Alden Mitchell

Alden Mitchell enters her second year as Stanford’s Chief Operating Officer since joining DAPER (Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation) on July 9, 2024.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Mitchell is responsible for overseeing Capital Projects, External Relations, Facilities/Operations/Events, Finance, Human Resources, Recreation and Wellness and the Stanford Golf Course.

Mitchell has made an immediate impact, highlighted by a five-month stretch in which she was asked to serve as Interim Athletics Director by Stanford University President Jonathan Levin on March 28, 2025. During Mitchell's brief tenure at the helm, the Cardinal extended its NCAA team title streak to 49 consecutive years with championships in women's water polo and women's rowing over the final six weeks of the athletic campaign. In addition to managing DAPER's revenue-sharing efforts, Mitchell helped produce significant results in both fundraising and partnerships while also leading the department's efforts in welcoming Coldplay to Stanford Stadium, which featured two nights of historic sellout crowds in the first concert to be held in the venue.

Mitchell's expertise has been instrumental in the development and execution of the overall strategic vision for DAPER, helping further enhance the department’s business operations, financial discipline, brand, marketing and revenue generating activities. These efforts have unlocked new commercial opportunities for the department and University, enabling ongoing growth and success for Stanford Athletics. 

A Bay Area native, Mitchell is a seasoned executive who has built a wide-ranging set of experiences at major media, tech and sports organizations, including Uber, Discovery Communications/OWN, Viacom, Time Warner, Disney and Pac-12 Networks. Over her career, Mitchell has developed a comprehensive skill set across a variety of disciplines including business development, licensing, sponsorships, advertising, marketing and operations.

Mitchell most recently served as the head of Uber’s Consumer Business Development team from 2021-24, where she built out Uber’s portfolio of innovative and growth-generating consumer initiatives, delivering marquee partnerships with blue-chip companies ranging from the NFL and Live Nation to Marriott, Instacart and more. 

Prior to her tenure at Uber, Mitchell was the head of Global Partnerships and Content Strategy at Crunchyroll, where she established strategy and managed operations for content acquisition, original production and strategic partnerships. Mitchell also spent several years at the Pac-12 Networks, building a deep appreciation of the dynamics of collegiate athletics.

Mitchell’s ties to The Farm run deep. In addition to being born at Stanford Hospital, Mitchell grew up in nearby Atherton and spent much of her childhood in the stands rooting for the Cardinal. 

Mitchell earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1998 and completed her MBA at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 2003.

Mitchell resides in San Francisco with her two daughters, Lulu and Charlotte.

updated Sept. 19, 2025