The Chestnut Hill College Department of Athletics and Recreation has announced the departure of nine-year athletic director Lynn Tubman, who has been appointed to the same role at Muhlenberg College, an NCAA Division-III (D-III) institution in Western Pennsylvania. In a parting statement, Tubman said:
"I have grown both personally and professionally under the leadership and guidance of President, Sister Carol Jean Vale, and Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Lynn Ortale, during my nine years as director of athletics at Chestnut Hill College," she said. "It has been a privilege and honor to lead and serve with the entire department and coaching staff. I will always have a special place in my heart for the wonderful community at Chestnut Hill College."
During her tenure, Tubman oversaw incredible growth to the athletics program including two very pivotal moments in Chestnut Hill College history: the transition from a D-III program to a regionally competitive D-II program and the college's first D-II championship, won in 2017 by the men's tennis team. As a strong administrator, an advocate for athletes and a motivational leader, Tubman has provided vision, direction and leadership to CHC's DII evolution. Thanks to that leadership, the college added several new sports in the last decade, including men and women's track and field, sprint football and women's bowling.
President Sister Carol Jean Vale, Ph.D., expressed her feelings on Tubman's appointment. "Working with her is a privilege and a joy because her commitment is selfless and honest. It is never about Lynn," she said. "It is always about what is best for the college and those with whom she works ... She completes projects on time, follows-up on them, reports accurately and works to improve whatever needs her attention. She goes about her tasks quietly and deliberately, needing little notice and no prompting. She is truly humble."
In conjunction with the Office of Institutional Advancement, Tubman created the Hill Athletic Club for the cultivation of athletic donors in 2010. Her involvement in all phases of the renovation of an auxiliary gym was instrumental in the creation of the Fitness and Recreation Center, which is housed in the Jack and Rosemary Gulati Complex; completed in October 2010. She established the Chestnut Hill College Athletic Hall of Fame and organized the induction ceremony for the Inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2011. 
Under Tubman, the college has been recognized with back-to-back (2012 & 2013) NCAA DII Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence. This crowning achievement is the result of Tubman's hard work and dedication to establish a comprehensive four-year athletic scholarship plan that provides coaches additional support and competitive financial packages for student-athletes. The acquisition of an NCAA DII Strategic Alliance Matching Grant in 2009 allowed the College to hire an Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Success and Community Engagement in 2010. Since then, the Griffins have earned a reputation that lives up to the college's "Dear Neighbor" and the NCAA Division II's "Service" ideals. Furthermore, in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016, the Griffins were recognized with the NCAA Community Engagement Award for the CACC and began inducting student-athletes to Alpha Chi Lambda, the national athletics honor society, in 2017-2018.
Academically and athletically, Tubman's commitment to the student-athletes, her staff, and the college as a whole was unwavering. To quote Sister Carol, "To say she will be missed is an understatement. Colleagues like Lynn are hard to find. It is her quality of presence that will be impossible to replace."
This article has been modified from a longer piece that appears on GriffinAthletics.com. To read more about Lynn Tubman and her many accomplishments while at Chestnut Hill College, click here. To read more about all of the college's athletic programs and stay up to date on your favorite teams, visit GriffinAthletics.com
