SEAHAWK ATHLETICS ON THE MOVE

THE UNIVERSITY JOINS THE NEWMAC, WITH SEAN SULLIVAN AS ITS NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

Salve Regina will o cially join the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in July and has hired a new athletic director, Dr. Sean Sullivan, to help lead the transition. Sullivan, who had served as the associate vice president of student a airs and director of athletics at e Catholic University of America since 2013, replaces Jody Mooradian, who retired from Salve after serving as athletic director since 2016.

As NEWMAC’s 12th core member, Salve will begin participating in conference play in mid-September to kick o the 2023-2024 season.

“ e NEWMAC is one of the preeminent Division III conferences in the country,” Sullivan said. “ e league championship-winning level of play in virtually every conference sport is of the highest national caliber. To play at such a level is what the very best D3 student-athletes aspire to experience as they enter the college ranks.”

Sullivan comes to Salve with more than three decades of higher education leadership experience in athletics and student a airs. At CUA, he supervised and administered their nationally competitive NCAA Division III program representing 25 varsity teams and 735 student-athletes. Previously, he served as director of athletics and recreation at Clark University (2011-2013), as assistant dean for athletics at York College of Pennsylvania (2004-2011), and served as interim director of athletics at the University of California, Santa Cruz (2000-2001).

“Sean is a seasoned athletics director, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to Salve,” said Dr. Letizia Gambrell-Boone, vice president for student a airs. “As we prepare to enter the NEWMAC and elevate our student-athlete experience, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him join our community.” e Seahawks will participate in 16

NEWMAC sponsored sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, eld hockey, football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and eld, and volleyball. Conference competitors include Babson College, Clark University, Emerson College, MIT, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Spring eld College, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Wellesley College, Wheaton College and WPI.

“ e NEWMAC institutions are known not only for their academic excellence, but their commitment to the support of the whole student and the creation of inclusive educational environments,” said Salve Regina President Dr. Kelli Armstrong.

“Salve Regina is truly honored to be a member of this prestigious and progressive athletic conference.”

Mary-Beth Cooper, president of Spring eld College and chair of the NEWMAC Presidents Council, expressed her excitement in welcoming Salve Regina to the NEWMAC. “ is expansion not only diversi es our conference’s geographical footprint, but provides the NEWMAC with another like-minded institution that aligns with our core values and broadens our institutional portfolio,” she said.

-Matthias Boxler ’04 (M)

HOCKEY JOINS NEHC IN 2024-2025

e New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) announced in March the addition of Salve Regina as the league’s newest member. Both the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams at Salve will join the conference and begin league play during the 2024-2025 season.

“ e NEHC is excited to welcome Salve Regina University as the league’s newest member,” stated NEHC Commissioner Katie Boldvich. “ e Seahawks have long shown their stability and success in the ice hockey community.”

Sean Sullivan, athletic director, said the move to the NEHC marks a visible commitment to the continued growth of the Seahawks’ two ice hockey programs.

“By joining one of the premier hockey conferences in the country, Salve Regina ice hockey student-athletes will now be challenged by and bene t from playing against other Division III programs of the highest caliber,” Sullivan said. “Our hockey partners in the CCC have prepared us well and we are ready to step up our dedication to hockey even further. We are thrilled about the prospects of what the 2024-25 season and beyond will bring to Newport.”

Both the Seahawks men and women will compete in the CCC during the 2023-2024 season before transitioning to NEHC play in 2024-2025. Current NEHC members include: Babson College, Castleton University, Elmira College, Hobart College, Johnson & Wales University, University of Massachusetts Boston, New England College, Norwich University, Plymouth State University, Salem State University, Skidmore College, University of Southern Maine, and William Smith College.