Margaret Akerstrom

Position: Associate A.D. (Academic Services) Alma Mater: Kent State University

Akerstrom was promoted to associate director of athletics for academic services and student development in 2009. Throughout her 26 years of service to Northwestern Athletics, Akerstrom has been with the academic and student services department, beginning as an academic advisor in July 1987.

Currently, Akerstrom oversees day-to-day operations of Northwestern's department of academic services and student development and is a faculty member of the School of Education and Social Policy on campus.

Prior to coming to the Northwestern athletic department, Akerstrom worked for nine years on campus, serving as director of the secondary teacher preparation program, as an instructor in the School of Education and Social Policy (1984-87), and as a teaching assistant and director of the school's tutorial-clinical program (1979-83).

Hailing from Springfield, Ohio, Akerstrom graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University, earning three letters as a member of the gymnastics team. Akerstrom received a master's degree from Seton Hall before earning a PhD from Northwestern in educational psychology in 1984.

Akerstrom resides in North Barrington, Ill., with her husband, Bill.