April 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Director of Track and Field and Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan was recognized as recipient of the Achieving Women Award, presented by the Penn State Commission for Women at the Commission's annual awards luncheon, last Friday afternoon. Sullivan is in her ninth year at the helm of the Nittany Lions' women's track and field and cross country teams, and her second year as the head of the men's program.
The Achieving Women Awards recognize Penn State women who have shown notable leadership and are accomplished in their fields, have supported the University's diversity efforts and promoted equal opportunity, and/or have contributed to human causes and public service activities. These awards are presented to current employees and students of Penn State and its affiliates from each of the following categories: faculty, staff exempt, staff non-exempt, administrator, technical service, undergraduate student, and graduate student (including post doctoral fellows and scholars).
"It was an honor to be recognized by the Women's Commission for this outstanding award," said Sullivan. "The Women's Commission and their emphasis on mentoring is an important component in the role of a coach. I am excited to have been recognized for doing a job that I so love. I would like to thank the women's commission and the selection committee."
As Director of the combined men's and women's program since 2006, Sullivan leads over 100 young men and women student athletes - the largest, combined gendered athletic program at Penn State, and the second largest next to football. In fact, she is one of just five women to head a Division I combined men's and women's program.
Sullivan's program has seen outstanding successes on the track and cross country course, as well as in the classroom since her arrival on campus just over nine years ago. Since taking over the Penn State women's program in 1999, Sullivan has coached nearly 40 NCAA All Americans, 36 Big Ten Champions, one NCAA Champion, and one Olympian. Her athletes have rewritten the Penn State record books, setting 36 new school records. Sullivan's troops have been equally impressive in the classroom, as the team has earned a GPA of over 3.00 each year. Just last night, the Nittany Lion women's cross country team was presented with the team award for highest grade-point average during the 2006-07 academic awards banquet to highlight an outstanding year for Penn State student-athletes.
Since 2003, Sullivan's women's team has finished among the top four teams at the Big Ten Championships, including a team title during the 2004 indoor season, and runner-up showings at the outdoor championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Penn State men have made remarkable improvements under Sullivan's watch, finishing fourth at the 2007 Big Ten Outdoor Championships, and posting another fourth-place effort at the 2008 indoor meet - the highest indoor finish in program history. Most recently, Sullivan's women's team brought home a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, along with nine All-America certificates.
Sullivan's extensive list of coaching accomplishments features over a dozen "Coach of the Year" awards, including the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year, and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2004.
Sullivan and her team are on the road again this weekend, competing at the Bucknell Team Challenge in Lewisburg, Pa.