Julie Beer begins her era as Commissioner at the Conference of New England on January 5, 2026 after serving as the Associate Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator for one year.
“The CNE Board of Directors is excited that Julie will be leading our conference as its next commissioner. Her commitment to the student-athlete experience, to the success of our conference and its member institutions, and to DIII athletics in general will help ensure our continued success, especially as we move forward with the implementation of our recently developed strategic plan,” said Marisa Kelly, President of Suffolk University and current CNE board chair.
Beer joined the CNE back in January of 2025 as the league’s Associate Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator. In the role, Beer had oversight over Conference sport administration and championship operations while liaising with the Conference’s senior woman administrators and student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC). She was also in charge of crafting recommendations to the athletic directors as they relate to the strategic vision of the league and implementing them accordingly.
“First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Marisa Kelly and the search committee for the opportunity to continue serving the Conference of New England as its Commissioner,” said Beer. “It has been a privilege to work alongside our member institutions during my time as Interim Commissioner, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead the conference moving forward. The Conference of New England has built strong momentum through a recent period of success, grounded in collaboration, excellence, and competitive integrity. My focus remains on sustaining that progress, strengthening our collective identity, and ensuring the CNE continues to compete at the highest level regionally and nationally.”
Beer joined the CNE after spending over two years as the Assistant Athletic Director/SWA at Johnson and Wales University in Providence. Beer joined the JWU (Providence) athletic department in the fall of 2022. Beer was responsible for all student programming and oversaw all aspects of the athletic department’s end-of-the-year banquet. She was also the sport supervisor for several athletic programs.
"I’m deeply grateful to Patrick Colbert, President Kelly, as well as the search committee members for their confidence in me and their thoughtful approach throughout this process,” said Beer. “I am thrilled to embark on this next chapter as the new Associate Commissioner of the CNE conference. I am excited to collaborate with exceptional leaders, coaches, and student-athletes to advance our shared vision and continue building on the tradition of excellence embodied by the CNE."
Beer joined JWU following four years at Clark (MA) University, where she served as the women's lacrosse coach and also worked with alumni outreach. Beer spearheaded the Cougar's marketing and fundraising efforts for the university's annual fundraiser, including creating a social media campaign using original digital content. As a result, she increased social media engagement during the campaign by 206 percent.
In the spring of 2022, the Clark women's lacrosse program saw 13 student-athletes named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference Team. For her efforts, Beer received the 2022 Clark Student-Athlete Appreciation Award for outstanding service to the well-being and advancement of student-athletes. While in Worcester, she also spent time as the Interim Director of Athletic Communications.
A 2007 graduate of Clark with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature, Beer won three Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Women's Lacrosse Championships at Centre College (2012, 2014, 2017) and was named the SAA Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2014. She also spent seven seasons as an assistant field hockey coach, helping the Colonels make two NCAA Tournament appearances.
From there, Beer moved on to Anna Maria College and was an Assistant Athletic Director, SWA, and head women's lacrosse coach. She supervised six head coaches at AMC and assisted with budgeting, travel, equipment, scheduling, and game management. Beer also created and executed plans for fan engagement and oversaw a rebrand of AMC athletics, including the unveiling of an online store.