Staten Island, NY – Wagner College Director of Athletics Walt Hameline announced that Katie Russell has been named the Seahawks' Associate Athletic Director. In a corresponding move, Jennifer Sansevero has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion & Compliance and will serve as the department's Senior Woman Administrator.
"We are thrilled to bring Katie Russell back to the Wagner Athletics Family, said Hameline. Her energy, passion, and commitment to the growth of student-athletes was apparent throughout the entire interview process. I have no doubt she will hit the ground running."
In Russell's role as Associate Athletic Director, she will be responsible for sport oversight of the women's basketball, swimming & diving, track & field, and triathlon programs while supervising the Student Services department. In addition, Russell will act as the liaison between the Athletic Department and the Wagner College Admissions, Campus Life, and Financial Aid offices.
Russell will spearhead the responsibilities of Title IX Coordinator, NCAA APR reporting, and manage the Student Opportunity Fund.
"I first want to thank Walt Hameline, Brendan Fahey and the members of the search committee for giving me an opportunity to come back to Wagner noted Russell. This is an incredible honor and I am beyond excited to be a member of a team that is committed to the success of the student-athletes and the entire college community."
Russell returns to Wagner after three years with Columbia University Athletics in multiple roles, most recently serving as the Assistant Business Manager. At Columbia, Russell was instrumental in maintaining the university's athletic operating budget and supervising the budget for six of the Lions' athletic programs. Additionally, she generated monthly and quarterly tracking reports for all of the Lions' athletic programs while assisting in analyzing EADA and various NCAA reports.
A native of Rochester, NY, Russell is no stranger to Grymes Hill, she received her Masters of Business Administration from Wagner back in December of 2016 while working as the Coordinator of Business & Finance for the athletic department. She handled all of the departmental cash & credit card reconciliations while assisting in the oversight and management of the Wagner College athletic operating budget.
A 2014 State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego graduate, she was a two-sport athlete for the Lakers, competing on both the softball and swimming teams. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations.
"With the addition of Katie, we identified a chance to realign a little bit and Jen was the perfect selection to serve as the athletic department's SWA, said Hameline. She has been a proponent for the student-athletes and coaches since her hire and will transition seamlessly into her new role."
In conjunction with Russell's hire, Hameline also announced that Jennifer Sansevero will be promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion & Compliance and will serve as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. Sansevero will assume sport oversight of Softball and Men's Lacrosse in addition to continuing her current duties.
Sansevero was named Wagner's Assistant Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion and Compliance in December 2017.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Wagner and the Northeast Conference in a newly expanded role" said Sansevero. "I look forward to continuing to provide a quality student-athlete experience and maximizing my impact on campus and within the NEC."
She previously served four-plus years as the Associate Athletic Director for Academics & Student Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). No stranger to the Northeast Conference (NEC), Sansevero is a former softball standout at Mount St. Mary's University, where she later served, from 2008-2012, in the role of Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator.
Sansevero earned a bachelor of arts degree from the Mount in 2004, where she was a Cum Laude student with a major in Political Science and a Minor in History. In 2008, she earned a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.
