Berea College

Desirae Baayen joined the Mountaineer staff in November 2023 as Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Information and External Communications and as the Senior Woman Administrator. A native of Richmond, she began her collegiate athletics administration career at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, where she served as Assistant Athletic Director of Event and Facility Management — a role she assumed beginning at age 23.

Baayen earned a B.S. in Sports Management with a minor in Business from the University of the Cumberlands. While an undergraduate she was a dual-sport student-athlete, competing as a sprinter on the Track & Field team for four years and as a member of the Women’s Basketball team for two years. She later completed an M.S. in Health and Human Performance at the University of the Cumberlands.
 

At Berea, Baayen oversees sports information, media relations, external communications, and public-facing content for the athletics program, and serves as the Senior Woman Administrator, advocating for gender equity and supporting departmental leadership.