Jamie Boggs - Vice President of Athletics - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 16, 2024 : GCU student athlete welcome back event. . David Kadlubowski/GCU

Jamie Boggs

Title:
Vice President of Athletics
Alma Mater:
San Diego (B.A.), Arizona (J.D.)

Jamie Boggs is the Vice President of Athletics at Grand Canyon University, where she leads the department’s long-term vision and day-to-day operations. A Phoenix native and the university's first female athletic director, Boggs has overseen GCU Athletics during the most dynamic period of growth in the university’s history, marked by competitive success, expanding visibility, academic excellence and deep alignment with the broader institutional mission.

Boggs’ leadership is rooted in strong alignment with university leadership, particularly the vision and support of GCU President Brian Mueller. Working in close partnership with the president and senior leadership, she has emphasized a model in which athletics serves as an extension of the university’s mission, culture and community engagement. That alignment has been instrumental in driving investment, stability and shared purpose across campus, allowing athletics to function as a visible ambassador for the university’s values and momentum.

In line with the university’s rapid growth, Boggs has guided GCU Athletics through a transformative era of competitive success. The Lopes concluded their Western Athletic Conference tenure with five consecutive WAC Commissioner’s Cups and seven overall, cementing GCU’s position as the league’s top-performing athletic department. In 2024-25, GCU placed both its men’s and women’s basketball programs in the NCAA Tournament, continued softball’s run with a fourth straight NCAA appearance and additional tournament wins, and sent men’s golf and women’s tennis to NCAA postseason play. A year prior in 2023-24, GCU claimed a school-record 13 conference championships and was one of four schools (alongside Tennessee, Oregon and Texas A&M) to win a game in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament while also advancing to regional championships in baseball and softball.

Boggs first took over as GCU’s VP of Athletics in an interim capacity in late 2019 before assuming the role full time in early 2021. The Lopes have won 50 conference championships and advanced to NCAA postseason play in 18 of GCU’s 21 sports during her tenure leading the department, all while the Lopes were a relative newcomer to the Division I ranks in their first decade of membership.

Under Boggs’ leadership, GCU Athletics has reached historic academic benchmarks. The department posted a term-record GPA in fall 2025 and a 3.39 GPA for the 2024-25 academic year, the highest in six years. GCU’s Graduation Success Rate climbed to 94%, the highest in school history and the top mark in Arizona, ranking second among Mountain West institutions and reflecting an 11-year upward trajectory. These outcomes mirror the university’s sustained investment in academic infrastructure and student support, reinforcing the principle that competitive excellence and academic achievement are mutually reinforcing priorities.

A defining component of Boggs’ tenure has been her leadership through strategic growth and visibility initiatives that align athletics with the university’s broader trajectory. She played a major role in GCU’s transition into the Mountain West Conference in 2025, positioning the Lopes to compete immediately for championships against national brands while expanding the university’s profile across the western United States. The move to the Mountain West marked a pivotal step in GCU Athletics’ national evolution, elevating the Lopes into one of the country’s most competitive and visible conferences. The transition expanded GCU’s competitive footprint, media exposure and recruiting reach while aligning the department with peer institutions that match the university’s scale, ambition and trajectory. That momentum has been amplified by record-setting ticket sales growth across multiple sports and a landmark television partnership with Arizona’s Family, providing free, statewide access to GCU Athletics and placing the Lopes alongside Arizona’s most recognizable professional sports properties.

Internally, Boggs leads with an emphasis on access, collaboration and service. She frames the department culture through the Five Cs — Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Christian Leadership, Community and Championships — and is known for an open-door leadership style that prioritizes listening, inclusion and shared responsibility. She has also launched initiatives such as Grace, Grit, Glory to further elevate women’s sports while remaining consistent with the university’s Christ-centered foundation.

Boggs joined GCU in 2015 after holding senior leadership roles at Duke and Georgia State, bringing extensive experience in compliance, operations and executive administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Diego and a Juris Doctor from Arizona. Nationally, she has served in several leadership roles within intercollegiate athletics, including chair and vice chair service on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee and participation on the NCAA Division I Council. Her leadership and influence have been recognized through frequent speaking engagements and her selection as one of AZ Big Media’s Most Influential Women in Arizona in 2021.

Before becoming Vice President of Athletics, Boggs played an integral role in GCU’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I as a deputy athletic director, helping build the foundational compliance, operational and governance structures required for long-term success. Her leadership during the university’s early Division I years helped stabilize the department, align athletics with the broader institution and position the Lopes for sustained growth at the national level.

Together with the strong backing of the university and its leadership, Boggs continues to guide GCU Athletics with a long-term vision focused on competitive excellence, national success and academic distinction — ensuring the department not only keeps pace with the university’s growth but helps lead it.

Faith and family are central to Boggs’ leadership and personal priorities. She approaches her role with a Christ-centered foundation that emphasizes service, integrity and care for people, shaping both decision-making and departmental culture. Boggs and her husband, Matthew, are raising their two children, Aiden and Lilia, and she is intentional about modeling balance without sacrificing excellence. As a working mother in a leadership role, she values creating an environment that supports families while empowering staff and student-athletes to thrive personally, academically and competitively.