I was named Director of Athletics on March of 2019.  Before that I was Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at USF for three years. My career in intercollegiate athletics has spanned over 30 years. I'm also an alumnus of USF and was a student athlete for two years as a member of the USF volleyball and softball teams.
 
During my recent time here, I have served on the Mission Council and the Magis Steering Committee.
 
I begin by saying that everyone who is a member of one of our intercollegiate programs is held to the same standards as all USF students. There are no special exceptions for behavior and actions that do not conform with our community standards, and that's the case with sexual misconduct. 
 
We have a zero-tolerance policy for any such behavior. From my perspective, that begins with clear expectations for our coaches, trainers, student leaders and administrators in athletics.  They are working with our student athletes every day and are models for the athletics culture at USF.
 
The reports and stories that have emerged in the past weeks absolutely needed to be told and shared. We denounce any behavior that demeans, discriminates against, or oppresses women just as we stand for severe sanctions when anyone is found responsible for sexual misconduct or assault.
 
Within a month of becoming the Athletic Director, I hired a new men's soccer coach. If you haven't yet, I urge you to read coach Leonard Griffin's strong statement about USF's men's soccer team. It is posted on myUSF, the athletics website, and on social channels of the university and athletics. Coach Griffin has recruited an entirely new team of talented athletes and assistant coaches, and is rebuilding the team culture. 

The so-called "soccer house," where soccer players lived together in years past, has been eliminated; the lease has not been renewed by any team member. As Coach Griffin says in his statement: "We promise that we will do more to ensure that the young men our staff holistically develop will uphold the highest standards for ourselves, our communities and our futures."
 
Going forward, we are adding additional required Title IX training for all athletes and staff in the athletics department.
 
We understand the courage that is takes to come forward with an account of sexual assault and abuse – and I echo what Fr. Fitzgerald said in a campus Town Hall earlier today: there is no statute of limitations on such accounts. We encourage our students and alumni to share such accounts with our Title IX office.
 
I am proud to be USF's Director of Athletics and am dedicated to continuing to uphold the mission, vision, and values of USF through our athletics program.