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Cunningham is the first woman to serve as director of Dickinson athletics

by Tony Moore

In May, Celine Cunningham was named the newest director of , becoming the first woman in the college’s history to hold the post. A multisport athlete for the University of Maryland as an undergrad, playing field hockey and lacrosse, Cunningham was part of the Terps’ 1981 field hockey championship team and was selected as a member of the U.S. national team. She comes to Dickinson from Bates College, where she served as the deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator, overseeing all 31 athletic programs and their 750 student-athletes.

Cunningham holds a master’s in coaching & administration from Concordia University and a certificate in professional fundraising from Boston University. Before Bates, she was an assistant coach for field hockey and women’s lacrosse at Georgetown University and the head coach of women’s lacrosse at Columbia University.

What attracted you to Dickinson, and how do you see yourself contributing to the college’s mission through athletics?

I was drawn to Dickinson because of its commitment to academic excellence, holistic student development and strong sense of community. The alumni support is unmatched to any institution I have worked at. The college’s mission to educate engaged citizens aligns with my belief in the power of athletics to teach life skills such as leadership, resilience and teamwork, and I see athletics as a key contributor to the overall educational experience, providing opportunities for students to develop in all aspects of their lives.

With your extensive experience in Division III athletics, what unique perspectives do you bring to Dickinson’s athletic programs?

Division III athletics focuses on the student-athlete experience, prioritizing the balance between academics and competitive success, which is what I really love about being at a DIII institution. We have highly successful athletic programs that understand and celebrate developing all aspects of your collegiate experience. My experience has taught me the importance of focusing on both athletic success and personal growth, which I plan to continue at Dickinson.

How will you instill the importance of balancing academic excellence with athletic achievement?

Our students are drawn to Dickinson because of the academic rigor. They see the success that their teammates achieve when they leave, because of the strong academic curriculum. Our coaches recruit student-athletes that will be successful in this environment, and the current GPA of all our teams collectively is over a 3.4. We have great resources to support all of our students, and our coaches are invested in their academic success. Achieving a healthy balance between academics and athletics starts with clear communication and collaboration between coaches, faculty and student-athletes, and I plan to foster a culture where academic success is not only supported but celebrated within athletics.

Can you share your vision for enhancing the student-athlete experience?

My vision is to create a student-athlete experience that goes beyond the field or court. I want to build a culture that emphasizes personal development, mental health support, leadership opportunities and competitive success. I will not shy away from winning as part of the vision. I want to make sure our coaches and staff feel supported so that they can do their best work. By ensuring that our student-athletes feel supported in all aspects of their experience, we can foster pride in Dickinson athletics.

What strategies do you have in mind to increase engagement and support from alumni, parents and the local community?

Building strong relationships with these groups is vital. Expanding our presence on social media and inviting alumni to mentor or support student-athletes are also key strategies to strengthen these connections. I’d love for our alumni to be excited about the direction for Dickinson athletics, and I know that we need to support our coaches for them to be successful. Our teams are very engaged in our community, volunteering at Dickinson’s farm, the Special Olympics and with Project SHARE. We plan to have a point person in athletics to coordinate our efforts, so we can have even more of an impact on the Carlisle community.

How do you plan to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within Dickinson’s athletic programs?

This is core to our work in athletics. We will continue to work through a lens of inclusion to diversely recruit our student-athletes, coaches and staff. And we will work to ensure that our athletic programs are welcoming and accessible to everyone, regardless of background. This includes reviewing our recruitment practices, providing DEI education for staff and student-athletes and fostering an environment where all voices are heard and respected.

How do you intend to leverage Dickinson’s excellent athletics facilities to benefit both student-athletes and the broader campus community?

Our top-tier facilities are a great asset and certainly one of the things that drew me to this position. Adequate facilities are essential for competitive success and recruiting future Red Devils, and it’s a clear indication that the college is committed to athletics and the student-athlete experience. Athletics facilities also serve to help us increase our ability to offer recreational opportunities, club sport programs and events that engage all students, faculty and staff. By having facilities that serve all of these different campus constituents, we can make athletics a central part of campus life.

What role do you see technology and data analytics playing in the future of Dickinson’s athletic programs?

Keeping up with the latest advances in technology and data analytics is crucial for athletic success and our student-athlete experience. From performance analysis and injury prevention to recruitment and fan engagement, leveraging technology can improve every aspect of our programs. For example, we hired our first full-time strength and conditioning coach, Mike Myers, and he has brought in some new technology that will focus on increasing strength and prevention of athletic injuries. We have made strides in the areas of fan and alumni engagement, and we will continue to increase our usage of social media to promote all of our programs to enhance recruiting and get everyone excited about Dickinson athletics.

As a former multisport athlete yourself, how will your personal experiences shape your approach to leading Dickinson’s diverse array of athletic programs?

I look at all 25 teams as one program-one team. We can learn from every coach and student-athlete, and we want to be cognizant of all aspects of a successful program, from team culture to recruitment and retention, inclusion and belonging, as well as competitive success. I was fortunate to be a part of two programs that gave me an opportunity to learn and compete in two very different environments. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of not only the challenges that student-athletes face but also the incredible rewards that being a part of a quality team brings. I plan to bring this perspective to my leadership at Dickinson, ensuring that our programs support athletes in developing skills that benefit them both on and off the field.

What’s something you want the Dickinson community to know about you, outside of athletics?

I’m the youngest of eight children, with four brothers and three sisters—family is everything to me. I have three amazing children living all over: Brazil, Florida and New Jersey. I met my husband at the University of Maryland, my alma mater, and we have a beautiful golden doodle named Derbe. I love to travel, and my daughter and I travel to baseball parks and have hit about 70% of the MLB parks (I’m also a die-hard New York Yankees fan). And I’m an avid reader, mostly legal thrillers and leadership books.

Read more from the fall 2024 issue of Dickinson Magazine. 

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Published November 20, 2024