Heidi Birtwistle currently serves Eastern University Athletics as the Senior Associate Director of Atheltics for Compliance and Student Development. She has contributed to the growth of the University and the department in a variety of roles since arriving in St. Davids in 1990. She became the Senior Woman Administrator in 1998.
In her current role, Birtwistle is responsible for ensuring the department's compliance with NCAA and University rules and policies. In addition she is developing systems for academic and social support aimed and helping student athletes to thrive in the classroom and university. She served two stints, including a two-year stretch, as Interim Athletic Director between 2015 and 2018.
In her time at Eastern, she has worked on Conference, Regional, and National Committees. Recently, she spent four years on the NCAA National Softball Rules Committee and two years on the Middle Atlantic Conference Operations Committee. She is currently the league sport liaison for Men's Volleyball. Earlier in her career she worked on the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Volleyball Committee and was the Tournament Chair in 2000. She has also led Eastern's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Birtwistle graduated from Messiah College where she competed in softball. She earned a Masters in Counseling from Eastern in and has worked in Eastern University Student Development as a Resident Director since 1997.
