Marcela “Mo” Gaitán has been named Blake’s next director of athletics. She will begin her position on July 1.

Gaitán has served as director of athletics at Pomfret School, as associate director of athletics at the Hill School and as an NCAA DII program director at Concordia University. In addition to her athletics program leadership, she has distinguished herself nationally and internationally as a lacrosse player and coach. She was an athlete for two world championships in 2017 and 2022 and served as a coach for one in 2015. She has coached in the Colombia Lacrosse Association for more than10 years and currently serves on its board. She also served as head girls lacrosse coach at both Pomfret and Hill. She holds a B.A. in recreation and sports management from St. Cloud State University and an M.A. in leadership from Augsburg University.

“While Mo is excited to jump into Blake athletics, the Athletics Director Search Advisory Committee has been equally excited about her candidacy,” says Blake Head of School Anne Stavney. “Among a national pool of more than 180 applicants, Mo’s experience, skills and attributes set her apart in numerous ways.”