Indiana State University Athletics

Indiana State University President Mike Godard has selected Nathan Christensen as the Sycamores' new Director of Athletics. Christensen will join Indiana State after serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, SD, since 2021. He will start on July 1, 2024.
 
As Indiana State's director of athletics, Christensen will lead Indiana State's athletic staff and act as a member of the President's cabinet, being a partner on campus for athletics and academics. He will oversee athletic programs competing in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), and the NCAA. He will also work with community members, donors, and alumni to continue building the "Crossroad of Champions" program, empowering student-athletes in their name, image, and likeness (NIL) exposure and opportunities.
 
Christensen joined SDSU in August of 2021. He oversaw multiple administrative units and sports, including the annual fund, capital projects, endowed scholarships, special events, and the ticket office. He was also the sports administrator for women's soccer and the track and field & cross-country programs. Notably, he secured the first-ever endowed Head Coach position at the university - a track and field coach – one of only eleven such positions nationwide. In 2021, SDSU reached a fundraising record, raising over $42 million from more than 4,100 donors.
 
Before his appointment at SDSU, Christensen served at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) as Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs from May 2018 to August 2021 and as Assistant Athletics Director for Development and Director of the Panther Scholarship Club from December 2016 to May 2018. At UNI, he raised over $10.2 million for athletics scholarships. From 2008 to 2016, Christensen worked at Minnesota State University, Mankato, acting as Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations and Director of Marketing and Sales for Athletics.
 
Christensen is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a Master's in Sports Management and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.
 
Christensen and his wife, Kalli, are the parents of two children, Eleanor and Kelby, and will be relocating to Terre Haute.