CLARK Magazine: A Bright Future Looms For Clark Athletics
By Sean Sullivan, Director of Athletics and Recreation
On February 1, a tremendous honor was realized and an exciting new era in Clark University Athletics came into focus. It is indeed a true privilege to be writing all Cougar fans as your new Director of Athletics and Recreation. After years in a variety of administrative roles both in and out of the collegiate setting, I come to Clark with high levels of energy, ambition and appreciation for what is in front of us: the challenge of elevating CU Athletics into the top echelon of NEWMAC competition, regional success and national acclaim. And these are just a few of the many goals we will tackle together.
The University has a long and proud history of academic excellence. Not surprisingly, this was one of the major factors to convince me that joining the Clark team was a unique opportunity that must be pursued with great vigor and determination — qualities our varsity teams will surely continue to exhibit. Now that this new era is upon us, I am thoroughly excited about the promise and challenge of the tasks that lie ahead.
High-level athletic success at the intercollegiate level is determined by a number of key elements. Perhaps the most vital piece is an institutional culture of excellence, an environment of achievement that encourages creativity, dedication, virtue and competition. Without question, Clark has this and many other advantages at its disposal from all corners of campus. Because of this institutional willingness to extend ourselves, I anticipate this new era of Cougar athletics to be filled with success.
Developing our road map toward achievement in the Athletic Department will take time and many hands, and you are a significant part of this effort. I invite you not only to support our Clark teams when they compete against our conference foes, but also feel free to share your hopes for the future and appreciation for the roads we’ve traveled over the years. Please stop by the Kneller Center or perhaps a sporting event and introduce yourself, as it would be a pleasure to meet as many Cougar supporters as possible. Your continued support and personal investment in all things CU Athletics is a source of energy upon which we’ll depend. As your new Director of Athletics and Recreation, I welcome your voice as we work together to build a successful future for our programs, participants and fans alike. To that point, I look forward to working with the Clark University Athletic Board, led by Dr. Michael Butler, as we will not only visualize our programmatic plans but also ensure that these ideas walk in step with the wider interests of the University.
While varsity athletics may be the most publicly visible prong of the Athletic Department, it is just as critical that we promote the importance of high quality recreational programming as well. The betterment of the entire Clark campus community is largely dependent on our physical well-being and ability to consistently connect in as many healthy social outlets as possible. As such, the recreational- and wellness-related offerings provided by our department will also be refined and promoted. New fitness center equipment is being purchased to immediately enhance our current array of recreational options. I encourage each of you, whatever your relationship to the campus, to embrace your own positive health or recreational activity.
I am sincerely honored to have been asked to join the Clark University family. We have a tremendous opportunity to dare one another to be great — to excel in all realms of campus life, in the classroom, in the community and in the theater of competition. I encourage each of you to engage in this new day and support us in our journey toward athletic excellence.
Thank you for your continued investment in Clark Athletics ... and Go Cougars!
