Keli Zinn

“Everything great in my life is a result of West Virginia. I’ve had the opportunity to live and work elsewhere, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that this is the place that I truly belong.”

A Petersburg, WV, native who grew up playing multiple sports, Keli Zinn is no stranger to hard work.

“I came from a hard-working family,” she says. “It’s at the core of our makeup, and it was all I ever saw growing up.”

With a passion for sports, an outstanding work ethic and a deep love of state, it is no surprise that Zinn is currently serving as the chief operating officer and deputy athletics director at West Virginia University (WVU). Having previously served in various roles at the Big East Conference and University of Maryland, Zinn was called home in 2010 where she now serves as the administrator to WVU’s football program.

“My main responsibility is to make sure things are running smoothly day to day in the athletics department,” she says. “We are a massive ship with destinations in the form of goals and tasks that need to be accomplished, and it’s my job to make sure we make it to those destinations.”

Zinn attributes her success to the strong work ethic she saw in her parents.

“Being able to see two parents work hard, even when some of the opportunities or circumstances weren’t ideal, is something I am grateful for,” she says.

In addition to her upbringing, Zinn credits Brad Cox, who allowed her to volunteer with WVU’s athletic department as a student, and WVU President Gordon Gee, who appointed Zinn the school’s first female interim director of athletics in 2014, with helping her find the right career path.

A lover of community, Zinn is an active volunteer who is motivated by her passion for people and desire to serve.

“I am a firm believer that we should all strive to help others. Giving back to others is good for the soul,” she says.

Zinn is a member of the Beyond Team at Chestnut Ridge Church, where she supports projects with the intention of impacting the next generation. She also supports initiatives with United Way, backpack drives for local schools, Feed WV and Operation Christmas Child. Although unable to serve abroad, Zinn actively supports Compassion International, a Christian organization dedicated to child development and fighting child poverty. She also serves on the board of directors for the Visit Mountaineer Country Convention & Visitors Bureau, where she supports efforts to increase the state’s tourism economy and make Mountaineer Country—including Morgantown, Kingwood and Grafton—a prime tourist destination.

Outside her career, Zinn seeks to create awareness and enthusiasm for WVU by working with Women Supporting Athletics, a fund that connects women with a strong passion for WVU Athletics.

“I believe our athletics program enhances our community and our state, so it’s important for me to support it in ways that are separate from my job,” she says.

In keeping with her love of state and school, Zinn also supports other WVU events, including The Rack, a program that aims to help students in need of food; MODIFY, which supports youth transitioning out of foster care; and the Pink Party, a fundraiser for Bonnie’s Bus, a mobile mammography unit that provides screenings to women in rural areas.

For Zinn, home is where the heart is, and her heart bleeds gold and blue.

“I am surrounded by Mountaineer fans, and that brings a lot of celebration to my life,” she says. “Seeing and feeling the joy and passion that people have for our athletic programs along with how hard our student athletes, coaches and staff work to represent WVU keeps me motivated. I believe in West Virginia University.”