WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy has announced that Jennifer Sansevero has been named Monmouth's Director of Athletics after serving in an interim role since July of 2023.

"I am thrilled to name Jennifer Sansevero our permanent Athletics Director here at Monmouth," Leahy stated. "She is deeply committed to the student-athletes under her care, as well as to the coaches and staff members who support them. She is the right person, at the right time, at the right place. I look forward to working with her for years to come as we continue our quest to become one of the leading mid-major athletic programs in the nation."

Sansevero, who became Monmouth's eighth Director of Athletics, assumes the full time role after she joined the department in September of 2021. Prior to earning the title of Acting Director of Athletics, Sansevero served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Development and Senior Women's Administrator for the Hawks.

"I am truly honored and humbled to lead the Monmouth University athletics department, and I am grateful to President Leahy and the search committee for their confidence in my leadership," Sansevero said. "Monmouth University is a first-rate institution with a demonstrated commitment to excellence, and I look forward to continuing to partner with our coaches and staff in support of all our student-athletes."

Sansevero has made an immediate impact at Monmouth and on its 600-plus student-athletes during her time in West Long Branch. Academically, she was integral in creating the position of Learning Specialist as Hawk athletes recorded the highest department grade-point average in history while earning Monmouth national recognition from the NCAA for APR scores. This past fall, a total of 451 student-athletes were recognized by the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) with a spot on the Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. 

Sansevero's nearly 20 years of combined Division I athletics experience as a student-athlete and administrator provides a comprehensive lens in West Long Branch. "I want to leave a legacy of strength, resilience and growth that withstands the test of time. We will do this with energy, authenticity and competitiveness," said Sansevero, who in her first two weeks of leading the Hawks, solidified and announced the addition of the Fly Hawks Alliance. The Fly Hawks Alliance, which was announced in July 2023, serves as the Name, Image, and Likeness collective, supporting and partnering with Monmouth student-athletes. "In this ever-changing landscape of college athletics, Monmouth will continue to engage and stay relevant so we are well positioned for success in the future."

Staying true to her values, Sansevero serves in multiple areas across campus that immediately impact and create a transformative experience for the student-athlete. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, a member of the University's Enrollment Planning Committee, and serves on the President's Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion. She has helped organize Monmouth's National Girls and Women in Sports Day event, the department's Pride Night celebration and Black History Month programming. Sansevero worked to secure funding to send Monmouth student-athletes to the 2023 Black Student-Athlete Summit hosted on the campus of the University of Southern California.

Passionate about student-athlete holistic development, Sansevero prioritizes student-athlete mental health and well-being, creating the Behavioral Health and Wellness department for athletics, including the position of Sports Behavioral Health Specialist at the end of 2022. In Monmouth's first season in the CAA, Sansevero supervised both women's soccer and women's basketball, which won CAA regular season and tournament titles, respectively.

This past fall, her first in leading the department, Sansevero saw the Hawks compete across the board with regular season championships in field hockey and men's soccer. In addition to those two teams advancing to the CAA title games, Monmouth's women's soccer program also battled in the CAA Championship match. Prior to the start of the spring seasons, Sansevero oversaw the completion of new FieldTurf installation at Kessler Stadium and on Hesse Field. Branding enhancements inside the Monmouth University Fitness Center, in collaboration with the University Marketing and Communications Department, have enhanced that space for students, staff, and faculty alike. Monmouth's brand visibility has expanded under Sansevero's direction this year with 28 home games through the fall and winter seasons airing on linear TV networks such as SNY and NBCSports Philadelphia. A total of 37 Monmouth games have been broadcast, including nationally televised road contests on CBS Sports Network and FS1.

"Monmouth has tremendous potential both as an institution of higher learning and as an athletics program. Monmouth is on the rise, and I want to be a part of shaping its future," added Sansevero. "My vision is to continue a tradition of excellence that instills pride and passion among our students, our graduates and our fans, and contributes to the vibrancy of the communities we serve."

The Hazlet, N.J. native was a softball standout at Mount St. Mary's University, where she later worked from 2008-12, in the role of Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator. Sansevero also had Division I stops at Wagner College and UNC-Greensboro in leadership positions. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from The Mount in 2004, graduating Cum Laude with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. In 2008, she earned a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

Sansevero's appointment is effective immediately.