Palmen joined the staff on Monday, July 6, 2026 in the role of NSIC Assistant Commissioner for Operations. Prior to the NSIC, Palmen served as the Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), a role she began in August of 2025. As MIAC Assistant Commissioner, Palmen contributed to the office in driving the MIAC’s Strategic Plan, enhancing game day experiences across the conference, assisting in the planning and execution of championships, and oversight of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
A former MIAC student-athlete, Palmen was a four-year competitor on the Macalester College women’s basketball team and graduated from the institution in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Palmen went on to earn her Master of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington (NCAA Division I), where she worked in the Huskies’ athletic department as an Event Management Operations Graduate Assistant. Palmen moved back to Minnesota during the second half of the graduate program to serve as an Assistant Learning Specialist at the University of Minnesota (NCAA Division I) in the Lindahl Academic Center for student-athletes.