Indiana State Welcomes Melissa Burke As NCAA Compliance Assistant Director

Indiana State University Associate A.D. for Compliance Joel McMullen announced the hiring of Melissa Burke as ISU Athletics’ new NCAA Compliance Assistant Director.

Burke joins the Sycamores by way of stints at Chadron State College and Farmers State Bank in Chadron, Nebraska. She brings 10 years of collegiate experience to the position including serving as the Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administration at Chadron State in 2015-16.

“I do not know if I can put into words the extreme honor it is to be a part of the Indiana State University Athletics’ program,” Burke said. “It has felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus for my interview. I am thankful for the confidence the institution, Sherard Clinkscales, Angie Lansing and Joel McMullen have instilled in me. I am thrilled to be working with someone as knowledgeable and established as Joel and I am anxious to learn all I can. I could not be more pleased to be a Sycamore!”

Burke takes over the NCAA Compliance Assistant Director role following the departure of Dr. Tonya Sawyer who accepted the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance/SWA at Eastern Illinois University back in mid-March.

“We are thrilled to have Melissa join us,” McMullen said. “She brings a wealth of experience and talents to our compliance operations. We had a number of very qualified applicants from across the country and Melissa rose to the top. She is stepping into some big shoes after Dr. Tonya Sawyer took the head compliance position at Eastern Illinois a few months back, but I have no doubt that Melissa will be up for the challenge. ISU is fortunate to have Melissa join us and I have every confidence that she will make us an even stronger department, in all regards.”

Burke most recently worked as a Customer Service Representative at Farmers State Bank from December 2017 where she helped conduct daily teller transactions, perform monthly compliance reviews, and investigated fraudulent charges. She also served as the branch social media contact and assisted in the training of new employees.

Prior to her time at Farmers State Bank, she served on the athletics administrative staff at Chadron State from 2007-16. Burke served as the Assistant A.D./SWA from 2015-16 where she led monthly compliance meetings, investigated potential NCAA rule violations, and served on various campus committees. She also assisted in fundraising and created and developed promotional events.

Prior to her promotion, Burke served as Chadron State’s Compliance Coordinator from 2011-15 and the athletic administrative assistant from 2007-11. She also served as the administrative assistant for the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District from 2005-07.

Burke, a former women’s basketball standout, is a 2021 Chadron State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. At the conclusion of her playing career, she ranked ninth in program history in career points, while helping lead the Eagles to three consecutive berths in the RMAC postseason, as well as two trips to the tournament semifinals. She was the recipient of the 2001 Clyde Bond Memorial Award, an honor given annually to one deserving Chadron State scholar-athlete who displays leadership, character, and athletic ability.

Burke has one daughter, Anika, who currently attends and plays volleyball at the University of Northwestern Ohio, in Lima, Ohio.

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