New London — Maureen "Mo" White has been named athletic director and chair of physical education at Connecticut College, president Katherine Bergeron and dean of students Victor Arcelus announced on Tuesday.

White, who will begin her duties on Oct. 1, replaces Fran Shields, who is retiring as AD after 16 seasons and will become the inaugural director of the Camel Athletic Network.

White, according to Bergeron, is the first women to serve as Conn's athletic director and takes over "at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the athletics program. We are very fortunate to have found in Mo White a talented leader with the skills, values and experience to take our athletics program to the next level of excellence."

White will oversee 28 intercollegiate sports at Conn, a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference, one of the top NCAA Division III conferences in the nation.

"The New England Small College Athletic Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in Division III athletics, with a deep history of academic excellence and athletic achievement," White said in a release. "Connecticut College is well-positioned to deliver an even stronger student-athlete experience, and with our talented coaches, we are well on our way to getting there."

White joined the Conn College staff a year ago as assistant director of athletics for business operations. She has extensive experience in marketing, consulting and high education at has previous experience as an administrator at two other institutions — Mitchell College and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Pont, N.Y. At Mitchell, she helped the Mariners successfully transition from a junior college athletic program to a Division III program.

White attended Providence College, where she played tennis and earned a bachelor's degree in economics. She later earned her master's degree in sports management from UConn. White continues to play leadership roles within the NCAA with service on a variety of committees, including the cross-division group that handles competitive safeguards and medical aspects in the sport.

Executive Director of the NESCAC Andrea Savage lauded White's appointment. "In Mo White, Connecticut College has selected an accomplished and veteran leader," NESCAC executive director Andrea Savage said in a release. "She brings a breadth of experience in higher education as a professor, coach and administrator committed to the well-being of student-athletes and to developing programs to achieve success."