Biography
Erica Baldaray (Pryor) currently serves as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Leader, Athletics Eligibility & Compliance Officer, and Sports Information Coordinator at Soka University of America. Most recently, Baldaray was named the NAIA Senior Woman Leader Association’s Chair Elect at the 2024 NAIA National Convention. Additionally, she served as a moderator for the convention session “Empowering Senior Woman Leaders, Knowing the Role.” In the fall of 2023, Baldaray was selected to serve on the NAIA R.I.S.E. Committee. In July of 2023, she also presented for the NAIA SWL Lunch and Learn Series, where she discussed “Optimizing the SWL Designation with your Conference; The Progress and Future of the Cal Pac Conference’s Senior Woman Leader Council.” Baldaray also sits on the NAIA Athletics Compliance Administrator Association’s Leadership Board.
In March of 2023, Baldaray represented the California Pacific Conference at the NAIA R.I.S.E. Governance and Leadership Academy. In February 2023, she was the Keynote Speaker for the CIF Southern Section FCADA National Girls and Women in Sports Day “Girls Got Game” summit and was also featured in Concordia University’s MCAA “Celebrating 5000” Alumni Spotlight. In addition, Baldaray joined as a mentor for the Anaheim Ducks Inaugural “Women in Sports Night” event in January 2023.
Baldaray was appointed the first-ever California Pacific Conference Senior Woman Leader Council Chair in April 2022. She also serves as one of two liaisons for Soka Athletics’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) and has presented multiple sessions for California Pacific Conference Student-Athlete Council (S.A.C.) members during their annual leadership summits. In March 2022, Baldaray sat as a panelist for Soka University’s Women’s History and Empowerment Month panel discussion. Baldaray was also featured as one of the first four women in Soka University’s Women of Soka campaign, highlighting women across Soka’s campus. In May of 2021, Baldaray sat as a panelist for the Women Leaders in College Sports Athletics Communications Circle Call, and in October 2021, Baldaray joined the California Pacific Conference’s Women Inspire Network’s (W.I.N.) leadership team. Additionally, Baldaray was highlighted as an (A)dministrators. (C)oaches. (E)merging Ace in Athletics. for its #AceChallenge in May of 2020, and was also featured in the NAIA-SIDA Spotlight series in April 2020.
Degrees Earned
- Master’s in Coaching and Athletics Administration, Concordia University Irvine 2022
- Bachelor’s of Science in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Fullerton, 2007
Courses Taught
- MCAA/MSCE 510: Principles of Coaching and Leadership