Congratulations to Megan Patruno: Patruno receives promotion to Associate Director of Athletics

Six years ago, in 2011, Muhlenberg College’s Athletics Department hired Megan Patruno as its Assistant to the Director of Athletics. One year later, she was promoted to the Assistant Director of Athletics. And now, four years later in 2016, she was again promoted, this time to the Associate Director of Athletics. Having served the Muhlenberg community for six years now, it’s easy to see the difference Megan Patruno has made and continues to make.

“The community here at Muhlenberg College is special,” said Patruno, in reference to her time at ‘Berg. “The students, faculty and staff work so hard and so well together, and I’m honored to be a part of this group. I believe the work we do in athletics is meaningful and important to the development of our students.”

The work the Athletics Department does is important, and Patruno has quickly become a vital piece of that puzzle. Some of her responsibilities include, but are not limited to: developing and supervising all game and event management operations, managing operation of all conference and NCAA postseason tournaments, serving as games committee representative, recruiting, developing and retaining game and event management staff, supervising and evaluating part time coaches, interns and student employees, and serving as an alternate delegate to the Centennial Conference and the NCAA.

She isn’t quick to take all the credit. According to Patruno, the second-best part of her job is having incredible coworkers, who provide her some assistance in tackling all the different jobs under her belt. She says the collaboration in the Athletics Department is one of the many things that makes Muhlenberg a great place to work.

Patruno is no stranger to college athletics. She graduated from Ursinus College in 1992, where she was team captain, four-year letter winner and MVP for the women’s basketball team. From there, she served as a women’s basketball graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg University while working for her master’s degree. After that, Patruno interned in media relations for the Big East Conference for a year, before moving on to the Assistant Executive Director of the Centennial Conference position for four years. Following that, she worked as a media and marketing assistant for four NCAA Division I regional basketball tournaments.

“During my time at the Centennial Conference, and before that at the Big East Conference, I learned to view everything through a very neutral lens, always remaining objective, never part of a community,” said Patruno, referencing how working at Muhlenberg is different than larger conferences. “Now, I’m fully immersed in this great community and my primary focus is to be an advocate for Muhlenberg College.”

Muhlenberg strives to develop a strong sense of community, and the athletics department is no exception. Over her time here, Megan Patruno has had the unique opportunity to connect with students and faculty alike.

“The best part of my job is working with Muhlenberg’s incredibly smart and Mantalented student-athletes. I enjoy getting to know them on and off the fields of competition. I am humbled, touched and proud when a student stops in my office or when an alum reaches out to say hello. On a more personal level, my close relationships with the student-athletes allow my children to also develop relationships with them. Watching Nick, Caroline, and Danny—especially Caroline—connect with them is beautiful.”

Many of Muhlenberg’s athletes have formed a relationship with Patruno and her children over the past few years. This kind of one-on-one commitment to each other is something that is hard to find at most colleges. But as many kind words as Patruno has about Muhlenberg and its students, the same is to be said about the how the students feel about working with her.

Alexis Pellechio ‘18 says working with Megan has been a great learning experience. In her time interning with Patruno this semester, Pellechio knows that she is there to help if I need it, but she also recognizes the best way for students to learn to work independently too.

“Working with Megan was incredible!” says Jess Pearse ‘17, a former athletic department intern. “She helped me with every step of planning a field day with a local school. It had everyone involved smiling from ear to ear. Megan truly brings all 22 sports together into one team!”

There is no doubt that Megan Patruno has been a vital and impress asset to not only Muhlenberg athletics, but to the college’s community as a whole. As for Patruno, she hopes her future is as bright as her previous six years here.

“I hope my future at Muhlenberg includes watching our teams continue to excel academically and athletically, working with student-athletes to help them develop as healthy, well-rounded, critical-thinking and inclusive individuals and working collaboratively with the entire community to help the College go above and beyond. Go Mules!” *facts about previous employment courtesy of Muhlenberg’s Sports Communication Department