Small College Conversations: Alison Mohr

In this episode of Small College Conversations, Kristen Eargle sits down with Daytona State AD Alison Mohr to discuss stepping into leadership after 28 years at the institution. Moore shares her approach to building on the department’s strong foundation, maintaining a culture that values winning without being “win at all cost,” and balancing athletics with her role as Dean of the School of Health and Wellness. She also discusses the evolving NJCAA landscape, NIL, the rapid growth of women’s flag football, student-athlete success, and Daytona State’s recent investments in athletic facilities. 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - You've spent 28 years at Daytona State and now have the AD chair. What feels most different about finally having the authority to make the decisions? 02:02 - As the first new AD in 34 years, what are the Daytona State’s non-negotiables or key facets of the Falcons’ culture? 02:5 8 Have there been any challenges in shifting from colleague to the chair that you didn’t see coming? 03:50 - You're now also Dean of the School of Health & Wellness. How does having an academic leadership role change the way you think about athletics' place within the institution? 05:09 - You recently spoke about hiring and onboarding athletic staff. What have you learned about that process now that you're the person ultimately making those decisions? 06:37 - You've spent years in NJCAA/FCSAA governance. What does the association need to understand about what athletic departments are dealing with on the ground right now? 07:56 - You chaired/served on the NJCAA women's flag football committee. The sport continues to explode at the collegiate and high school levels. What does flag football need to mature into a nationally sponsored, championship sport? 09:40 - You've been at Daytona State long enough to see the industry change dramatically. What changes or trends do you have your eye on that may not get the biggest headlines like eligibility? 11:07 - If you look back in three years, how will you measure the success of the department under your leadership? 12:45 - Are there any big facility projects or big initiatives that you’re excited to launch? 14:18 - How do you fund major facility upgrades?