NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has announced that Laura Mooney, associate athletic director for administration at the State University of New York Maritime College, will become the Institution’s new athletic director beginning April 6.

 

Mooney succeeds Scott Nichols, who retired this winter as MCLA’s athletic director after nearly two decades of service. 

 

“We are very pleased to welcome Laura Mooney to MCLA," MCLA Interim President Cynthia Brown said. "I am certain that her knowledge, skill and experience will provide strong and collaborative leadership to our athletics program and for our student-athletes.”

 

Mooney said she looks forward to her arrival at MCLA next week.

 

“I would like to express my gratitude to Interim President Cynthia Brown and Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Theresa O’Bryant for this incredible opportunity,” Mooney said. “I am honored to serve as MCLA’s director of athletics, and will continue to strengthen the athletics programs and further enhance the student-athlete experience. I look forward to collaborating with the campus community and leading a department that supports the academic and athletic success of its students.”

 

Mooney is in her ninth year at SUNY-Maritime, where she has served as its associate director for administration since 2012. In that position, she provided administrative oversight of the department’s financial operations, was the designated senior woman administrator and liaison with human resources, and supervised several sports programs, as well as the sports medicine department.

 

As the senior woman administrator since 2008 at Maritime, she focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience. She also worked to ensure equality and compliance with Title IX as a member of the SUNY-Maritime Affirmative Action and Title IX Committee.

 

Previously at Maritime, Mooney served as the business manager of its athletics department. She began her career there in 2006 as an assistant coach for the women’s soccer and lacrosse programs, and was promoted to head coach of the Privateers’ women’s soccer team for the 2007 season.

 

She is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators  and the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators. She attended NACWAA’s Institute for Administrative Advancement and is a member of the 2015 NCAA Pathway Program. Mooney also serves as a member of the NCAA Sportsmanship and Game Environment working group.

 

Mooney mentored multiple student-athletes who went on to receive postseason honors such as All-Skyline Conference First and Second teams, All-Skyline Sportsmanship team, ECAC Division III Metro Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, and SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award honors. 

 

Her coaching credentials include a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma, as well as an NSCAA Advanced Goalkeeping Diploma. She is a long-time member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Women’s Committee. She served on the NCAA DIII Women’s Soccer Regional Advisory Committee from 2010-13 and as a site representative for the NCAA DIII Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament. Mooney also served on the NCAA DIII Men’s Soccer Committee.

 

Mooney was a dual sport Division III athlete, lettering in both women’s soccer and lacrosse at SUNY-Potsdam, and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. She later went on to earn her Master’s of Science degree in sports administration and management from SUNY-Cortland.

 

With more than 170 student-athletes on campus, MCLA is home to six men's and seven women's varsity programs that compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association  Division III level. The Trailblazers are a full-time member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference and an affiliate member of the North Atlantic Conference in tennis and golf. MCLA Athletics Department's mission statement revolves around excellence, opportunity and leadership.

 

MCLA is the commonwealth's public liberal arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA promotes excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA graduates are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.