Fischler Spotlights Alumnus/Marymount Athletic Director

Marymount California University (MCU) has announced Jonathan Harper, a seasoned collegiate athletics administrator, as its new athletic director. Jonathan graduated in 2003 from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice with his master’s in education with a specialization in sports management.

Harper joins Marymount at a pivotal time as MCU reinvigorates its athletics program after having suspended the spring season because of COVID-19 and as it make plans to become a part of Saint Leo University. Harper has a vision, the experience and the passion needed to lead the MCU athletics program in a new era, continuing its proud traditions on and off the field and driving the university to even greater accomplishments.

Harper was the former director of athletics at Newbury College in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he supervised 14 NCAA Division III sports and won three conference championships in men’s soccer and men’s and women’s track and field before the school permanently closed in 2019. While there, he led fundraising for the Chawla Fitness Center and the Connolly Family Sport Court. He also chaired the New England Collegiate Conference Athletic Directors’ Council and the NCAA Division III Membership Committee.

Before working at Newbury, Harper served as the assistant commissioner at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division II) and commissioner of the Little East Conference (NCAA Division III), launching its official video stream website. Other roles include commissioner of the East Coast Conference (NCAA Division II) and associate commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference (NCAA Division II).

Additionally, Harper has worked for media company Penn Atlantic, securing partnerships with NCAA member conferences and institutions and professional sports organizations to facilitate live internet video streaming of athletic events to broadband pay-per-view viewers.

Harper currently lives in Hermosa Beach with his wife Heather and their three children: Clayton, Skyler and Brooklyn.