Dr. Annie Hart joined the Raven Athletic Department in July 2022, making history as Benedictine College’s first-ever Senior Woman Leader (SWL) for Athletics. In her multifaceted role as SWL, Dr. Hart assists Raven student-athletes through comprehensive academic support; game management roles; and by serving as the Champions of Character campus coordinator, Chi Alpha Sigma National Athlete Honor Society advisor, and the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) co-advisor.
National Leadership
In 2026, Dr. Hart was elected to the NAIA Senior Woman Leaders Association as Vice President Elect. She will officially begin her leadership term at the national level starting in the 2026–2027 school year. Hart will proceed through a structured leadership progression within SWLA, serving a two-year term as Vice President-Elect before advancing through successive roles as Vice President, President, and Past President.
Academic & Teaching Excellence
Dr. Hart also extends her educational expertise to the Health, Wellness, and Exercise Science (HWES) Department and the Benedictine School of Education. As a faculty member, she teaches undergraduate courses in Elementary PE Curriculum, Elementary Theology Methods, and College Success, as well as the Integrating Creative Experiences class for practicing educators within the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) graduate program.
Educational Background & Research
Dr. Hart earned her Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from Rockhurst University in May 2022. Her doctoral research focused on motivation within Catholic schools—insights she actively utilizes when mentoring Benedictine students, athletes, and coaches. Her work seamlessly aligns with Benedictine’s core mission to educate men and women in a tradition of faith and scholarship.
Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a Master’s degree in Higher Education with an emphasis in Athletic Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2015. She completed her undergraduate studies at Rockhurst University, graduating in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education.
Prior Leadership & Coaching Experience
Before arriving at Benedictine, Dr. Hart spent over a decade shaping youth athletics and education in the local community. From 2011 to 2022, she served as the Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director at St. Benedict Catholic School in Atchison. During her tenure, she coached track and field and volleyball, successfully infused the Catholic faith into the PE curriculum and athletics events, and guided the St. Benedict Catholic School to a dozen league championships across six sports. She also served two terms as the President of the Northeast Kansas Middle School League.
Her exceptional contributions to the classroom and the community earned her prestigious honors in 2017, when she was named both the Atchison VFW Post 1175 Teacher of the Year and the Atchison Rotary Club Teacher of the Year.
Personal
Originally a native of Independence, Missouri, Dr. Hart has proudly made Atchison her home since beginning her professional career in 2011. She is deeply embedded in the local community and fully embraces Atchison's famous tradition of Benedictine hospitality.
