The Alturas Institute advances its mission—promotion of the Constitution, civic education and gender equality-- through conferences, seminars, workshops and lectures throughout Idaho.
Pauline Semons Thiros, M.Ed
Pauline Semons Thiros has enjoyed a successful 23-year-career at Idaho State University. She started out as Assistant Volleyball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in 1995, following a standout playing career which earned her All Big Sky Conference Honors. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from ISU in 1995, and her Master of Education in Athletic Administration in 1999. Her efforts on the court earned her an induction to the ISU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following her years as a collegiate coach, Semons Thiros was recruited into a development position at Idaho State, and became a skilled leader in the Office of Advancement. She served as Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, Director of Alumni Relations, Executive Director of Development, the Centennial Capital Campaign Director, Director of Alumni Relations, and the Associate Vice President of Development where she oversaw a staff of 15 professionals, an annual budget of $2.6 million, and was responsible for approximately $12 million in annual fundraising revenue for the ISU Foundation.
Semons Thiros led the historic “Creating Legacies Centennial Capital Campaign,” which raised $152 million and culminated with the construction of the LE and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. She has been instrumental in fundraising for several capital projects over the years, most recently having led the major gift campaign for ISU’s soon to be announced Alumni & Visitors Center. A respected fundraising professional, she has been a Regional CASE Conference Presenter.
In August of 2018 Pauline was named Interim Director of Athletics at Idaho State University, and achieved extraordinary results in that role. She advanced the Davis Field renovation project, successfully proposed a student fee increase to support athletic department initiatives, and advanced corporate partnerships to expand facilities, staffing and services for student athletes. Following a rigorous four month national search which began in December of 2018, Semons Thiros was named Director of Athletics at Idaho State University in March 2019. She is the first female Director of Athletics to be named at a Division I University in Idaho. Semons Thiros is a member of the President’s Administrative Council at Idaho State University.
Throughout her successful career in fundraising, Semons Thiros remained involved in athletics and coaching. She is among Idaho’s winningest high school coaches, logging a record of 317-49 and winning six consecutive State Volleyball Titles at Century High School. She took her team to the District Finals match in every year of her career, and to the State Final in 8 of her 9 seasons. Her program produced 5 PrepVolleyball.com All Americans, 4 Gatorade Players of the Year and a Prepvolleyball.com National Player of the Year. Her streak is the best mark in the history Idaho 4A volleyball. Semons Thiros has 7 times been named District 5/6 Coach of the Year, and 6 times Idaho Coaching Association Coach of the Year. Semons Thiros has coached in the USA Volleyball Pipeline, and was a Co-Founder of Idaho Peak Volleyball Club. She has contributed to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Magazine “Coaching Management”, taught IHSAA coaching clinics, and has been recognized by Prepvolleyball.com among the nation’s top high school volleyball coaches. In 2016 on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, she was honored with the Trailblazer Award.
Semons Thiros has a son and a daughter.