OLYMPIA, Wash. – In conjunction with the 40^th anniversary of The Evergreen State College during the 2011-12 academic year, the Evergreen Department of Recreation and Athletics is proud to announce the formation of the Evergreen Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame, with the first class to be inducted on February 4, 2012.

The Evergreen Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame aims to recognize members of the Evergreen community who have made significant contributions in all aspects of recreation and athletics.  Unlike many colleges and universities, the Evergreen Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame will look beyond intercollegiate athletics in recognizing those individuals and groups that have left a lasting legacy in recreation and athletics at the institutional, regional, national or international level.

With the induction of the first class coming up in just over six months, the committee would like to extend a call for nominations to anyone who feels they might know of a qualified candidate.  While all nominations will be accepted and considered for selection, desirable qualifications include:

Alumni

• Completion of undergraduate or graduate degree
• Regional, national or international achievement
• Continuing contribution to Evergreen

Staff/Faculty

• At least five (5) years of service at Evergreen
• OR alumni of Evergreen
• Regional, national or international achievement in recreation and/or athletics
• Continuing contribution to Evergreen

Special Contributors

• Individuals who have contributed to the successes of Recreation and Athletics without other affiliation to Evergreen

For more information or to submit a nomination, please contact Chris Thompson at thompsoc@evergreen.edu or 360-867-6525.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Following a national search, The Evergreen State College has hired Matt Newman as Director of Recreation and Athletics.  He will take over for Wendy Endress, who has served as Interim Director of Recreation and Athletics since November 2010 and will be returning to her permanent position as Executive Associate to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

“For all of the right reasons, Evergreen offers a broad-based Recreation and Athletics program in an effort to provide positive and healthy opportunities for students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community,” said Newman.  “This fits with my philosophy about the role of athletics in higher education, and I couldn’t be more honored and excited to become part of the Evergreen team.”

Newman comes to Evergreen following three years as commissioner of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, where he planned and oversaw operations for the 18-sport and 3,600-student-athlete league.

“I am excited to have Matt join us,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Art Costantino.  “He has experience in all aspects of the job, a reputation as a strong administrator and a real interest in working at Evergreen.”

Prior to the Northwest Conference, Newman was Associate Dean of Students and Director of Athletics and Recreation at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, N.Y.  Newman also has athletic administrative experience at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Savannah College of Art and Design and has coached at both the high school and collegiate levels, including six years as a collegiate baseball head coach in both the NAIA and NCAA.

Newman has worked extensively with both the NAIA and NCAA and their respective committees, including Committee on Women’s Athletics, Student Records Review Committee and Regional Advisory Committees for both baseball and golf.

A 1990 graduate of University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in speech and hearing science, Newman also holds a Master of Science from Idaho State University and is in the final stages of his Doctor of Education coursework at University of Virginia.

Newman, and his partner Monica Nixon, who is currently the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Seattle University, reside in Seattle.