Dear Members of the Lasell University Community,

Just a few months into my new role as Lasell’s assistant vice president of athletics, I witnessed the impact that a flourishing NCAA Division III program can have on a campus.

The scene at the Athletic Center that November evening was astonishing as our Lasers defeated Johnson & Wales in the championship match of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women’s volleyball tournament. Exuberant students cheered from the packed bleachers and overflowing running track. Student volunteers tossed T-shirts into the crowd. Our mascot, Boomer, darted around the gym floor giving high-fives. And President Turner, faculty, and staff joined the excited throng as our student-athletes achieved their goal of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

College athletics has the unique ability to unite a campus community, and I hope to build on the strong foundation already in place at Lasell. As I complete my first year at Lasell in June, I remain focused on three areas:

• Continuing to integrate athletics into the fabric of the institution. For example, a group of Lasell Village residents attended a women’s basketball practice, and our field hockey players wore performance-tracking vests so exercise science students could analyze the data.
• Collaborating with campus partners to ensure our budget needs are met to enhance the student-athlete experience and continue to build programs of excellence that will allow Lasell to be competitive not only in the GNAC, but in New England and the NCAA Tournament.
• Enhancing our facilities — the Athletic Center, Taylor Field, Grellier Field, fitness center and weight room — so our athletes and programs can reach their potential.

I’ve worked in college athletics for 30 years and have rarely seen the level of pride that our student- athletes and coaches have in representing Lasell. Our athletes are top performers in their sport and in the classroom, too; 80 percent of our players carried at least a 3.0 GPA last semester and 60 percent made the dean’s list.

I encourage you to visit campus soon to cheer on the Lasers at a game or match.

Warmly,

Jamie Marcoux
Assistant Vice President of Athletics