UE Athletics announces internal operations staff updates

Marisa Morales joins Aces staff; Melissa Rabell earns promotion

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville Athletics has announced two internal operations staff appointments.  Marisa Morales has assumed the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Internal Operations while Melissa Rabell has been promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Business Administration.

“We are very excited for Marisa to join our Aces team and she has made a tremendous impact in her first few months at UE.  Melissa transition to administration has been seamless and has elevated our business operations,” UE Deputy Athletics Director for Internal Operations Sarah Solinsky said.  “Both Marisa and Melissa will be key leaders in our department’s implementation of the Pathway to Excellence strategic plan.”

Morales officially joined the Purple Aces staff in August.  She previously worked as an equipment manager at the University of Central Florida where she was primarily responsible for Softball, Men’s and Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Tennis while assisting their transition into the BIG 12 Conference.

Morales completed her Graduate Assistantship in Athletic Operations at McKendree University to receive her Masters in Higher Education and Administration. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Grand Valley State University.

“The smile and the excitement that surrounds the big wins and upsets are what makes athletics fun.  It can be a lot of work, but we do it for the student athletes. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be working here in this department,” Morales exclaimed.  “While being a big planner, I am excited to finally see some projects and events go from start to finish and watch the university get better each day.”

Melissa Rabell has been on staff at UE since 2017 when she joined the volleyball staff as a graduate assistant.  She was promoted to a full-time assistant coach at UE in 2019 before transitioning to her role as Director of Business Operations in the fall of 2022.

She was a student-athlete at North Carolina Central where she played volleyball from 2011 through 2015.  Rabell graduated Magna Cum Laude and made the Dean’s List on six occasions.  She also garnered the NCCU Athletics True Grit Award in 2013 and 2014.  Rabell spent time in San Juan, Puerto Rico as an Accounting Auditor at BDO Puerto Rico, P.S.C.

“I am very grateful to Ziggy and Sarah for the opportunity to transition careers within the Athletics Department. The guidance in the workplace has come from everyone in the department and leaves a lot to say about the disposition of all my coworkers,” Rabell stated.  “For almost a year, I have had the space to work with each of the members of the department, from the Coaches to the Athletic Trainers and all the Support Staff; it has been a pleasure to get to know them and learn how to work with each one. I look forward to collaborating on all initiatives and goals to continue the progress of the Athletic Department, the University, and the Community of Evansville.”