Ithaca, N.Y. – May 22, 2018 – Ithaca College Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, Susan Bassett ’79, announced the hiring of Erienne Roberts as the next Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. Roberts will begin her appointment at IC on July 9.
“After a rigorous national search, I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Erienne Roberts as Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Ithaca College,” said Bassett.
“Erienne Roberts brings excellent qualifications and experience to this important leadership role for IC Intercollegiate Athletics. Erienne will assume the oversight of Ithaca’s NCAA Compliance program along with sport administration responsibilities, assistance with events and program development for the Bomber’s Performance Programming.”
Roberts, who has spent the last six years at Slippery Rock University as the Assistant Director for Compliance and SWA, will replace Michelle Manning. Manning was selected as the Director of Athletics at Carthage College in April.
Bassett continued, “Erienne has demonstrated diligence, initiative and creativity in her work at Slippery Rock and we look forward to the many ways she will contribute to IC Athletics’ continued quest for excellence. She is uniquely qualified as an attorney with athletics administration experience and a passion for student experience.”
“I’d like to thank Susan Bassett and Dr. Rosanna Ferro for the opportunity be part of the Leadership Team at Ithaca College,” expressed Roberts. “Ithaca’s established excellence, commitment to diversity and building the whole student make it an exciting time to be a Bomber. I cannot express my gratitude and joy as I begin this journey.”
During her time at Slippery Rock, Roberts served in many roles within the athletics department, including the head of athletics compliance and leadership development; coordinator of the National Letter of Intent Program; an appointed member of the President’s Commission on Women and the President’s Commission on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation; the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; the Deputy Title IX Officer; and the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant.
Roberts has also served as a facilitator for the 2015 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, a participant for the D2ADA Mentoring Program, and is a graduate of The Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute and the Athlete Development Professional Certification Program (2017) at The Wharton School (2018).
Prior to her time at Slippery Rock, she works for two years at Miles College in Birmingham, Ala. as the Associate Athletic Director and SWA.
Roberts earned her bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate degree from Duquesne University.
“I’d like to thank Dr. Phillip Way, Paul Lueken, Dr. Joanne Leight, the staff and coaches at SRU for a great six years,” Roberts said. “And to the student-athletes at Slippery Rock, I am because you are, continue to work hard and be great.”
“With Michelle Manning‘s departure to assume the role of Director of Athletics at Carthage College, we have taken the opportunity to shuffle administrative responsibilities,” expressed Bassett.
“Will Rothermel, Associate Director of Athletics, who so ably restructured our NCAA Compliance Program, modernizing our monitoring systems, will transition to assume the Financial and Administrative oversight of intercollegiate athletics and the department as a whole. I am confident that Will can pick up where Michelle Manning left off and further refine processes and identify efficiencies in our financial systems. Will’s sport administrative responsibilities will continue as well as his work with the Corporate Partner Program and other responsibilities.”
“I would like to thank the search committee; Faculty member James Morton, Assistant Provost Marc Israel, Mindy Quigg Head Women’s Soccer Coach and Rick Suddaby Head Gymnastics Coach for the work in this important selection process. Thank you as well to the many individuals who assisted with our on-campus interviews of candidates,” Bassett concluded.