Kristina Navarro Joins Rutgers Athletics Leadership
Jul 10 | General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers University Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs today announced that Dr. Kristina Navarro will serve as the Scarlet Knights' Senior Associate Athletic Director for Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships. Navarro arrives "On the Banks" from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she has worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Student Development and Strategic Initiatives since 2017.
"Dr. Navarro is a great addition to our senior leadership team," said Hobbs. "She has an extensive background supporting student-athletes, and brings a broad vision for building Rutgers Leadership Academy on its strong foundation. We're delighted to welcome her to 'The Banks'."
Navarro will also oversee the Rutgers Leadership Academy (RLA). RLA is a privately funded entity whose mission is to equip the student-athletes at Rutgers University with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success both during and after their collegiate careers by providing year-round opportunities for advancement in five key areas: leadership training, career development, community engagement, personal enrichment, and letter winner engagement.
"I am truly honored to join the Scarlet Knights family as we work together to define the next chapter of Rutgers Athletics," said Navarro. "I was extremely impressed by the vision of Athletic Director Pat Hobbs to continue to develop holistic support services for our student-athletes and coaches. I look forward to working with the leadership team to carry out a new strategic plan that fosters a scholar-practitioner approach to enhancing partnerships between athletics, campus, and the community. Most importantly, I look forward to serving our current student-athletes and campus while actively engaging our coaches and alumni."
With over a decade of experience in athletic administration and higher education, Navarro began at UW-Whitewater in September 2013 as an assistant professor in sport management and swiftly worked her way up through the ranks. In 2015, she was named the Director of Student-Athlete Engagement, overseeing comprehensive student-athlete development and academic excellence programs for Warhawk Athletics. Navarro's role continued to increase, adding sports administrator to her resume as well as marketing and engagement duties, leading to her elevation to her most recent role.
In addition to her responsibilities in athletics, Navarro also served as an Associate Professor in the College of Education and Professional Studies, managing the Higher Education Athletic Administration graduate program and supervising internship and practicum students.
Prior to arriving at UW-Whitewater, Navarro spent a year as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Administration Graduate Program at University of Oklahoma following a 2009-12 stint at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While at UW, she held roles as the Interim Senior Developmental Skills Specialist for football, Interim Academic Advisor and Career Development Coordinator, and Learning Specialist and Mentor.
From 2007-09 at UNC-Chapel Hill, Navarro was the Co-Director of the Carolina Leadership Academy's CREED and Peer Mentor Programs in the Office of Student-Athlete Development.
Navarro earned a B.S. in sport management and business administration with a concentration in strength and conditioning from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2006. She went on to earn a master of arts in sport administration from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2009. Navarro then added a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis with a focus on higher, postsecondary and continuing education from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012.
Additionally, Navarro holds a chair position for numerous organizations, including the Executive Leadership Team AERA Research Focus on Education and Sport, Women Leaders in College Sport Student-Athlete Development Leadership Committee and the NASPA Committee on Student-Athlete Welfare. She is a member of the NACDA N4A Board of Directors where she led a rebrand and restructure of the organization to develop a national holistic approach to support academic and student-athlete development professionals and is an active member of the Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) organization.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
"Dr. Navarro is a great addition to our senior leadership team," said Hobbs. "She has an extensive background supporting student-athletes, and brings a broad vision for building Rutgers Leadership Academy on its strong foundation. We're delighted to welcome her to 'The Banks'."
Navarro will also oversee the Rutgers Leadership Academy (RLA). RLA is a privately funded entity whose mission is to equip the student-athletes at Rutgers University with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success both during and after their collegiate careers by providing year-round opportunities for advancement in five key areas: leadership training, career development, community engagement, personal enrichment, and letter winner engagement.
"I am truly honored to join the Scarlet Knights family as we work together to define the next chapter of Rutgers Athletics," said Navarro. "I was extremely impressed by the vision of Athletic Director Pat Hobbs to continue to develop holistic support services for our student-athletes and coaches. I look forward to working with the leadership team to carry out a new strategic plan that fosters a scholar-practitioner approach to enhancing partnerships between athletics, campus, and the community. Most importantly, I look forward to serving our current student-athletes and campus while actively engaging our coaches and alumni."
With over a decade of experience in athletic administration and higher education, Navarro began at UW-Whitewater in September 2013 as an assistant professor in sport management and swiftly worked her way up through the ranks. In 2015, she was named the Director of Student-Athlete Engagement, overseeing comprehensive student-athlete development and academic excellence programs for Warhawk Athletics. Navarro's role continued to increase, adding sports administrator to her resume as well as marketing and engagement duties, leading to her elevation to her most recent role.
In addition to her responsibilities in athletics, Navarro also served as an Associate Professor in the College of Education and Professional Studies, managing the Higher Education Athletic Administration graduate program and supervising internship and practicum students.
Prior to arriving at UW-Whitewater, Navarro spent a year as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Administration Graduate Program at University of Oklahoma following a 2009-12 stint at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While at UW, she held roles as the Interim Senior Developmental Skills Specialist for football, Interim Academic Advisor and Career Development Coordinator, and Learning Specialist and Mentor.
From 2007-09 at UNC-Chapel Hill, Navarro was the Co-Director of the Carolina Leadership Academy's CREED and Peer Mentor Programs in the Office of Student-Athlete Development.
Navarro earned a B.S. in sport management and business administration with a concentration in strength and conditioning from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2006. She went on to earn a master of arts in sport administration from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2009. Navarro then added a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis with a focus on higher, postsecondary and continuing education from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012.
Additionally, Navarro holds a chair position for numerous organizations, including the Executive Leadership Team AERA Research Focus on Education and Sport, Women Leaders in College Sport Student-Athlete Development Leadership Committee and the NASPA Committee on Student-Athlete Welfare. She is a member of the NACDA N4A Board of Directors where she led a rebrand and restructure of the organization to develop a national holistic approach to support academic and student-athlete development professionals and is an active member of the Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) organization.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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