July 21, 2005

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University Director of Athletics Jim Fiore today announced that Courtney Sanfelippo has been named the Director of Student-Athlete Development. Sanfelippo had served as the interim director for the past year.

"We are thrilled to remove the `Interim' from Courtney's title and officially name her as our Director of Student-Athlete Development," said Fiore. "During her short tenure at Stony Brook, she has done a terrific job setting a very high standard for our student-athlete development office, staff and our student-athletes. Even more impressive is her unyielding efforts towards providing our student-athletes with the very best educational experience possible. We are a better department with Courtney permanently in this role."

Hired as an academic advisor in September of 2003, Sanfelippo assumed the role of Interim Director of Student-Athlete Development in June of 2004. Since that time, she has been responsible for the development, assessment and implementation of all academic advising, personal and career services as they relate to institutional and NCAA requirements. She has direct oversight for all academic affairs regarding the men's basketball, football, men's lacrosse and softball teams while providing student-athletes, coaches and athletics administration with detailed academic progress reports. She also assisted in the development of a comprehensive program to evaluate continuing eligibility.

Throughout the year, she helped identify and nominate student-athletes for university, conference, NCAA and national awards. Her efforts have produced outstanding results as the 2004-05 academic year saw Stony Brook's student-athletes compile an overall grade-point average of 2.98 and 157 of them were named to the America East honor roll, both of which were department bests since Stony Brook joined the America East in 2001.

In the fall, Sanfelippo will oversee the new Student-Athlete Development Center which will accommodate up to 400 student-athletes in a space that will have a state-of-the-art computer lab, a study hall/multipurpose function room, a career resource/library area and a private tutor room.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as the Director of Student-Athlete Development at Stony Brook and appreciate the confidence that Jim Fiore and his administration continue to show in me, my staff and the Office of Student-Athlete Development," said Sanfelippo. "The last two years have been extremely rewarding for me in my dealings with Stony Brook student-athletes, members of the athletics department family and also with the various departments on campus who have all made Stony Brook a wonderful place to work and who have added to the success that we have achieved. I am excited for the future and look forward to continuing to provide our student-athletes with guidance and support in their quest to be successful in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the community and eventually in their future as a vital part of society."

Prior to Stony Brook she spent the previous three years at her alma mater, Seton Hall University. While completing her master's degree at the school, Sanfelippo served as a graduate assistant in Academic Support Services. In this role, she coordinated study hall for student-athletes, tutored in several areas including biology, chemistry, math and physics and facilitated the Pen Pal Project, a service that connects athletes with area youth.

Sanfelippo then became the Assistant Director for Academic Support where she provided academic and career advisement for over 60 student-athletes, served as a co-advisor for the Student-Athlete Mentor program and designed Life Skills workshops, while continuing to tutor in various subjects.

During her time at Seton Hall, Sanfelippo taught several courses as an adjunct professor in the mathematics department, adjunct faculty member in the College of Education and Human Services and mentor and instructor for Freshman Studies. She served as the Chair of Student Workshops and the Chair of Social Activities at new student orientation in 2002 and 2003, respectively, while also participating on the physical therapy/athletic training advisory committee.

A native of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, Sanfelippo earned her B.S. in biology, magna cum laude, in 2000, and her master's of secondary education, summa cum laude, in 2002.