In her position, Viola oversees the academic progress of all Bulldog athletic teams and works to ensure student-athletes balance the academic and athletic demands they face. She will also focus on student-athlete's transitioning into and out of the collegiate experience so they may successfully attain the goals they envision.

Viola comes to Drake from Arizona State University, where she spent five years in the Office of Student-Athlete Development within Sun Devil Athletics. She was responsible for academic oversight of several teams, served on the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion and coordinated student-athlete recognition inclusive of postgraduate scholarships.

Prior to Arizona State, Viola was a student-athlete at Penn State University, where she played softball. Upon the completion of her eligibility she served as an intern in the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes at Penn State.

Viola earned a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Services from Penn State in 2005 and a master's degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State in 2008.