News 2022: UMass Dartmouth appoints Lori Hendricks as Director of Athletics and Recreation

Hendricks spent eight years as the Director of Athletics at Mount Holyoke College

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance David Gingerella appointed Lori Hendricks to serve as the next Corsair Director of Athletics and Recreation. Hendricks previously spent the past 14 years at her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, serving in various administrative roles.

"After a national search that attracted more than 75 highly qualified candidates, I am delighted to welcome Lori to the Corsair family," said Gingerella. "I know she will have an immediate positive impact on our student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff, alumni, and the entire UMass Dartmouth community."

"On behalf of our members, I welcome Lori to the LEC," said Little East Conference Commissioner Pamela Samuelson. "Lori is joining a talented group of athletic directors and I know she will be a valuable contributor in our efforts to position the LEC for the future."

Hendricks will support the mission of UMass Dartmouth through leading and directing a comprehensive athletic program that includes 19 NCAA Division III varsity programs—eight for men and 11 for women, intramural and recreation programming, as well as club sports. Hendricks' appointment will begin on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

At Mount Holyoke, Hendricks most recently served as the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Life after an eight-year term as the Chair of Physical Education and Director of Athletics. There were a number of Lyons success stories under Hendricks' leadership including the equestrian program's second place finish in the 2016 IHSA national championship. The Mount Holyoke Lyons' field hockey program captured the NEWMAC Championship in 2015 and qualified for the NCAA tournament in three consecutive campaigns between 2013 and 2015. Golf won the Liberty League title in 2014. Cathleen Pruden became the first Lyon in program history to win the NCAA's Woman of the Year Top Thirty honor, and volleyball alum Michelle Johannes became the first of the Seven Sisters alumnae to be inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2021. Prior to leading the athletics department, Hendricks began her tenure with the Lyons as the Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator. Hendricks developed the bid and served as the tournament director when Mount Holyoke hosted the 2009 NCAA Division III Field Hockey National Championship.

"I want to thank Vice Chancellor Gingerella and Search Committee Co-Chairs, Brian Kelly and Dr. Steve White, for the opportunity to lead the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth program," said Hendricks. "Their commitment to the student-athlete experience and recreational opportunities for the campus community is clear. Chancellor Mark Fuller's vision for the university is inspiring with athletics and recreation playing an important role in the overall campus experience. I look forward to working with the coaches, student-athletes, and campus leadership to further strengthen UMassD as a destination for leaders and champions."

Hendricks led many facility upgrades at Mount Holyoke including - over $2.5 million in renovations of the soccer arena, field house, and gymnasium. A $1.9 million renovation of the turf and track complex was approved before Hendricks' departure. Other initiatives under Hendricks included the creation of the Student-Athlete Peak Performance Program and Leadership Academy, which provides varsity and club team members with leadership education and community engagement opportunities. As a part of the Peak Performance Program, student-athletes were introduced to the DiSC assessment, which enhanced team communication and motivation. She also launched the campus-wide ally network to ensure student-athlete access to institutional resources including: anti-racist and diversity and inclusion programming, career coaching, and mental health counseling. Under Hendricks, the Athlete Empowerment Coalition, a first generation and ethnic minority student-athlete group, was implemented.

Hendricks' experience goes beyond Mount Holyoke. She has held positions at the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and the NCAA. At the NCAA, Hendricks served as the education outreach program coordinator impacting over 115,000 student-athletes through the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and national leadership conferences. She also collaborated with the National Football League to reimagine its Player Development Program (now Player Engagement). She served as a consultant to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, specifically on their Collegiate Athlete Summit and national study of faculty perceptions of college athletics. She recently served on the Board of Directors for Women Leaders in College Athletics and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the New Leadership Academy at the University of Utah.

A politics major at Mount Holyoke and Cum Laude graduate, Hendricks went on to earn her master's degree in sport management at Ohio State University and Ph.D in higher education from the University of Michigan.