The 25-year-old Californian takes over the reins from Rachel Gwerder, who, along with partner, former Basketball Otago chief executive Mark Rogers, shifted to Tauranga in May last year.
Lockwood brings youth and enthusiasm to the role and has a strong background in the sport, which included a starting role with the Princeton Tigers in the tough Ivy League.
The Princeton graduate came to New Zealand with her partner, Kent Centers, on a holiday two and a-half years ago and fell in love with the country.
The couple spent 18 months working at a paua hatcheryon Stewart Island, have secured permanent residency and hope eventually to gain citizenship.
Lockwood signed on with the Goldrush last year and decided to stay on in Dunedin after she heard about the job and was encouraged to apply.
"I had been working with some kids individually and people would say: `Have you thought about the director of development position?'," she explained.
The job is for 35 hours a week, which allows Lockwood the time she needs to put into her rehabilitation.
A Tall Ferns triallist last year, the 1.83m athlete still harbours the desire to play basketball professionally but has been slowed down by a chronic knee injury.
Her patella has been rubbing on her femur and causing pain.
"Right now my knee is a priority for me," she said.
"I want to get on the court again.
"In the past I've rushed things and have pushed through when maybe I shouldn't have.
"So this time I'm taking more time.
"Basically I'm looking at [late] February [early] March to see how I go with running."
While Lockwood faces a lengthy rehabilitation period, the fast-talking American has a lot of ideas and is passionate about her new job.
Basketball is hugely popular in the States and there are endless opportunities for people to participate in the sport.
Lockwood is a product of that system and grew up learning the sport from quality coaches.
"Coming from a successful programme like that, and having the fundamentals drilled into me from an early age, has inspired me to coach the way they did.
"In the States there is a place for you to play and to carry on the game to the next level.
"It gives the kids something to aim for.
"At the university here, you couldn't really have a league because there is not enough competition.
"So there is just the clubs and national leagues.
"That is kind of a huge jump."
That is where Lockwood comes in.
It is her job to help bridge the gap and strengthen the game at its grassroots.
Reaching out to the schools was one answer, she said, and finding and developing coaches is the other big challenge.
"It is really providing mentoring and resources for [coaches].
"We'd like to run some coaching clinics for people and the schools to help raise the level."
