WASHINGTON – Georgetown University Francis X. Rienzo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed has been selected as one of 43 individuals representing 33 organizations to the 2021 Leader in Diversity and Inclusive Hiring listing by Sports Business Journal (SBJ). Throughout his career, Reed has championed Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and in recent years he has overseen the addition of specific positions within the Department to address the DEI needs of the student-athletes, coaches and staff.

SBJ is recognizing the men and women across professional and college teams, leagues and conferences who have led by example in the hiring decisions and efforts they have made to advance the sports business careers of women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. These are the individuals whose names came up again and again in months of research and outreach to those working in the diversity, equity and inclusion space. Their efforts are changing what sports properties look like and how they conduct business.

Reed's commitment to the student-athletes and coaches is an integral part of his core philosophy and leadership style. This is reflected in his oft-mentioned adage, "Georgetown athletics is STUDENT-ATHLETE centered, COACH driven, and ADMINISTRATOR assisted." This principle guides all strategic decision making within the Department of Athletics.

Reed continues to earn respect within his profession and among his peers. He served as the president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) for the 2018-19 academic year becoming the first former NACDA intern to be elected president.  He was also recognized as one of 28 recipients of NACDA's Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year Award in 2017.

The athletics director serves as president of the John McLendon Foundation Board and is chair of the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Issues Working Group. He is also a mentor in the NCAA Pathways program, on the advisory board for the LGBTQ Center at Georgetown, a member of the Black AD Alliance and is a frequent guest speaker at the NCAA, NACDA and other national programs.

Under Reed's guidance, the Athletics Department has continued to build its holistic approach to the student-athlete experience. Reed established the Cooper Athletics Leadership Program and brought on a full-time counselor exclusively for student-athletes as well as full-time dietician. Additionally, Reed developed the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group and brought on the department's first full-time director of diversity, equity & inclusion to aid in the mission of the department. 

Throughout Reed's tenure, Georgetown Athletics has continued to be a national and conference powerhouse, claiming 34 conference tournament and regular season championships.  Five head coaches have received national coaches of the year honors under Reed and seven team national championships have been earned.