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There’s a new Hill on the Hilltop—Tina Hill —who
was introduced as Cornell’s first full-time athletics director
July 1.
 “I’m
honored," said Hill, who served as associate director of athletics
at California Lutheran University since 1997. “At the same
time it impresses upon me the significance athletics plays at this
institution and I take this job very seriously.
Hill replaces Ellen Whale, who was interim athletics director for
the 2001-02 academic year. Cornell’s athletics director previously
has been a part-time position rotated among senior staff members.
Whale, who also served as athletics director from 1989-97, will
resume her other roles at Cornell , including professor of physical
education.
“Athletics has always been an important part of life at Cornell,
and always will be, said Cornell President Les Garner. “We’re
really proud of the strides we’ve made since we joined the
Iowa Conference. With 19 sports, our program is at the point where
students, coaches, and the college community benefit from a full-time
administrator. We’re ready. Athletics is a big part of life
here and we want to do it well.
Hill will manage Cornell’s athletics program including the
staff, sports programs, recruiting, facilities, and budgets, and
ensure compliance with NCAA guidelines and requirements.
“I’ve been impressed by how helpful everyone at Cornell
has been," Hill said. “We’ve shared our thoughts
on where we would ike Cornell to go and now we need to chart our
course. We’re working to develop a Division III model program."
Hill received a bachelor’s degree in physical education with
a minor in recreation from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
in 1982. She was captain of the volleyball squad that won the Wisconson
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 1980, was a
four-time all tournament selection and two-time all-conference first-team
selection, and was named Outstanding Female Athlete her senior year.
She received a master’s degree in sports management from the
University of Richmond (Va.) in 1991.
While at California Lutheran, Hill was the senior woman administrator
of an NCAA Division III school that has 15 intercollegiate athletic
programs. She is also chair of the NCAA Division III Women’s
Volleyball Committee. Hill was associate athletics director and
a physical education instructor at Elizabethtown College (Pa.) from
1993-97. She started at Elizabethtown in 1990 as an assistant athletics
director intern.
“This is a dream come true," Hill said. "Being an
athletics director is a position I have wanted to do for a ong time.
This is an opportunity to do what I’ve always wanted to do
and I look forward to meeting the challenges. I hope to develop
a system of management that will last a long time."
The move to Cornell also brings Hill back to the Midwest. She grew
up in Milwaukee, Wis. “This is coming home for me," Hill
said. |
