move forward in pursuing our department vision." Pendergast continued, "There aren't many professionals out there that can balance the leadership pace that we need, along with the ability to slow the pace when there is complexity or need for more conversation.  Alaina strikes that balance brilliantly.  I very much appreciate and value Alaina's skillset, but also look forward to seeing her grow in her responsibilities and leadership."

Smith Walker expressed her appreciation and excitement stating, "I have had the incredible opportunity to grow right alongside this department over the last eight years, and I am beyond grateful to Jayme for seeing my potential as a leader and giving me the space and opportunity to develop. I look forward to helping guide this department in new ways as we tackle the ever-changing landscape of college athletics. I truly believe Life U represents the best of the NAIA, both in performance and meaningful student-athlete experience, and it is an honor to continue to serve this department alongside some of the most talented people in college athletics!"