Cutter named associate director of athletics at College of Saint Mary

OMAHA, Neb. – Gillian Cutter loved her co-workers and her job with the NAIA in her hometown of Kansas City, Mo.

Despite all that coziness, something was tugging at her. To climb outside her comfort zone. Chase a new adventure.

“I just have always really wanted to be on campus, boots on the ground,’’ she said. “I just thought it was the perfect time.’’

The affable Cutter has accepted a new role as associate director of athletics at CSM. Her first day was Oct. 6.

All indications are that both employer and employee will benefit greatly. Cutter was the manager of eligibility services at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for four years.

“She has a great command of the NAIA rules in terms of eligibility,’’ CSM Director of Athletics Robbie Shay said. “She’s very relatable. She’s got a lot of energy, which is exciting and what we need in this position. This is a great opportunity for her, and we’re going to use all of her abilities and then some.’’

Another reason Cutter appears well-equipped for CSM is her formative schooling. She’s an alumna of St. Teresa’s Academy, an all-girls, Catholic high school in Kansas City. She participated in three sports there, with basketball being her favorite.

“Having gone to a Catholic, all-girls high school, being involved in athletics, those were my best friends,’’ Cutter said. “Seeing how that shaped me, how that shaped my peers, the sense of family and camaraderie that you have, I think it’s a very special environment. So knowing that this is a similar space, that really intrigued me.

“It was just something that I instantly wanted to be a part of.”

Cutter earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, majoring in parks, recreation and sport, with an emphasis in sport management. She interned with the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation before joining the NAIA full time in 2021, where she became an expert in all things eligibility.

At CSM, she will keep the athletes in compliance with the latest rules and regulations. That’s not her only goal, however.

“I honestly hope to form connections,” she said. “I don’t just want to be somebody in an office that they have to go to to sign something, check a box. I want to be someone that’s available for them, kind of a guide.

“I feel like I can be relatable in some aspects. I just want them to be able to feel comfortable coming to me with something. Having that background, I feel like I can provide some knowledge and some guidance that maybe others can’t.’’

Cutter said a successful athletic department must smoothly adapt to a constantly changing environment. She’s excited to play her role in achieving that challenging task.

“I think college athletics is something entirely different than what it was 10 years ago, 30 years ago, 50 years ago,’’ she said. “With social media and everything, I think it’s just extremely difficult what young women are having to go through. The way they navigate it is honestly kind of inspiring.

“I want to be able to support them in any way possible, just because I know that what they’re doing is not easy.’’