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University of Massachusets Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate AD/Student-Athlete Development
- Email:
- Phone:
- 545-3185
Joan Hopkins was hired in August 2006 as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services at UMass Athletics. She oversees the academic services staff of seven which includes the academic progress of UMass’ 650-plus student-athletes.
Hopkins most recently served as Interim Senior Woman Administrator from July 2014 through June 2015. In conjunction with UMass staff members Matthew Komer and Casey Stark, she presented at the 2015 National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) National Convention in Orlando, Florida, titled “Pro-Active Advising for At-Risk Student-Athletes”. In June 2011, Hopkins was the recipient of the N4A Distinguished Service Award, given to members who contribute above and beyond the normal service required by positions of leadership.
Prior to her arrival in Amherst, Hopkins spent 20 years at Eastern Kentucky University as 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. She received her bachelor's in social studies and secondary education from Penn State and her master's in counselor education from Lehigh.
Hopkins is a former executive board member of the N4A and has been a Master's and Age Group swimming coach. She has two daughters, Kristin and Karen, and a granddaughter, Sloan.
