Kristin Kane Herbison joined Northwestern University as Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Services and Student Development in May of 2013. She was promoted to Senior Associate Director of Athletics in January of 2017. She is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the department's academic services and student development programs, managing a team of seven full-time staff members and an intern. Her office works to ensure that student-athletes on all 19 of Northwestern's varsity teams receive a full range of support in academic advising, time management and life skills, goal setting, financial aid, and various other academic and development services they need in pursuit of excellence on and off the field. Kane serves as the main liaison from the athletics department to the academic community on campus and serves on the university’s Undergraduate Council.
Prior to joining Northwestern, Kane Herbison worked at the University of Illinois for nearly 15 years, most recently as Director of Academic Services where she managed 12 full-time counselors and two graduate assistants. She started her career as a graduate assistant in 1999 at Illinois' Irwin Academic Center before being hired as a full-time academic counselor in 2001. Through the years on staff at Illinois, she was in charge of study hall and tutor programs for a variety of sports including cross country and track, softball, gymnastics, football and men's basketball. Before her promotion as director of academic services, Kane spent eight years as the lead academic counselor for football and men's basketball.
Kane Herbison graduated magna cum laude with double majors in sociology and physical education from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1998. She played on the women's basketball team from 1994-98 and was team captain her final two seasons. She obtained her master's degree in kinesiology in 2001 from Illinois, where she also built outstanding relationships with several campus groups and faculty as a teaching assistant.
The Aurora, Ill., native is an avid runner and has completed four marathons: Boston, Chicago, Marine Corps and Big Sur. She resides in Elmhurst with her husband, Brett Herbison and her sons, Tyler and Colin.