Maureen Palchak Position: Assistant Director of Marketing/Community Relations Alma Mater: Saint Mary's College (Ind.)

Maureen Palchak was hired as Northwestern's assistant director of marketing/community relations in January of 2011. Working closely with marketing, academic services, compliance and athletic communications, Palchak serves as Northwestern's philanthropic liaison, responsible for coordinating community service for all 19 varsity programs.

Charged with implementing programs for coaches and student-athletes to become more involved on campus and in the Chicagoland community, Palchak also facilitates charitable donation requests and coordinates efforts with NU's sponsorship department to enhance joint community relations initiatives with Northwestern sponsors. In addition, Palchak also is responsible for coordinating distribution of tickets purchased by Northwestern alumni and donors to under-privileged children in the Evanston and surrounding areas.

Prior to becoming the assistant director of marketing/community relations, Palchak spent more than four years working at Northwestern's ticket office, most recently as the assistant director of ticket operations, and worked closely with the development department in fundraising efforts. As the assistant director of ticket operations, Palchak's primary duties included overseeing customer service for group and individual ticket sales, serving as the liaison for Olympic sports, postseason ticket operations and administering will call for football and men's basketball games.

Before coming to Northwestern, Palchak was an intern at Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, after working as an account manager at CDW Corporation.

A Marshall, Mich., native, Palchak graduated from Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., where she swam four years on the Belles' varsity swim team and set five program records.

Palchak, who is involved with Women in Sports and Events (WISE), earned her master's degree in sports administration from Northwestern University in 2008. She resides in Evanston and is engaged to Doug Meffley.