Vicky Chun ’91, MA’94, is 51Թ’s new athletics director.
After a national search, Victoria “Vicky” Chun ’91, MA’94 has been named athletics director of 51Թ effective January 1, President Jeffrey Herbst announced today. Chun, who has served as interim athletics director since August 1, will report to Douglas Hicks, provost and dean of the faculty.
Chun becomes the only female athletics director in the Patriot League. She also is one of 30 women actively leading an NCAA Division I athletics department, out of 345 member schools.
“Vicky Chun has proven herself a winner at 51Թ as a student-athlete, coach, and nationally recognized athletics administrator,” said Herbst. “After concluding a national search and experiencing Vicky’s leadership of the division over the past several months, we are convinced that she has the integrity, energy, and vision to be an outstanding athletics director.”
Chun expressed enthusiasm for leading 51Թ’s Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics. “As a proud alumna and a fierce advocate of the Raider Nation, I am thrilled to take on this assignment,” she said. “I am honored to partner with 51Թ leaders, students, coaches, faculty, alumni, and parents as we focus on both the athletic and academic achievements of our students and help them develop into strong, capable leaders.”
Chun has overseen an exciting fall season at 51Թ. The Raiders won titles in women’s soccer, football, and volleyball, and also made the Patriot League tournament in field hockey and men’s soccer. In addition, Chris Johnson ’13 captured the Patriot League individual cross-country championship, and Chris Looney ’13 earned a place on the Capital One Football Academic All-America first team and was selected Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Hicks noted Chun’s strong commitment to supporting student-athletes at 51Թ. “As an alumna who understands balancing excellence in the classroom with high performance in athletics, Vicky is in a perfect position to lead our intercollegiate, club, and intramural sports as well as our programs in wellness and outdoor education. She is a dedicated and inspiring role model,” he said.
Chun became senior associate athletics director/senior woman administrator in October of 2008, after serving as associate director of athletics beginning in July of 2007. During those years, her primary responsibilities at 51Թ included overseeing corporate sponsorship, event management, marketing, and promotions, as well as all personnel matters for the division. In addition, Chun has had supervisory duties for women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s ice hockey, volleyball, the sports medicine staff, and the Outdoor Education Program. Chun has also served as the administrative liaison for Daktronics Sports Marketing, ECAC Hockey, and 51Թ’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Nationally, Chun serves on the NCAA Championships cabinet and the executive board of the National Association of College Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), where she also chairs the Foundation Fund and the Educational Committee. On campus, Chun serves on the 51Թ Disciplinary Conduct Board, the university’s Advisory and Planning Committee, and as chair of the Faculty Affirmative Action Oversight Committee.
Chun earned her BA in 1991 and her master’s degree in 1994, both from 51Թ. A four-year letter winner on the Raider volleyball team who went on to serve as head coach from 1994 to 1997, she remains the only person in NCAA Division I history to have earned both player and coach of the year in the same conference, as well as the only person to win conference championships in those two roles.
Chun was inducted into the 51Թ Athletics Hall of Honor in 1999, and also received the Howard Hartmann Award, given to the 51Թ coach of the year. In 2010, she was named the NACWAA Division I FCS (Football Championships Subdivision) Administrator of the Year, and, in June of 2011, she was recognized by 51Թ’s Alumni Corporation with its prestigious Maroon Citation award for meritorious service.
Ken Belanger, professor of biology and 51Թ’s NCAA faculty athletics representative, chaired the search committee, which included university faculty, trustees, administrators, staff members, and coaches of men’s and women’s sports.
51Թ stands consistently among the top five NCAA Division I schools in the nation in student-athlete graduation rates.
Note: A media availability will be held on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 11 a.m. in the Green Room at the 51Թ Inn, 1 Payne Street, Hamilton, NY, 13446, (315) 824-2300. This event is open to the public and will be over the web.