June 2, 2005

Catholic University Announces New Athletic Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University of America announces the appointment of Michael S. Allen as the university’s new athletic director, effective Aug. 1, 2005.

Michael Allen

Allen, who holds a Ph.D. in the sociology of sport and an M.A. in sports management from the University of Connecticut, joins the CUA administrative team after working with the athletics departments of two Division I institutions.

“The role of the athletic director is a very significant one for us at CUA, since so many of our students — approximately 20 percent of our undergraduates — participate in our Division III athletic program,” said Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., president. “We are proud of our student athletes and the appointment of Dr. Michael Allen will assure both continuity and growth in our approach to athletics. He is uniquely qualified for this position and I am confident that his contributions will lead CUA to new heights.”

Since 2002 Allen has served as associate athletic director for student services and director of the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Prior to that, he served for two years as football program director for the Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. He began his professional career in the same program in 1993, serving in various roles supporting student-athletes and coaches.

Allen’s doctoral research focused on the ways athletic team communities bolster the intellectual development of intercollegiate athletes. He is enthusiastic about coming to Catholic University, where student-athletes have been recognized for their high graduation rates, regularly place on the Capital Athletic Conference’s All-Academic teams and perform at nationally competitive levels in the athletic arena.

“I am extremely honored to be given the opportunity to lead the athletic department at The Catholic University of America,” Allen said. “Throughout the interview process, I was continually impressed with the energy and commitment that the administration, faculty, clergy and members of the athletic department bring to the spiritual, intellectual and physical development of CUA students. I look forward to becoming a part of this environment as we work together to take CUA athletics to new levels of excellence.”

While the bulk of Allen’s professional experience has been with Division I athletic programs, he is knowledgeable about the Division III experience as well. While earning his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., he played for four years on the Division III school’s basketball team and also served as team co-captain.

Members of the search committee for a new athletic director were impressed with Allen’s credentials as a former student athlete and leader, doctoral-level scholar and seasoned athletics administrator.

“Cardinal Pride resonates throughout our CUA community as we welcome Dr. Michael Allen, an accomplished professional, educator and student-athlete,” said Susan Pervi, vice president for student life and head of the search committee. “Our students, alumni, faculty and staff will find him a champion for academic and athletic excellence. We look forward to his inspired leadership for the athletic programs and recreational opportunities that make our campus life so vibrant.

“I want to thank Kristine Manning for serving as interim director while she guided our Women’s Lacrosse program to a record year of success,” Pervi added. “Kristine is a devoted professional and mentor to our student athletes, and will continue on the athletic management team as associate director of athletics.”

Allen and his wife, Beth, have two children, 18-month-old Maya and 1-month-old James.

MEDIA: For more information or to arrange for an interview with Allen, contact Chris

Harrison in the CUA Office of Public Affairs by calling 202-319-5600 or by e-mail

at harrisoc@cua.edu.

The Catholic University of America athletics program sponsors 21 NCAA Division III sports and is the home of the 2001 Division III men’s basketball national champions. CUA has fielded athletic teams for more than a century and has an impressive history of achievement and tradition. By focusing on student athletes and the university’s academic mission, CUA is committed to the philosophy that academic excellence and athletic excellence are mutually compatible.

The Catholic University of America, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., is unique as the national university of the Catholic Church in America. Founded in 1887 and chartered by Congress, the university opened as a graduate research institution. Undergraduate programs were introduced in 1904. Today the private and coeducational campus has approximately 5,900 undergraduate and graduate students from all states and 90 countries enrolled in 11 schools of architecture and planning, arts and sciences, canon law, engineering, law, library and information science, music, nursing, philosophy, social service, and theology and religious studies.

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Any questions or comments? cu a-public-affairs@cua.edu

Revised: 6/7/2005