Salem College proudly welcomes Melissa Barrett, who replaces Kim Fierke as Director of Athletics. Barrett plans to use her extensive background in athletics leadership to continue growing the Spirits program in both recognition and success.  Barrett joins Salem from Belmont Abbey College, where she has served as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for two years.  In her position at Belmont Abbey College, she has led strategic planning for 21 highly competitive intercollegiate sports and helped coordinate funding to improve practice facilities and complete major baseball stadium renovations.

Barrett spent four years as the Assistant Commissioner for Internal Operations at Conference Carolinas, where she initiated and monitored a comprehensive compliance program for 12 NCAA member institutions.

She also worked as a Media Relations Assistant for the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference between 2002 and 2004 and has experience as both a head and assistant coach for two girls' softball teams.

Barrett received a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Belmont Abbey College.  As an undergrad, Barrett was inducted into the Abbey College Hall of Fame and was a four-time all-conference catcher.