For nearly a decade, Jean L. Orr has been a trailblazer at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). At a young age, Jean has emerged as an experienced and accomplished leader of the NCAA's inclusion initiatives, working with diverse populations of student-athletes, coaches, university faculty and administrators, and the public.

Jean received her bachelor degree in 2002 from Hanover College, where she studied and played as a softball student-athlete. After graduating from Hanover, she served as a team leader for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Jean returned to Indiana and earned her masters degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the IU School of Education in 2008. 

As a graduate student at IU, Jean served as the Student Development & Compliance Practicum Assistant to Mattie White, in which she developed an international student-athlete support group and collaborated with the LGBTQ+ Culture Center (formerly the GLBT Student Support Services Office) to promote awareness of LGBTQ student-athletes as part of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

After completing her master's degree at IU, Jean began her career with the NCAA as a post-graduate intern in 2008, advancing rapidly to become Coordinator (in 2009) and then Assistant Director (in 2010) of Academic and Membership Affairs.  In January 2018, Jean accepted a position with the NCAA Office of Inclusion. Her wife, Cindi Merrill, also works for the NCAA as Associate Director of Enforcement.

During her tenure at the NCAA, Jean has served in a wide range of leadership roles. She has been heavily involved in NCAA governance, including serving as staff liaison to numerous committees dealing with rules, compliance, eligibility, and inclusion. Jean has also served as liaison between the NCAA's Academic Outreach Team and two national associations for academic advisors.

Jean has been a pivotal leader in the NCAA's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in college athletics, particularly for LGBTQ+ student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff. She currently serves as the primary liaison to the NCAA's LGBTQ Working Group for Division III schools, with responsibility for overseeing the development of a culture/climate survey to guide LGBTQ initiatives and resources. She is also a leader of the NCAA's People of Color Employee Resource Group, serving as co-chair of its Ally-Building Subcommittee. She has been an active participant in the NCAA's "Common Ground" initiative to explore ways to bridge the gap between faith communities and the LGBTQ community.

Among her leadership efforts, Jean has collaborated in planning and facilitating the NCAA Inclusion Forum, which works with leaders in higher education and intercollegiate athletics to improve the educational and professional environment for student-athletes, coaches, and staff through policies, research, and best practices that support racial and ethnic minorities, women, international student-athletes, LGBTQ athletes, and athletes with disabilities. In addition, she has helped produce the NCAA's Division III "You Can Play" and "It's On Us" video campaigns.

Jean represents the NCAA as an affiliate member of Out & Equal Indiana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving LGBT workplace equality by partnering with companies and government agencies to provide leadership development, comprehensive training, networking opportunities, strategies, and best practices to create equal, inclusive, and welcoming workplaces for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

In addition to her work at the NCAA, Jean has been an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators).

While working at the NCAA, Jean has also continued to pursue her education at IU. She is currently completing a doctoral degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs through the IU School of Education, where her coursework covers topics relevant to under-represented and/or at-risk populations and her research focuses on a qualitative study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual intercollegiate athletics coaches.

Thanks in large part to the skilled leadership and tireless efforts of people like Jean, the NCAA continues to embrace and advance the cause of equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in college athletics.

Please join us on Friday, January, 26, in the Tudor Room of the Indiana Memorial Union to recognize and congratulate Jean and to enjoy an evening of festivities and fun.