Tiffini Grimes

BA 2006, Political Science | JD 2009, Valpraiso University

Assistant Director of Enforcement - Football, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, IN

As an Assistant Director within the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Enforcement Football Development Group, Tiffini Grimes is tasked with identifying current trends and cultivating information regarding issues detrimental to the game of football. Considered a subject matter expert in the sport, Grimes is additionally responsible for developing relationships and serving as a resource to collegiate and professional constituents of the game.

Prior to joining the NCAA, Grimes was employed in athletics compliance at The Pennsylvania State University and Georgia Institute of Technology, where she worked specifically with football in the areas of recruiting, amateurism, agents, and waivers of NCAA legislation. In addition to football specific responsibilities, Grimes worked with both institution's basketball programs and Olympic sports in a compliance, policy, and life skills programming capacity.

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Grimes is actively engaged in philanthropy as a board member of Uplifting Athletes and through the Bella Mente Foundation, an organization she established while a student at Valparaiso University School of Law.
Grimes received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Purdue University in 2006. She was awarded a master’s degree in Sports Administration and a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2009.

1. Describe some of the people, courses, or experiences at Purdue that led to your success.
a. Purdue is extremely special to me for several reasons that collectively resulted in the best consecutive four years of my life. The friendships that I developed during my time at Purdue have resulted in lifelong relationships and I hold them close to my heart. However, the following professors had a substantial impact through providing me with the knowledge base Purdue is internationally respected for and also filling me with the confidence to THINK BROADLY. LEAD BOLDLY. I will forever be grateful to each of them:
i. Dr. Patricia Boling
ii. Dr. Leigh Raymond
iii. Dr. Rosalee Clawson
iv. Dr. Sandra Barnes (Former African American Studies Professor)

2. What’s your favorite memory from your time as a Purdue student?
a. Serving as a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader.
b. Participating in New Directional Players Civil Rights Production.
c. 2004 ESPN College Game Day Broadcast from Ross Ade Stadium.

3. When you think about Purdue now, what are the things that make it meaningful to you?
a. Purdue is meaningful to me for many reasons; however, I am particularly thankful to be a Boilermaker for the following reasons:
i. The academic preparation I received that allowed me to attend and succeed at the graduate school and law school of my choice.
ii. The respect received from colleagues, as well as, executives for the noteworthy knowledge base and leadership abilities Purdue University alumni possess.
iii. The access to an international network of fellow alumni, and the ability to have an instant connection with those alumni whether in Indianapolis, Indiana or Dublin, Ireland.
iv. The pride I feel in knowing that as a member of the Purdue University family, there is an expectation of operating with a heightened sense of integrity and ethics.

4. What is your favorite Purdue tradition?
a. Fountain Run.
b. Purdue Football Game Chants.
c. Riding in the Boilermaker Special.
2016 Emerging Voice Award Questionnaire (Continued)

5. What is your favorite word?
a. "Fabulosity" (n)
i. A quality ascribed to that which expresses style, charisma, power and heart.
ii. A mix of awesomeness and individuality in the very best way.

6. What is your least favorite word?
a. "Can't"

7. What book(s) are you reading now?
a. Girl Boss – Sophia Amoruso.
b. Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
a. Orthodontist – I can only imagine how rewarding it is to give someone confidence in their smile.

9. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
a. I consider my greatest achievement the ability to look at obstacles and barriers present when pursuing a goal; deciding with clear conviction that those obstacles and barriers will not hinder my success; and moving forward with persistence to achieve and exceed the goal. I have a "glass half full" perspective.

10. Which living person do you most admire?
a. The individuals I admire the most are my parents, grandparents, and my aunt.

11. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
a. Loving what you do for a living, while positively impacting others and continuously making memories filled with love and laughter with your family and friends.

12. If you could go back and talk to your college-age self, what advice would you share?
a. You are a student at Purdue University, a place where innovation, breaking the mold, and shattering the glass ceiling are encouraged. Use all of the resources that Purdue has to offer, then Dream BIG and Dream BOLD! Once those dreams are visualized, go out into the world with the confidence of a Boilermaker along with the love/support of your family and achieve, achieve, achieve! Remember, there is only one Tiffini and no one can be better at being Tiffini than you… You got this girl!