Kathy Meehan was
promoted to Associate Vice President for Athletics in June 2001.
Meehan is now in her 36th year of service at the University, dating
back to her days as a women’s basketball student-athlete in the
early 1970s. As Associate Vice President for Athletics and Senior
Women administrator, Meehan oversees Internal Relations, Title IX
compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcing the
student-athlete Code of Conduct. She is the sports administrator
for the Red Storm women’s basketball, tennis, softball and
volleyball teams, and the men’s tennis team. She served as the
University’s representative to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate
Basketball Association from 2001-05.
Meehan was the driving force behind the development of the
Community Service Program and the LifeSkills program (now Student
Development) at the University for all
student-athletes.
She has served and chaired numerous NCAA and BIG EAST Committees,
including the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee from
2005-09 and the NCAA Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel
Cabinet. Presently she is a member of the Division I Women’s
Basketball Committee. As the Senior Women’s Administrator, she is a
member of the Big East Championships Committee.
Meehan graduated from St. John’s in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree
in education, and earned a master’s degree in counselor education
from St. John’s in 1979. As an undergraduate, she was a member of
the first women’s basketball team at the University (1974-75) and
won the first Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award that same
year.
Upon graduation, she was hired as an Assistant Athletic Director
for women’s athletics, Women’s Intramural Director and assistant
basketball coach. She held those positions until 1980, when she was
named Women’s Athletic Director. In just five short years, Meehan
made her mark and was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in
1985. In 1993, she was appointed Senior Associate Athletic
Director.
Meehan was inducted into the St. John’s University Hall of Fame in
1991. Her dedication and desire, plus long-tenured years of service
did not go unnoticed, and in 1995 Meehan received the prestigious
Vincention Mission Award, which is presented to an employee who
embodies, “the mission of the University through purposeful and
sustained service to others,” while “manifesting her social
consciousness with the University, as well as to the community and
beyond.” In 2001, she was honored for her 25 years of service to
St. John’s when she received one of the highest honors the
University gives to its employees – the Pietas Media for her life’s
work at the University. During the 2000-01 academic year, she was
also honored with the “Women of Distinction” Award.
She was the recipient of the Woodruff Award in April 2003,
presented annually by Adelphi University for excellence in
coaching, teaching and educating young adults, while stressing that
the athletics experience enhances the educational experiences and
quality of life. In addition, she was inducted into the Phi Eta
Sigma Society as an Honorary Member. In 2005, in honor of women’s
history month, she was given the “Legacy Award” for her advocacy
work with women’s issues. She presently serves on the Board of
Directors for Our Lady of Mercy Academy High School in Syosset,
NY.
In April of 2008, she graduated from the inaugural class of the
Vincentian Mission Certificate (VMC) Program – an 16-month program
that reflects dedication to the Vincentian Mission and commitment
to education that exemplifies the values of St. Vincent de Paul and
partnership of St. John’s ongoing service to the poor. She is also
a member of the St. John’s Chapter of the Ladies of Charity. Meehan
and her husband, Lou, live in Jackson Heights, N.Y., and have two
sons. Brian (29) and Timothy (27).
Why St. John’s?
I did not know it for quite a while –but I was destined for St.
John’s—my parent and my uncles all are graduates, and my
Grandfather George Krygier rec’d the St Vincent de Paul from the
University in 1967-which was actually my first time on campus.
Marillac auditorium. Of course I had no idea who St. Vincent was or
that Marillac was named after Louise. I met my husband at St.
John’s (36 yrs of marriage), and both my sons have their
undergraduate and graduate degrees from here. St. John’s is
home!
Why VMI?
This was such an easy yes to the commitment. After serving in the
first cohort for the Vincentian Mission Certificate program I was
awaiting the follow-up program that would enable me to continue to
educate and engage my colleagues in what it is to be Vincentian in
Higher Education and to continue to “spread the word” by thoughts
and deeds. It is a blessing and an honor to be asked to
serve.