ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood University Athletics Department has announced the hiring of Amelia Thro, who will be the new Assistant Development Officer for Athletics. Thro, a former two-year Women's Volleyball player at Lindenwood and a 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Champion, was recently a Lindenwood Athletics office intern for Donor Relations from January 2025 until May of 2026. 

"I'm incredibly excited for Amelia to join the Lindenwood University Advancement team." said Senior Vice President of University Advancement, Mindy Spencer. "As both a Lindenwood alumna and former student-athlete, Amelia brings an exceptional lived experience and perspective into the role. I look forward to seeing the impact she makes on our signature giving programs, like Lions Booster Club, as well as beloved events such as the Black and Gold Benefit."

During her time as an intern, Thro was in charge of organizing and planning several events including the Black and Gold Gala, Golf Tournament, and Hockey Dinner fundraising event. She also communicated with local businesses about donations and other sponsorship opportunities, utilized the Gala's MaxGiving website to display items and input guests, sponsors, and item data, while also assisting with the coordination of donors and existing relationships. 

"We are excited to welcome Amelia to our fundraising team and could not be more pleased to have her take this next step in her Lindenwood journey." said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jason Coomer. "Following a successful career as a member of our volleyball program, Amelia has already made a tremendous impact on our fundraising efforts, most notably through her vital role with the Black & Gold Benefit. Over the past two years, her involvement has helped the event reach record attendance and revenue levels."

Prior to her time as a Lindenwood Univeristy intern, Amelia interned with the St. Louis Sports Commission where she assisted in the organization and operation of the 2025 Biz Dash 5k with over 7,500 participants. Additionally, she executed St. Louis's Olympic Day with former Olympians in attendance, ensuring a successful, educational day for 10 local camps that impacted hundreds of kids, and conducted the Sportsmanship Classic to raise money for the Sportsmanship Scholarship Fund. 

"Amelia's passion for Lindenwood, her strong relationships with colleagues and donors both within and outside of the department, and her tremendous work ethic will position her for continued success in this role." added Coomer. "She understands what makes Lindenwood special because she has lived it as a student-athlete, and she brings that perspective and passion to everything she does. Our department got stronger today with the hiring of Amelia, and we are excited to see all that she will accomplish in this next chapter."

Thro, a native of St. Charles, Mo., graduated from Orchard Farm High School in 2022 and was the President of the National Honor Society while also serving as a Student Council Member. She graduated cum laude from Lindenwood University in 2026 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and had a 3.8 GPA.