By Pat McCarthy
Correspondent
After two years at the College, Sharon Beverly has stepped down as athletic director and vice president for Student Affairs. Beverly was the fourth athletic director at the College and the first female to hold the position. She arrived on the campus after spending 10 years at Vassar College, where she held the same position, according to information provided by the College’s Athletic Department.
The campus community was notified that Beverly was stepping down from her position via an email sent out on Thursday, March 31, by Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht. Hecht highlighted Beverly’s achievements and thanked her for all she has done for the College, while wishing her luck in the future on behalf of the campus community.
In the same email, Beverly expressed her gratitude for the College.
“After two memorable years in Athletics, I have been weighing some wonderful opportunities to teach, which I’ve wanted to do since completing my Ph.D. I know to successfully make this transition will take a full-time effort on my part,” Beverly said. “As of March 31, 2016, I will no longer be overseeing the day-to-day in Athletics and thank Dr. Hecht and Dr. Gitenstein for the chance to be a part of the TCNJ Athletics program.”
Beverly’s decisions during her time at the College contributed to the success of the athletic teams, including the hiring of full-time strength and conditioning coach Addison Savela.
She also purchased Jon Gordon’s “The Energy Bus,” a novel focusing on an athlete’s ability to remain positive and focused at times of adversity, for all freshman athletes in Fall 2015. Beverly also brought in high profile speakers, such as former NCAA All-American, international-level distance runner and World Masters Champion John Underwood, to speak with all the athletes on the importance of recovery and nutrition in February 2016.
Hank Harvey, a junior computer science major and captain of the College’s football team, is grateful for Beverly’s impact on the College.
“Thank you, Dr. Beverly,” Harvey said. “The athletic program has significantly changed for the better in your time here. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”
The College saw success under Beverly, including multiple national championships at both the individual and team levels. Beverly’s first national championship came early in her tenure at the College, with a group of swimmers bringing a national championship to the College in March 2015. Beverly’s only team national title came in Fall 2014 when the field hockey team won the field hockey Division III National Championship.
Matt Facas, a senior health and exercise science major and member of the baseball team, said that Beverly pushed the athletes to reach their full potential.
“Since Dr. Beverly took over two years ago, there was definitely an increased emphasis and effort placed on improving our athletic ability, both as individuals and as a team, along with representing ourselves, our teams and TCNJ athletics in a positive manner, both on and off the field,” Facas said.
According to the email sent out by Hecht announcing Beverly’s resignation, she will take over as the interim director of athletics until the position is filled, since the College does not yet know when a replacement for Beverly will be found.
