Academics Team

Lindsey has spent her career in college athletics advocating for student-athletes through her work in NCAA Compliance and Student Services.

While at Northern Illinois University (NIU), as the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Services she directed the day-to-day operations of the Compliance and Student Services Office while also serving on the Executive Staff for Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition, Hicks monitored all NCAA, Mid American Conference (MAC) and NIU Athletic Department Policies and Procedures. She also spent time as the Sport Supervisor for the Women’s Soccer, Gymnastics and Wrestling teams. She served as the primary liaison to the Admissions Office, Office of Registration & Records, Student Financial Aid Office, NIU Orientation, Housing & Dinning and the NCAA Eligibility Center. Hicks also managed the APR & APP data for all sports. Hicks oversaw the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was an integral part in creating The Victors Student-Athlete Awards Show and redesigning the Student-Athlete Life Skills experience at NIU. During her time at NIU, Hicks also served as the Assistance Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services and as the Compliance Coordinator. In addition, she was also a member of the National Association of Athletic Compliance (NAAC) executive board overseeing the Communications Committee.

Prior to NIU, Hicks worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Compliance Office at the University of Central Florida. Her first full-time position was a Compliance Assistant at the University of Texas where she served as the primary liaison in monitoring daily operations for Personnel, Eligibility, Financial Aid and the Academic Performance Program. She also was the main point of contact for the Admissions Office and NCAA Eligibility Center regarding initial eligibility.

Hicks received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Florida where she was also a student-athlete on the Women’s Soccer team.

She earned her Master’s in Sport Business Management and MBA from the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. Lindsey and her husband Jeff have two daughters, Kenna & Kyla.

Christine Simatacolos joins Forward Progress Academic Consulting with over 25 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics.
Most recently, Christine was the Associate Athletic Director for Student Life at the University of Louisville. She oversaw the department’s Life Skills program and was the sport administrator for swimming and diving and spirit groups. She also developed the department’s mental health support programs for student-athletes and was a liaison to many campus departments.
Christine also spent eight years working with the NCAA. She was the Associate Director who oversaw the first NCAA Academic Performance Program (APP) penalty waivers. She was a staff liaison to NCAA Division I Committee on Academic Performance and assisted in the development of APP policies and procedures. Christine also conducted APP Data Reviews, assisting institutions with APP policies and academic and financial aid compliance.
Prior to the NCAA, Christine was in her first full-time stint at the University of Louisville, working in the areas of academic support and compliance. During this time, she was also the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletes (N4A) Legislative Affairs liaison to the NCAA when Academic Reform was introduced. Christine presented the new NCAA Progress-Toward-Degree standards and APP policies at N4A National and Regional conferences.
Christine started her career at the University of Florida in the Office of Student Life as an academic coordinator for the Gator student-athletes.
A native of Carmel, Indiana, Christine received her B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University where she was an Academic All-Big Ten swimming student-athlete. She received her M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from the University of Louisville, where she was a graduate assistant in the academic support office for athletes.
Christine now resides in Frisco, Texas with her husband and three children.

Jane is an academic consultant for Forward Progress and an NCAA Compliance Specialist with the law firm of Church Church Hittle + Antrim. Most recently, Jane was an associate director at the NCAA national office in the Eligibility Center, focusing on academic reviews and complex pre-enrollment eligibility matters. In her role on the academic review team, Jane consulted with member institutions and counsel, guiding them through the initial-eligibility waiver process from submission to appeal.

Jane joined the NCAA as a postgraduate intern in Enforcement, where she assisted with the processing of both secondary and major infractions. Prior to moving to Indianapolis, she spent two years as an assistant coach at Division III Washington and Lee, gaining valuable campus experience.

Jane completed her juris doctor at the University of Virginia School of Law, clerking for law firms in Washington, D.C., and Charleston, South Carolina. Before law school, she earned her bachelor of arts in English from Washington and Lee University, where she was a four-year student-athlete and senior captain on the field hockey team.

A resident of downtown Indianapolis, Jane enjoys exploring the city with her husband and young son, Sam, and tries to get back to Virginia to see her family as often as possible.

Jessica Reo was named FIU Senior Associate AD for Compliance and Special Projects in August of 2015. Reo came to FIU after spending 12 years at UCF.

Reo was UCF’s senior associate athletics director for student services since July 2008 and was a member of the Director of Athletics’ Executive Leadership team. She also served as the school’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

In the role of SWA, Reo represented UCF in conference dealings pertaining to scheduling, championships and legislation. Reo also served as UCF’s liaison for gender equity and Title IX issues. In addition, she was the administrator in charge of several UCF teams including women’s rowing, cross country, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s track and field. Reo also acted as the department’s liaison with Academic Services for Student-Athletes (ASSA), supervised the Departments of Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning and Student Services.

In 2015, Reo was recognized as one of the Top 10 Senior Woman Administrators in all of college athletics by CollegeAD.org.

Reo was instrumental in the development of Knights Without Borders, a series of international service-learning trips. UCF administrators and student-athletes traveled to Panama, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Ireland as part of Knights Without Borders. They worked in orphanages, helped to renovate libraries and refurbished community centers.

Reo completed a four-year appointment to the NCAA Division I Rowing Committee where she was named the chair in her last year of service. She was also a member of the NCAA’s Division I Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid cabinet prior to the restructure of the NCAA.

Reo started her career at the UCF in the athletics compliance office in 2003.

Prior to coming to UCF, she spent seven years at the University of Miami. There, she served as a compliance coordinator for rules education and documentation for three years and spent four years as a compliance coordinator for athletic services. Reo began her professional career as an assistant sports information director at Clemson University, where she spent two years publicizing Clemson athletics.

Reo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Florida State University and completed a master’s degree in sport and fitness from UCF.

Kelly brings nearly eight years of experience at the NCAA national office and over twenty-five years of intercollegiate athletics experience to Forward Progress. As a Business Development Consultant, he leads initiatives to support and grow existing business relationships through frequent communication with institutional administrators while managing client relationships, expectations and delivery of services. Kelly performs project management tasks and process improvements initiatives while enhancing client satisfaction and experience.

Prior to joining the Forward Progress team, he served as an NCAA Director of Academic and Membership Affairs where he managed the association’s Legislative Relief process. He provided analysis of current legislation to recommend changes for legislative relief across all three NCAA divisions. As the Associate Commissioner for the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Kelly provided daily management for the conference office. Additionally, Kelly was the conference sport administrator and responsible for the oversight of conference championships for football, baseball and men's and women's basketball. As the Director of Student-Athlete Development at Xavier University (OH), Kelly coordinated the opening of Xavier’s first Student-Athlete Academic Support Center and supervised the center’s staff and student workers. Prior to his career in athletics administration, Kelly spent time as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Mississippi University for Women and the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Kelly received his B.S. in Mathematics at Mississippi University for Women and his M.A. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Kelly is a native of Starkville, MS and also currently enjoys his role as an Adjunct Professor at Alcorn State University, a Historically Black College and University in his home state.