THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The California Lutheran University athletics department is pleased to announce that alumna Holly Roepke has been named Senior Associate Director of Athletics.
"I am honored to return to Cal Lutheran," said Roepke. "My home not only to the spaces I've graced academically and athletically, but to shared spaces of friends and family. I bring with me a professional portfolio fueled by my identified purpose to deliver a championship experience strengthened through campus collaboration.
"I would like to thank Matt Ward (Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success) and Dr. Dan Kuntz (Athletics Director) for this opportunity to serve the Purple and Gold."
In the new position, Roepke will oversee student-athlete welfare and implement initiatives and programming related to diversity, equity and inclusion. She will assist Director of Athletics Dan Kuntz in various ways including directing game management, managing the budget, coordinating hiring and supporting fundraising efforts.
"Holly brings depth of experience, leadership and love of alma mater to the university," said Matt Ward.
Roepke was previously the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Pomona-Pitzer. Before that, she was the Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Grinnell College.
The athletic administrator role at Grinnell had a specific focus on diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence through campus collaborations in pursuit of development for professionals and athlete success. She served all functional areas of the department from recruiting and admissions, to policy development, hiring practices, and department reviews. Roepke led efforts to create The Leadership LAB at Grinnell College at an innovative intersection of Leadership Development and Inclusive Excellence. The lab prepares leaders through science-based and experiential learning facilitated by experts and applied within collaborative spaces for intrapersonal growth and community building.
Her work reached across campus in the areas of student health and wellness, academic success, the Council on Diversity and Inclusion, and the President's initiative of Resiliency and Well-Being addressing opportunities and gaps that influence retention. Roepke was an advisor for SAAC and student athlete affinity groups.
Prior to Grinnell, Roepke served as Director of Media Relations for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). She coordinated conference programs and events, administered the league's awards program and promoted student-athletes by leading the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), focusing on personal strengths and promoting careers in athletics. Additionally, she assisted the executive director in all areas of business operations as just the second full-time employee of the conference.
Roepke holds a master's degree in Kinesiology and Sport Management from the University of South Dakota. Roepke graduated from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif., with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership.
Roepke's consistently outstanding performance with Regals soccer earned her two Second Team All-America honors (1996 and '98). She was also a First Team All-West Region selection three times (1995-97) and was an All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) First Team honoree four consecutive years (1995-98). In her senior season, she was named the SCIAC Player of the Year.
Roepke dominated the pitch at Cal Lutheran. More than a decade after her play on the field, her career record of 25 assists maintains a place in the University's record books, ranking her third in assists. Also a top goal scorer, she remains ranked fourth in all-time career goals scored with 42. During her time with the Purple and Gold, the Regals won 61 games, going undefeated in SCIAC play with one tie, on the way to four SCIAC titles. She was inducted into the Cal Lutheran Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
