Medaille College Vice President for Student Development Amy DeKay announced today the appointment of Susan Roarke as Athletics Director, who will assume her new position on June 17. Roarke has been with Niagara University since 2015 and is currently the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Facilities and also the Senior Woman Administrator.
 
Roarke will take over a Medaille athletics program that will soon grow to 18 varsity sports with the addition of Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving in the Fall of 2020. She will oversee the development and execution of a long-term strategic vision for Medaille athletics while also managing the day-to-day operations, serving as an advocate for the needs of student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
  
Roarke's responsibilities as the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Facilities/Senior Woman Administrator at Niagara University have included management of daily operation for compliance services for all student-athletes at NU. She has also served as the sport supervisor for Niagara's softball team, men's and women's swimming and diving teams, as well as the men's and women's golf teams.
 
In addition to her many roles within the athletic department, Roarke also taught as an Adjunct Lecturer for Niagara's Sport Policy and Governance course and served as a University Deputy Title IX Officer.
  
Prior to her time at Niagara, Roarke was an Assistant Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator, and Head Women's Basketball Coach at Buffalo State College. As an administrator Roarke was the direct supervisor of the women's lacrosse and volleyball programs.
 
As the Head Coach of the women's basketball team, Roarke led the Bengals to 118 wins over a nine year span and six trips to the SUNYAC Tournament. In 2011-12 she helped guide Buffalo State to a 25-3 record, earning SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors and winning the SUNYAC Regular Season Title.
  
Roarke started her collegiate athletics career in 1997 as one of the youngest head coaches in the nation at Russell Sage College where she served as Head Women's Basketball Coach.  In addition to her head coaching duties she also served as the Sports Information Director and Assistant Softball Coach before taking over the reins of the women's basketball program at Division III Stevens Institute of Technology in 2002. While at Stevens, Roarke guided the Ducks to two ECAC post-season tournaments in 2004 and 2005. Stevens also earned a spot in the Skyline Conference Championship Game in 2003.
  
A graduate of Keuka College, Roarke was a four year starting point guard for the women's basketball team and helped lead the team to ECAC and NYSWCAA postseason tournament appearances.  She earned her bachelor's degree in secondary education and later completed her master's degree in sports studies and political science from Miami University of Ohio.  Roarke was also a five sport athlete at Catholic Central High School in Troy, NY and inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
 
Roarke succeeds Amy DeKay, who will transition from a combined role after six incredibly successful years to continue her work leading Student Development which the Athletics Department will remain a part of.