Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Embry-Riddle alumnae Mea Felps-Darley returned to her alma mater as the Director of Compliance in January 2014. She was subsequently named Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance in August of 2017 and Senior Woman Administrator in May 2021 before being promoted to Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs in May 2023.

Felps-Darley is the sports supervisor for baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball. She also oversees academic support and athletic compliance.

Felps-Darley played a key role in ERAU's transition to from the NAIA to NCAA II. She coordinates the University’s effort to comply with all NCAA Division II, Sunshine State Conference, Peach Belt Conference and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University rules and regulations, and aids in the development of programs that support student-athletes’ progress toward graduation.

Felps-Darley serves on the ERAU Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory and Compliance committees. She was also as the Chair for the National Association of Athletics Compliance representing NCAA Division II and is on the NAAC Education and SSC Women's Lacrosse committees. In May 2022, she was named the 2022 Division II Excellence Award winner by the NAAC.

A native of New Orleans, La., Felps-Darley returned to Embry-Riddle following a 12-year career at Jacksonville University. As the Associate Director of Admissions for Athletics/Varsity Sports, she served on the NCAA Compliance and Certification Committee, working closely with other key University departments on NCAA rules education as well as day-to-day operations involving student-athlete compliance. Felps-Darley worked with the registrar’s office on eligibility for incoming transfer students and progress toward degree completion and helped coordinate Grant-in-Aid agreements for student-athletes in conjunction with the JU Financial Aid Department. She was also responsible for overseeing Admissions recruiting policies and procedures for Jacksonville’s 17 athletic programs.
 
Her work in compliance was not limited to Jacksonville University as Felps-Darley also conducted lectures at the high school level, educating students and their parents on the recruiting process for athletics in both NCAA Division I and Division II.
 
Felps-Darley graduated from Embry-Riddle with a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation business administration with a minor in Psychology in 1999 and was a four-year member of the Eagles’ cheerleading squad. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from Jacksonville in 2007.

In addition to her responsibilities as an administrator, Felps-Darley is the Eagles' Head Cheerleading Coach. In 2022, she led the Eagles to their first National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate National Championship appearance since 2012 and her teams qualified for NCA nationals again in 2023 and 2024.