Jody Mooradian, director of athletics at Salve Regina since January 2016, has announced her retirement in September. Bill Villareal will step away from his head coaching duties of the women’s lacrosse team after eight seasons and will take on additional duties in his new role as acting athletic director.

“While it may sound trite, it truly has been a privilege to be the athletic director at Salve Regina,” Mooradian said. “Sincerely from my heart, I can say that I have treasured this time. Having the ability to watch and help our student athletes grow as young men and women has been a gift.”

Mooradian played a key part in Salve Regina joining the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) as its newest member institution effective July 1, 2023. Salve will become the conference’s 12th core member and will begin participating in conference play during the 2023-2024 academic year.

“Moving to NEWMAC will be a crowning moment for Salve Regina University, not just athletics, and I am proud to have been part of that process,” Mooradian said. “That is also why I know this is the right time for me to retire and watch from the sidelines.”

During her tenure, Mooradian established the Seahawk2Seahawk initiative in 2017 to bring together athletics alumni across generations for conversations, roundtables and networking. She established Seahawk Academy in 2018, an initiative where experts regularly host group sessions with Salve Regina student athletes to mentor them on a wide range of topics like finance, mental health, nutrition and more. Captains Council has been another way to promote student athlete leadership and further team strengths as a whole department.

“Jody has been a champion of educating the whole person at Salve Regina,” said Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president of Salve Regina, who indicated the University will soon begin a national search for Mooradian’s replacement. “Her leadership programs for our athletes and alumni are outstanding, along with her support for their academic achievement and service to the community.”

Mooradian has been able to teach several courses in the field of sports management, as well as to serve on national committees like the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Committee on Infractions during her tenure.

“‘Once a Seahawk, always a Seahawk,’ is not just a phrase, it is the fabric of Salve Regina Athletics,” Mooradian said. “My favorite things are watching the athletes compete and then seeing them return to Salve after graduation. We have had unbelievably talented young men and women, but they are better people than they are athletes.”

The approximately 550 student athletes who compete in 20 varsity sports at Salve Regina have collectively achieved an average GPA of 3.5 while earning nine NCAA tournament qualifying teams in the last seven years — most recently men’s ice hockey in 2016 and 2018; baseball in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022; and softball  in 2016 and 2017; and having the highest national rankings for all programs.

Mooradian said bringing football and other sports back to Toppa Field is another highlight of her time at Salve Regina, as it created an exciting venue for students, the community, athletes and their families. She also said elevating equestrian to varsity status was a positive addition to the program.

“I have been surrounded by a team of coaches and staff who work tirelessly to ensure that our students have the best experience possible and that is on and off the place of competition,” Mooradian said. “Together, we have been able to have great athletic and academic success and build a strong foundation of programming for leadership. The overall success our student athletes with graduation rates, the GPAs, and the service to others are the easiest things to see, but the best thing for me is just the knowledge that we have so many student athletes who will remember their time at Salve as part of a team as one of the best times of their lives.”

Jody Mooradian has served as a senior athletic administrator at several institutions, including Boston College, Northeastern University and Edinboro University. She practiced law for seven years prior to mixing into athletics at University of California, Los Angeles working in compliance. She has served on numerous NCAA committees, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, and conferences committees. She teaches sports law and NCAA enforcement at Salve Regina and the Drexel Kline school of Law.

The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is excited to continue its weekly Staff Summer Sizzlers into August to encourage socializing and unification among Salve Regina employees. All staff are welcome to join and are encouraged to bring teammates and colleagues.

Tuesday, Aug. 2: BYO Lunch Meetup

• Location: Under the shade of the arboretum trees along the Gerety Hall driveway. Rain location will be the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life.
• Time: Meet at noon.
• Bring your lunch, grab an Adirondack chair or blanket, and enjoy a lunchtime visit together on our beautiful campus.

Thursday, Aug. 11: After Work at the Parlor

• Location: 200 Broadway, Newport
• Time: Meet after 5 p.m. for a casual visit with colleagues. Partners and friends are welcome.

Tuesday, Aug. 16: Ice Cream Social

• Location: Gerety Hall front lawn.
• Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
• Enjoy Newport Creamery ice cream, Del’s Lemonade, music, popcorn, lawn games and more.
• You are asked to return to your workplace responsibilities at the conclusion of the event.

Wednesday, Aug. 24: Sunset Beach Party

• Location: Sachuest Beach, also known as Second Beach. It’s located at 315 Sachuest Point Road in Middletown, Rhode Island.
• Time: Parking is free after 5 p.m.
• Meet between lifeguard chairs 1 and 2, which is the opposite end of the beach from Surfer’s End.
• Bring a chair/blanket and refreshments.
• Rain date: Thursday, Aug. 25.

Caught Caring and Staff Onboarding Buddy Program

Is there a Salve Regina staff member who has gone above and beyond that should be recognized? Is there an office or department that has been an outstanding campus partner? Send them a “Caught Caring” shout-out. All anyone needs to do is email SAC at staffadvisory@salve.edu with the name of the staff member and how they have been caught caring.

If anyone is interested in being a staff onboarding buddy to a new employee, it’s a great way to get involved. When someone is hired to work for Salve Regina, the Staff Advisory Council will pair them with a friendly face from the staff. A check-in over coffee, a walk around campus, a buddy to an event — this low-maintenance opportunity to show some hospitality can make a huge different in a new community member’s experience.

The Staff Advisory Council would also like to continue offering casual, affordable socials for staff throughout the fall semester.

If anyone has an idea for a social or would like to host a social on or off campus, would like to submit a “Caught Caring” shout-out, and/or would like to become an onboarding buddy, please email the staffadvisory@salve.edu.

Elizabeth Fitzgibbon, associate professor of mathematical sciences, has taken on additional responsibilities in faculty development and academic leadership with her appointment as the associate dean of undergraduate studies.

In her new role, Fitzgibbon will serve as a resource for faculty, supporting their efforts to craft an exceptional academic experience for undergraduate students in accordance with the vision of Salve’s Strategic Compass. She will provide leadership in curricula development and assessment and will also represent undergraduate studies in further developing collaborations with offices across campus.

“I’m excited by this opportunity to support my faculty colleagues as they work to maintain the highest quality undergraduate academic programs aligned to Salve’s mercy mission and meeting the needs of today’s students,” Fitzgibbon said. “I look forward to continued collaborations with our partners across campus, including Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the Center for Teaching and Learning, Information Technology, Student Affairs and the Registrar.”

During her eight years at Salve Regina, Fitzgibbon has taken on leadership responsibilities among faculty, serving as chair of the Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Executive Committee and serving on the Assessment Advisory Board. She has worked closely over the last two years with Dr. Steve Rodenborn, dean of undergraduate studies, on faculty development projects through the Center for Teaching and Learning — including partnering with Information Technology on Canvas training and to assess instructional technology needs.

“Liz is an inspiring teacher and respected scholar deeply grounded in the mission that makes Salve unique,” Dr. Rodenborn said. “In her new role as associate dean, her leadership and innovative vision will be invaluable as we continue to advance our distinctive undergraduate academic experience.”

Fitzgibbon said faculty are always appreciative of the support she can provide to help them achieve their goals, whether it is navigating the curriculum approval process or advising on which University departments and offices should be looped in on proposals. She said the process always begins and ends with student learning outcomes.

“What do we want our students to accomplish in their time here at Salve?” she said. “Are the students meeting those outcomes — and if they’re not, what might we do differently that would help improve their success? That really is the focal point. The end result is that we’re going to have programs that are as good as they possibly can be.”