The Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) is pleased to announce the Tamara Stephen as the organization’s first-ever full-time executive director.

Stephen will replace Ron O’Flaherty who will be stepping away from the role of executive director and board chair in a part-time capacity since 2007.

“With Tamara stepping into the role as our first full-time executive director, we believe this marks an important threshold for our association,” says Albert Roche, President of the ACAA and Director of Athletics and Recreation at Holland College. “Tamara brings a strong skill-set to the position and combined with her vision for the ACAA, she creates a new energy for its future growth and prosperity. All our members are excited to welcome Tamara as our executive director and look forward to working together to advance our organization.”    

“Ron O’Flaherty’s significant contributions to the ACAA for over 20 years cannot be overstated,” adds Roche. “He has been the backbone of our organization, and his stewardship speaks to the value he places on collegiate sport in our region. His outstanding ability to collaboratively guide the ACAA through challenges while identifying priorities and opportunities speak to his legacy. On behalf of ACAA members past and present, we offer our sincere gratitude for his service and leadership.”                           

Originally from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Stephen graduated from Sackville High School where she was a two-time female athlete of the year and the girls’ basketball MVP in her grade 12 season. A multisport athlete, she attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, competing in both basketball and cross country while earning a physical education degree.

She went on to work within the Sport Nova Scotia realm, serving as Basketball Nova Scotia’s Operations Manager and as Gymnastics Nova Scotia’s Executive Director for three and two years, respectively, followed by a two-year stint as the executive director for Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia, Bicycle Nova Scotia and Cross Country Ski Nova Scotia. She was also a member of the Team Nova Scotia’s mission staff for the 2009 Canada Games.

Stephen also spent 12 years coaching high school girls’ basketball during that time and also served as an assistant coach at Mount Saint Vincent University for two seasons alongside Dyrick McDermott, who is the namesake of the ACAA’s women’s basketball defensive player of the year award. She also worked with Basketball Nova Scotia’s U16 provincial team for a season.

An Erickson International Certified Life Coach, Stephen is currently based in Dieppe, New Brunswick where she is the founder and CEO of Purple Goat Admin (since 2013) and has served as the Executive Director of the Moncton Basketball Association since 2021.

“I am truly honored to step into the role of Executive Director for the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association and grateful to the hiring committee for their trust in me,” says Stephen. “The ACAA has a rich tradition of fostering excellence in both academics and athletics, and I am excited to collaborate with our student-athletes, coaches, and member institutions to build on that legacy. A positive collegiate sports experience shapes student-athletes far beyond competition; it instills leadership, resilience, and teamwork, qualities that will serve them throughout their lives. I look forward to leading the ACAA into its next chapter with innovation, dedication, and a strong commitment to student-athlete success.”

Stephen will begin her tenure on March 31, 2025.