Nemsie Gonzalez
Copy Editor
In an announcement to the College community on Jan. 3, President Anne E. McCall named Lynn Holleran as Wooster’s new Director of Athletics. Holleran’s time at the College began on Jan. 8 with the expectation that she will bring in a new era for Woosters athletic programs. President McCall stated in her announcement, “under Lynn’s student-focused leadership, our students will thrive athletically, academically and in their own leadership development. I look forward to working with her as a champion for our student-athletes.”
Following a long history in education, Holleran has experience ensuring not only the athletic success of her constituents, but academic success as well. Holleran’s career started in 1986 where she served as Assistant Director of Academic and Student Services at Northwestern University until 1993. Since then, Holleran has worked in different administrative positions to bring success and excellence, from the University of Minnesota to Penn State. During her time at Minnesota as director of their academic center, Holleran’s direction helped improve the University’s Academic Progress Rates to the highest numbers in the College’s history.
Holleran’s commitment to athletics goes beyond her desire to push for the importance of academics and also demonstrates a strong commitment to accountability in all facets of campus life. Looking at Hollerlan’s time at Boston College, where she served as Senior Associate Athletic Director, she oversaw the Title IX adherence among the athletes she supported. In a digital press release, the College highlighted their expectations, saying that Holleran will “prepare and monitor budgets, oversee plans for facility use, lead and coordinate efforts to identify, attract, enroll and retain student-athletes, and represent the College at local community, district, regional and national events.
Holleran’s relationship to athletics goes beyond her administrative experiences, as she herself was a student-athlete during her undergraduate years at Beloit College. The success she experienced at Beloit was phenomenal as “a three-sport standout, who earned four All-Midwest conference honors as a center fielder, three all-conference laurels in basketball and she was an all-state selection in soccer.” Holleran’s success even got her into Beloit’s Athletics Hall of Honor in 1997 solidifying a strong personal connection to sports beyond job description.
With an impressive resume, students and staff alike are excited to see what Holleran’s insight has to offer the school in the coming years. Welcome to Wooster!