Nicki Pieart became the Lake Forest College Director of Athletics on March 1, 2022.   

Pieart came to the College following a successful 14-year tenure at Aurora University that saw her fill various roles in the athletic department. 

A 2004 graduate of Aurora, Pieart returned to her alma mater in 2008 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer and was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer four years later. She also became a member of the administration at that time, being named the Senior Woman Administrator. In her role as Aurora's Associate Athletic Director, Pieart managed the athletic training department and was responsible for the health and safety of more than 700 student-athletes. She also oversaw the athletic department’s budget as well as all aspects of NCAA compliance and eligibility.  In her time at Aurora, she also spearheaded facility and event management, community service initiatives, departmental gender equity, and camps and clinics while also directly supervising four Spartan sports. 

In addition to her official positions within the athletic department, Pieart served on several key committees at Aurora, fostered relationships with local organizations to provide weekly community service opportunities for the Spartan student-athletes, was a member of the NCAA Men's Soccer Regional Advisory Committee, and chaired the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Senior Woman Administrator, Athletic Training, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. 

Pieart also currently serves as Chair of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport. 

A two-sport athlete (basketball and soccer) at Aurora, Pieart went on to earn a master's degree in education from Northern Illinois University in 2007. Prior to returning to Aurora, she was an athletic trainer for ATI Physical Therapy, working with the Chicago Bandits and Benedictine University. 

Pieart resides in nearby Deerfield.