AUBURN, Ala. – Meredith Jenkins, an ardent advocate for women's sports whose historic 24-year Auburn Athletics career began in media relations and ended as a senior administrator, passed away over the weekend of cancer in California. She was 51.
A graduate of Florida State University, Jenkins came to Auburn in 1994 and soon became the first woman in the Southeastern Conference to oversee a media relations department and serve as its primary football contact. From 1999-2004, she promoted 25 All-SEC selections, six All-Americans and one national award winner while handling publicity during Auburn's historic 2004 unbeaten SEC championship season.
Jenkins then transitioned to administration, ultimately becoming Auburn's executive associate athletics director and senior woman administrator, providing leadership or administration to 20 of Auburn's 21 sports during her tenure.
Fresno State's deputy director of athletics since 2018, Jenkins had oversight and managerial responsibility for internal units while also coordinating university governance. During her time there, six Bulldogs programs won conference championships.
On July 29, 2021, Jenkins returned to Auburn with her family for the dedication of the Meredith H. Jenkins Office Suite at the Auburn Athletic Complex.
"She had such a huge impact on my life," said former women's golf coach Kim Evans, who like Jenkins arrived at Auburn in 1994. "She was such huge part of my life's journey, my athletic journey and my cancer journey.
"I don't know of anyone who fought cancer harder. She fought so hard for her children. No one can fight like she can."
Jenkins developed Auburn's WINGS program (Women Inspiring and Nurturing Greatness in Student-Athletes), which focuses on mentoring and job placement for female student-athletes while raising funds for Auburn's women's sports.
"WINGS was so ahead of the game," Evans said. "She loved the student-athletes. She saw WINGS as a way to mentor them into their life after athletics. She really believed in that. That's powerful.
"I think she put Auburn on the map with women's athletics. She put us in the arena of being a leader and being innovative and helping our women's sports, not just with financial help, but in the area of life."
"For nearly a quarter-century, Meredith Jenkins worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for Auburn student-athletes. Her impact endures in the programs she elevated and the student-athletes and coaches in whom she invested," Director of Athletics Allen Greene said. "We extend our deepest condolences to Meredith's colleagues, friends and family, especially her husband, Russ, and their children, Alex and Aiden."
Jenkins served on the committee that recommended the hiring of Auburn soccer coach Karen Hoppa in 1999.
"What she accomplished at Auburn was really record-setting when she became the head SID for an SEC football program, the youngest and only female doing that job," Hoppa said. "It was unprecedented.
"Her move over to SWA couldn't have gone any better. Her impact that she left here at Auburn on all of us, but especially the women's sports, was massive. It's the reason our program is where it is today.
"She touched the lives of so many coaches and student-athletes, and always did it with a smile on her face. A huge impact that can hardly be put into words what she's done here for the department."
Jenkins also served as a role model for Hoppa in the way she balanced her career with her family.
"She was phenomenal at it," said Hoppa, describing Jenkins as "one of my all-time closest friends."
"You would ask her kids and they never felt shortchanged because of her profession, because she poured everything into her job and she poured everything into her family."
When Jenkins transitioned to administration in 2005, she recommended Kirk Sampson to succeed her as Auburn's assistant AD for communications.
"She was one of the most dedicated, competitive, loyal people I've ever met, in addition to being one of the funniest," Sampson said. "She was one of the hardest workers I've encountered in my professional career. She cared deeply about Auburn and its student-athletes.
"The respect she had around the league and nationally - by her colleagues and members of the media - she was the best of the best."
Jenkins' leadership and expertise extended well beyond Auburn. She twice chaired the NCAA Division I soccer committee and served on the SEC executive committee.
"She was all about the student-athletes and trying to provide them a wonderful experience at Auburn," former director of athletics Jay Jacobs said. "She brought a calmness and a confidence to every situation. She loved people. She truly enjoyed being around the people she worked with every day."
Jenkins' sense of humor helped her navigate the long hours her job required.
"She was always professional but always found a way to bring some levity," Jacobs said. "In her role there were always serious conversations, but somewhere along the way she always found joy in whatever she was doing."
Known for exploring the campuses and cities she visited when traveling with Auburn's teams, Jenkins continued her zest for life in the face of cancer treatments, participating in family hikes and ski outings.
"She brought people along with her on that adventure," Jacobs said. "She wasn't going to let anything slow her down. She's truly an example of attitude over circumstances."
Auburn University recognized Jenkins as its Woman of Distinction in 2010. In 2014, Jenkins received the Pamela Wells Sheffield Award for selfless service and commitment to Auburn.
"I don't know of anyone who's worked at Auburn who was more conscientious than Meredith, who understood it's ultimately all about people," said former Auburn director of athletics David Housel, who hired and later promoted Jenkins. "Meredith was an exceptional person. She was an exceptional administrator. She will be missed and long remembered. She influenced a lot of people for good in her life."
Housel, who says Jenkins was "one of the best hires I ever made," recalls Meredith fielding calls from Auburn football beat reporters while in the hospital preparing for Alex's birth.
"She took her job seriously," he said. "She never lost her humanity, sense of humor, and the realization that we're all in this together, and that we have to care for one another, even when we have to oppose one another.
"I think Meredith Jenkins is the consummate Auburn woman. You don't have to go to Auburn to be an Auburn person. Meredith Jenkins' values perfectly aligned with Auburn: respectful, competitive, humane. And she certainly had a spirit that was not afraid."Meredith Jenkins (right) in 2021 at an event in her honor, with Reba Gulledge
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer