World Cup 2026 and other Dallas Sporting Events

Serving as the Executive Director for the Dallas Sports Commission, Monica Paul plays an essential role in implementing bid strategies and marketing programs that enhance Dallas' acquisition of sports competitions and events, including solicitation of Olympic, professional, collegiate and amateur sports, events and meetings. Most recently, she was honored by Connect Sports in 2015 as one of the Top IX Women in the Sports Tourism Industry and by Connect Magazine as being one of the "40 Under 40: Class of 2013," as a leader and innovator in the industry.

Paul also works closely with professional leagues, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Olympic National Governing Bodies and amateur sports federations, selling Dallas as a first-class destination for events, conventions and meetings. She liaised with the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee in 2011 and served as Executive Director of the Dallas World Cup Bid Committee in 2010 and 2017.  Paul has also served on or lead the Local Organizing Committees for the NBA All-Star 2010, the NCAA Men's Final Four 2014, College Football Playoff National Championship 2015, WWE WrestleMania 2016 and the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four.

Prior to joining the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2008, Paul was the Associate Director of Events at USA Volleyball where she oversaw the international events for the USA Women's and Men's National Teams from 2007-2008. She was also the Director of Competition for the 2007 National Senior Games in Louisville, Kentucky, where 12,000 senior athletes competed in 18 sports over a 16-day period. Prior to the NSGA, Paul was Director of International and Domestic Events for USA Taekwondo from 2004-2006 and Director of Events, Marketing and Sponsorships for the Junior Volleyball Association of Austin from 2001-2003. While at the University of Texas at Austin, Monica joined USA Volleyball in 1997 as the Technical Coordinator for the USA Women's National Team and was a part of the USA Delegation for the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education at the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts degree in Sports Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. She has served on the National Senior Games Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Heart of Dallas Board of Directors, and the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  Paul currently serves on the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors, the Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation Board of Directors, Women in Sports & Events (WISE) DFW Chapter Advisory Board, the University of North Texas Sports Entertainment Management Industry Advisory Board, the Connect Sports Advisory Board, and the Dallas Innovators in Sports & Events (DISE) Advisory Board.  During the Fall 2019 semester, Paul will be teaching Contemporary Issues in Sport Management at Southern Methodist University within the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.  An avid volleyball fan, she remains actively involved in the sport, representing the USA as a Technical Delegate on the NORCECA Federation Commission.