ALFRED, NY -- After more than ten years of service to Alfred University, Paul Vecchio has informed the University that he has decided to resign as the University's Assistant Vice President for Athletics and Recreation to pursue other professional opportunities.

Vecchio returned to Alfred University in 2012 as the director of the University's Athletic department, and he took on numerous responsibilities during his tenure at the University – in both the Athletic department, a greater role with institutional advancement, and in serving as the interim Vice President for Student Experience during the 2022 spring semester. This past August, following his service as the co-interim Vice President for Student Experience, Vecchio took on additional responsibilities as the University's Assistant Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. Vecchio has also held various leadership positions within the Empire 8 athletic conference and the NCAA, including serving as the first Vice President of the Empire 8, and on the NCAA Division III National Women's Soccer committee the past two seasons among other leadership roles.

Vecchio stated, "I want to thank Alfred University for the many opportunities I have had to serve the University community during my tenure. My family and I have been lucky to have met so many people committed to the AU community as a whole – and in particular the athletics staff and our student athletes. Working alongside them has been the greatest privilege of my professional career. With the Board of Trustees' approval of the design phase of the long-term Saxon Hill initiative and new senior leadership in place, I feel that now is a good time to depart the University to pursue other opportunities."

Alfred University's Vice President for Student Experience, Amy DeKay, added: "I want to thank Paul Vecchio for his many contributions to Alfred University, and wish him well in the future. Through Paul's work, the University has achieved much, and his efforts will benefit the University for years to come.  Paul's leadership has included attention to increasing the University's student athletes' academic performance and retention, and graduation rates and last year saw the highest collective finish as a department in our 23-year association with the Empire 8."

Vecchio also has been instrumental in attracting philanthropic support for the University. In 2016, Paul launched "Saxon Nation" to promote philanthropic support for the University's athletics programs and facilities.  During his tenure, the athletic department saw over $15M worth of facility upgrades and raised philanthropic support levels to all-time highs -- as well as securing Board of Trustees' approval last July for launching the design phase of the Saxon Hill initiative.

Given Vecchio's departure from the University, a national search for Alfred University's next Athletic Director is underway.

Contact: Mark Danes, danes@alfred.edu; 607-871-2103; 701-213-7925 (mobile)