MIT Director of Athletics Julie Soriero has been named the new president of the Women Leaders in College Sports, as announced at the organization’s recent convention held in Dallas, Texas.
“I feel privileged, honored and humbled to step into the presidency of this organization,” said Soriero. “Over the course of my administrative career, this organization has played an impactful role in my professional growth and opportunities. I value being engaged as a leader and being able to give back. Representing MIT at a national level is important to me, but also representing NCAA Division III on a national stage is very important as well.”
Now in her 11th year as the director of athletics, Soriero directs a department that supports one of the most comprehensive athletic programs in the country, featuring 33 intercollegiate teams. MIT has led the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in championships in each of the last five years, winning at least eight during each of those seasons. In 2016-17, MIT had 14 teams represented at NCAA Championships, including five teams that finished in the top 10 overall. The Engineers also won both the men’s and women’s NEWMAC Presidents Cup for the second straight year.
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect, and advance women leaders working in intercollegiate athletics. More than 3,500 members strong, Women Leaders promotes the growth, leadership, and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches, and student-athletes.
Under her leadership, MIT has become one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country, rising to No. 1 in the nation in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings after the 2014 fall season and finishing 2014-15 in the No. 3 position in the cup standings, the highest finish in school history. After last year’s 11th-place finish, MIT has now placed in the top-10 in four of the last five years.
Over the last five years, the MIT program has averaged nearly 10 conference championships, 90 All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans per season in that span. In 2016, former standout swimmer Margaret Guo `16 earned the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of the top honors awarded by the NCAA each year. In 2016-17, the Engineers had 21 student-athletes earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, which is the all-time single-season national record for all divisions.
Since arriving at MIT, Soriero has been directly involved in the fundraising and construction of a number of capital facilities projects. In 2015-16, she fundraised approximately $7 million dollars for the complete renovation of the Steinbrenner Stadium grandstands, the track and field facility, and the baseball and softball fields.
