PERU – A former alumnae of the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota who led development of a $12 million outdoor athletic complex  has been named athletic director at Peru State College.

Glennis Werner was a four-year member of St. Benedict’s nationally-ranked basketball team and returned as athletic director, breaking ground on the sports complex in 2016.

Peru State’s interim President and Vice President of Academic Affairs Wendy Waugh credited Werner with experience, enthusiasm and leadership.

Werner is a former director of the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center and most recently served as a consultant for Mountain Blazer LLC.

Werner was part of a St. Benedict basketball squad that won its first 28 games in a row and made it to the NCAA Division III Final Four. That team is in the college's Hall of Fame.

Here is the college’s press release

Peru State College Announces Glennis Werner as its new Athletic Director

(Peru, Neb.)- Peru State College is proud to announce the hiring of Glennis Werner as its new Athletic Director. Werner brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in athletics, higher education, and nonprofit management, with a proven record of building strong programs and fostering success on and off the field.   

“Glennis brings a broad range of experience, enthusiasm, and leadership to the Peru State community. We are so excited to have her on campus in just a few weeks,” said Interim President and Vice President for Academic Affairs Wendy Waugh. 

“I'm most looking?forward to joining the incredible community at Peru and building strong relationships on and off campus.” said Werner.  “The experience with the Peru State College leadership team and Dr. Wendy Waugh has been exceptional. It was a quick decision to accept the invitation to join the team.”? 

Werner most recently served as a Strategic Projects Consultant with Mountain Blazer LLC, where she partnered with businesses and organizations to drive growth, planning, and innovation. From 2015 to 2020, she served as Athletic Director at the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota, where she oversaw athletic operations, fundraising, and the launch of a $12 million Outdoor Sports Complex—featuring an award-winning softball facility and multi-sport fields. During her tenure, the athletic department secured the largest donor contribution in school history and significantly strengthened community engagement. 

Prior to her time at St. Benedict, Werner was the Director of the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. In that role, she managed a $10 million budget, oversaw a 35-acre training facility, and supported Team USA athletes preparing for six Olympic and Paralympic Games between 2002 and 2012. She has also held leadership roles in athletic club management, education, and sport management instruction at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs and the University of Alabama. 

Werner earned a Master of Science in Education, Sport Management from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a Coaching Certification from the College of St. Benedict. She also completed the Management and Leadership Certification for Olympic Sport Leaders at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

Glennis will be moving to Auburn in the coming weeks and will bring her folks, Gail & Gordy, along as well.? She looks forward to meeting you, whether it's on campus or while walking her dog, Patti. Glennis is the proud?mom of Samantha, who is a junior studying Political Science at the?University of Colorado, Boulder.?