NIU’s Associate Athletic Director Susie Pembroke-Jones left the DeKalb area for a position as assistant director of athletics at George Washington University.

As of Wednesday, the 39-year-old began her duties by watching over nine sports, which include women’s basketball, baseball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s crew, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s tennis. GWU is a private institution in Washington D. C., which sponsors 17 intercollegiate sports at the Division I level, and all are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Pembroke-Jones came to NIU in 1977 after a two-year stint as women’s athletic director and men’s and women’s swimming coach at St. Louis. During her first two years with the Huskies, Pembroke-Jones was the women’s swimming coach before taking on her administrative position.

“The primary reason for my career change is to further enhance my experience in athletic administration. I leave Northern Illinois with fond memories and the knowledge of having helped build the program the past 11 years,” Pembroke-Jones said.

“I’ve watched it mature into a respectable Division I program, and I know it will continue to prosper with its new leadership.”

Highlighting her tenure as women’s AD was the Huskies’ Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Badminton Championship in 1982. The NIU program produced four AIAW All-Americas and two Broderick Award winners.

Pembroke-Jones also oversaw the school’s transition from AIAW to NCAA competition and NIU’s admission into the North Star Conference. She organized the NIU Fastbreak Fest, a women’s basketball tournament, and the NIU Hall of Fame for women’s athletics.

“Susie Jones is an outstanding administrator—one that is extremely organized, meticulous about every detail, and well-respected by her peers,” said NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell. “I certainly share that respect.

“She has done an outstanding job here with the women’s program and in facilitating the integration of the men’s and women’s programs. We wish her the best in her new endeavor at George Washington.”

Pembroke-Jones is involved in other activities which include the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Committee, and she chairs the NCAA Mideast Women’s Basketball Advisory Committee.