Heart Announces Conference Support Roles

The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART) has announced two important leadership appointments to support its operations and enhance the membership experience across its member institutions.

 

Marsha Lashley, Vice President of Athletics & Academic Services at Missouri Valley College, will continue her distinguished service as the Conference Eligibility Chair. Lashley has dedicated more than four decades to Missouri Valley College, where she has served in numerous leadership capacities, including Registrar, Faculty Athletics Representative, and now Vice President. For the past eight years, she has guided the HEART's eligibility efforts, ensuring compliance with NAIA standards and safeguarding the academic integrity of competition.

 

In 2020, Lashley was recognized nationally as the NAIA Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year. She has also contributed significantly on the national stage through service on the NAIA Council of FAR, Competitive Experience Committee, and other governance initiatives.

 

Kyle Pattrick, Associate Athletic Director at Baker University, has been appointed to serve as the Conference Coordinator of Sports Information and will continue in his role at Baker. A Baker alumnus, Pattrick has built an impressive career in athletics administration with a foundation in sports information and media relations. At Baker, he has overseen communication strategies, statistical reporting, and athletic operations, while supporting coaches and student-athletes in sharing their achievements on regional and national platforms.

 

In his new conference role, Pattrick will help elevate the HEART's communications processes, enhance championship coverage, and serve as a leadership voice among the conferences sports information directors.

 

"Both Marsha and Kyle embody the values of the HEART and the NAIA," said Nik Rule, Commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. "Marsha's steady hand and national expertise in eligibility have been vital to our value to membership, while Kyle's background in sports information and leadership as an administrator at Baker will allow us to further amplify the stories of our student-athletes and institutions."

 

These appointments reflect the HEART's ongoing commitment to providing strong governance, compliance oversight, and media engagement to serve its member schools and student-athletes.