EAST STROUDSBURG – Sarah Ross has been hired as East Stroudsburg University's associate athletic director for student success/senior woman administrator, ESU director of athletics Dr. Allen Snook announced on Wednesday.         

Ross joins the Warriors after serving as the assistant athletics director for student-athlete wellness and academic support services at the University of New Hampshire since April 2021.

"Joining the East Stroudsburg University Athletics Department is a matchless opportunity," said Ross of her new position. "I am grateful to Dr. Snook and the search committee for their confidence in me taking on this role. I am excited to be joining a department with a rich history of success both in competition and in the classroom.
 
"The wholistic development of the student-athletes I work with is always my priority. I am thrilled to have the chance to work with such incredible staff members, coaches, and university members to ensure every Warrior has the opportunity to be a champion in competition, the classroom and in life after college!"
 
During her time in Durham, Ross developed educational programs to enhance personal and professional development of Wildcat student-athletes, including diversity education, career placement, welfare, leadership development, financial management skills, and sexual assault prevention training among other topics. She oversaw the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was also the advisor of the Committee on Mutual Respect (COMR) focused on diversity, gender equity, and LGBTQIA+ awareness. On the academic side, she advised the academic progress of four NCAA Division I teams.

Prior to New Hampshire, she served as the assistant director for student-athlete development and academic services at her alma mater, Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. After two years, she was promoted to Associate Director, where she advised academic progress for seven Division I Red Flash teams including football and men's basketball. She certified all teams for academic eligibility, coordinated tutors and was the primary advisor for both the SAAC and Student-Athlete Mentors program.

Before joining the administrative staff at SFU, she served as an assistant coach for the Red Flash's bowling team. She helped guide Saint Francis to an NEC Championship and the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2018.She began her career in collegiate athletics as a graduate assistant at Saint Francis for Student-Athlete Development and Academic Services. 

SFU named an annual athletics award after Ross, "The Rossy" given to student-athlete(s) that shows outstanding work and dedication in the areas of mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion. 

"We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Sarah's caliber joining our staff here at East Stroudsburg University." said Dr. Snook of Ross' appointment. "Sarah will not only make our athletic department stronger, but she will be a great fit with our athletics staff and her versatile experience will add tremendous value to our team."

A decorated student-athlete, Ross was a four-time National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Academic All-American. She was named the Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016. Ross helped the Red Flash to a Northeast Conference Championship in 2016 and a pair of NEC regular season championships in 2014 and 2016 as a member of the NCAA Division I Bowling team.

A native of Western, Pa., Ross graduated with a bachelor's degree from Saint Francis in business management and earned her Master of Business Administration from SFU in 2018.

Ross' first day on campus was on Mon., Dec. 5.