During the 2022 commencement season, our baccalaureate speaker offered a humorous observation congratulating the student-athletes of Davis & Elkins College as the only Senators getting anything done. While I will steer clear of political commentary in this election season, the speaker’s comment underscores the vital role athletics play at small colleges. Leading the charge in this arena is the athletic director, an essential figure shaping the student-athlete experience and fostering a sense of community on campus.
Dr. Jennifer Riggleman began her role as D&E Athletic Director in July. No stranger to the institution, Dr. Riggleman served as an adjunct instructor for five years followed by sixteen years as a full-time faculty member teaching Exercise Science. Highly respected by faculty colleagues and beloved by students, Jennifer served as the Faculty Athletic Representative for many years and recently handled NCAA compliance. When the position of athletic director became available, she was the obvious candidate and has proven an outstanding choice.
The landscape of collegiate athletics is rapidly changing. D&E is a member of the NCAA Division II and provides limited athletic scholarships for talented and deserving student-athletes. A sizable portion of our student body is a member of one of our twenty athletic teams. During the transition, Dr. Riggleman committed to creating and maintaining programs with a positive culture that attract students who are a good fit. Specifically, this means students who are strong in the classroom, standout athletes, good teammates, and committed to building and creating loyalty to programs.
As president of the college, it is my task to build and maintain a culture across the institution that supports our mission to provide a transformative educational experience for our students. With approximately 400 student athletes, Dr. Riggleman is now charged with doing the same for Senator Nation. A positive culture in athletics begins with the leadership. Passion, integrity, maturity, transparency, and work ethic are the traits Jennifer brought to this role. She is committed to the four pillars of our athletic program, namely education, engagement, character, and competition.
“My vision for our athletic program,” shared Dr. Riggleman, “is to elevate all aspects of the department by creating a culture of positivity, encouragement, and accountability for our coaches and staff that can then be passed along to the athletes. In doing so, I hope to see us continue to excel academically, increase our involvement in the community, instill strong and positive character traits in our athletes, and elevate our level of competitiveness.”
In addition to outstanding coaches, the heart of our athletic program is our student-athletes. Our new athletic director describes them as truly amazing. “Being both a fulltime student and an NCAA athlete requires both personal drive and time management skills. They juggle practice, games, weightlifting sessions, theater productions, studying for entrance exams for graduate school, cheering on their friends on other teams, being student ambassadors and resident assistants, serving in multiple leadership capacities on campus, etc. They do all of that and still excel in their sport!”
The first female to lead the D&E athletic department, Dr. Riggleman’s journey to this position has included some unconventional twists and turns. What has been consistent is her passion for students, her love of Davis & Elkins College, and her faith in God to guide her life. Senator Nation is in good hands.
The journey continues….
Chris Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College
