University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Associate AD Joan Hopkins To Retire In August
June 15, 2018 | General, Athletics Department
Hopkins has spent 12 years with department overseeing Academic Services and Student-Athlete Development.
AMHERST, Mass. - After 12 years with the University of Massachusetts and a 42-year career in higher education, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development Joan Hopkins has announced she will retire effective August 31, 2018. Hopkins has served numerous administrative roles within the department including Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services, a stint as the interim Senior Woman Administrator and as program sport administrator for women's tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, and women's basketball (2014-15).
"Throughout her career, Joan has shown a great dedication to helping student-athletes achieve at the highest level," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "Her work has laid a terrific foundation for better student-athlete support in the areas of career preparation and professional and academic development. We are so appreciative of her efforts and wish her a relaxing and well-earned retirement!"
Hopkins joined the department in 2006 as the head of the Academic Services unit. She most recently was appointed to lead UMass' Student-Athlete Development program through the newly created UMass ASPIRES program. This past spring, her work with ASPIRES was highlighted by the NCAA's Champion Magazine and she will be the recipient of the 2018 Lan Hewlett Award at the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Convention later this month.
While overseeing the academic support and student development programs for UMass' 650 student-athletes, the athletics grade point average rose from a 2.967 to an all-time high in the Spring of 2017 of a 3.127. Under her tenure the Atlantic 10 recognized UMass for having the most student-athletes named to the league's Commissioner's Honor Roll on six occasions while finishing with the second-most two other times. Hopkins was the recipient of the 2011 National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Distinguished Service Award, given to members who contribute above and beyond the normal service required by leadership positions. She was a member of the executive board of the N4A for many years.
Prior to her arrival in Amherst, Hopkins spent 20 years at Eastern Kentucky University as the Coordinator of the Bratzke Student-Athlete Academic Success Center. The Center oversaw academic support programs for EKU's 350 student-athletes resulting in a top-50 rating for the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. The Center was also honored eight times as the top program in the Ohio Valley Conference and was the runner-up eight additional times.
Hopkins served as Lehigh and Northern Michigan University's women's swimming coach after her collegiate career at Penn State University. In 2004, Hopkins was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Hall of Fame. Hopkins coached eight Division II National Champions, 34 Division II All-Americans and four Division I All-Americans. Her teams finished nationally in the top 10 in seven seasons, including second in 1982 - the same year she was honored as the CSCA Division II Coach of the Year.
At Penn State, Hopkins was a 10-time All-American including an American Record Holder in the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1975. Her relay team is honored as part of the Penn State All-Sports Museum. In 2016, Hopkins was also inducted into Liberty High School's Athletics Hall of Fame as an undefeated swimmer during her high school career.
Hopkins received her bachelor's in social studies and secondary education from Penn State and her master's degree in counselor education from Lehigh. Hopkins has two daughters, Kristin Rusboldt and Karen Hopkins and two grandchildren, Sloan and Cooper. Kristin works as an Assistant Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, while Karen is a recruiter at Digitalent in New York.
For complete coverage of UMass Athletics, follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassAthletics and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
"Throughout her career, Joan has shown a great dedication to helping student-athletes achieve at the highest level," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "Her work has laid a terrific foundation for better student-athlete support in the areas of career preparation and professional and academic development. We are so appreciative of her efforts and wish her a relaxing and well-earned retirement!"
Hopkins joined the department in 2006 as the head of the Academic Services unit. She most recently was appointed to lead UMass' Student-Athlete Development program through the newly created UMass ASPIRES program. This past spring, her work with ASPIRES was highlighted by the NCAA's Champion Magazine and she will be the recipient of the 2018 Lan Hewlett Award at the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Convention later this month.
While overseeing the academic support and student development programs for UMass' 650 student-athletes, the athletics grade point average rose from a 2.967 to an all-time high in the Spring of 2017 of a 3.127. Under her tenure the Atlantic 10 recognized UMass for having the most student-athletes named to the league's Commissioner's Honor Roll on six occasions while finishing with the second-most two other times. Hopkins was the recipient of the 2011 National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Distinguished Service Award, given to members who contribute above and beyond the normal service required by leadership positions. She was a member of the executive board of the N4A for many years.
Prior to her arrival in Amherst, Hopkins spent 20 years at Eastern Kentucky University as the Coordinator of the Bratzke Student-Athlete Academic Success Center. The Center oversaw academic support programs for EKU's 350 student-athletes resulting in a top-50 rating for the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. The Center was also honored eight times as the top program in the Ohio Valley Conference and was the runner-up eight additional times.
Hopkins served as Lehigh and Northern Michigan University's women's swimming coach after her collegiate career at Penn State University. In 2004, Hopkins was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Hall of Fame. Hopkins coached eight Division II National Champions, 34 Division II All-Americans and four Division I All-Americans. Her teams finished nationally in the top 10 in seven seasons, including second in 1982 - the same year she was honored as the CSCA Division II Coach of the Year.
At Penn State, Hopkins was a 10-time All-American including an American Record Holder in the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1975. Her relay team is honored as part of the Penn State All-Sports Museum. In 2016, Hopkins was also inducted into Liberty High School's Athletics Hall of Fame as an undefeated swimmer during her high school career.
Hopkins received her bachelor's in social studies and secondary education from Penn State and her master's degree in counselor education from Lehigh. Hopkins has two daughters, Kristin Rusboldt and Karen Hopkins and two grandchildren, Sloan and Cooper. Kristin works as an Assistant Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, while Karen is a recruiter at Digitalent in New York.
For complete coverage of UMass Athletics, follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassAthletics and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
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