Personal: Merlene Aitken joined the Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics staff in September 2006 as the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance. Prior to assuming her duties at WSSU, Ms. Aitken has amassed eleven years of experience in intercollegiate athletics.

A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Ms. Aitken will oversee and ensure that the WSSU Department of Athletics is in compliance with all NCAA and MEAC rules and regulations.

Ms. Aitken comes to Winston-Salem State University from the University of Kansas where she served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance from February 2004 until September 2006. Prior to joining the University of Kansas compliance staff, Ms. Aitken served as the University of Washington director of compliance for the Huskies' Department of Athletics from June 2001 until February 2004.

A 1997 graduate of Brooklyn College, Ms. Aitken earned her Juris Doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2000. While in law school she served an internship in the Northeastern University athletics department in internal operations. Following law school, Ms. Aitken was a compliance intern at Michigan State University. As an undergraduate she was a student assistant in the sports information department at Brooklyn College. She has over 11 years of experience working in various capacities in an intercollegiate athletic setting.

Ms. Aitken is the proud mother of a one year-old son Christopher. She currently resides in Winston-Salem, NC.