A native of Ogallala, Nebraska, Mendenhall was a four-year starter for the University of Kansas volleyball team and worked for 20 years for the University of Nebraska in several administrative leadership positions. These roles included 12 years in Husker Athletics as Head Volleyball Coach John Cook’s first director of volleyball operations at Nebraska for four years when the team compiled a record of 128-9; senior associate athletics director, overseeing $70+ million in annual donations and ticket sales; executive director of the 25,000-member Nebraska Alumni Association for six years; and the chancellor’s director of external engagement where she completed her tenure at the university.