Maria Hickman

Maria Hickman is the Executive Associate Athletics Director, SWA, and Chief Diversity Officer for the University of South Carolina Athletics Department.

Her primary responsibilities include serving as the sport administrator for women’s basketball and beach volleyball.  Hickman also has oversight of sport administrator meetings, creation and oversight of department diversity and inclusion committee as well as execution of departmental diversity action plan.  In her role as senior woman administrator (SWA), Hickman participates in SEC governance.  Hickman is currently a member of the NCAA Progress Towards Degree Waivers Committee.

Hickman arrived at the University of South Carolina in 2007 and served as an academic advisor for football.  Throughout the years she was promoted to Director of Academics and assisted with building academic excellence while graduating student-athletes at a high percentage.  She was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Development on January 1, 2013 to oversee the Dodie Anderson Academic Center and the daily academic and student development operation for all student-athletes.  In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Development.

Hickman serves as a member of the athletic department’s senior staff and the University Athletics Advisory Council.  She also reports directly to the Provost Office.

Prior to South Carolina, Hickman worked at the University of Richmond from 2005-2007, where she served as an Academic Coordinator with the football, baseball, field hockey and lacrosse teams and Life Skills Coordinator.

A native of Statesville, N.C., Hickman graduated from Mars Hill College with a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and sports management and earned her master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville.