By Michele Richinick

The Athletic Department’s recent move under the Office of the Enrollment and Student Life will create synergy in the department, said Philomena Mantella, senior vice president for enrollment and student life, because the office interacts with the student body on a daily basis.

“I think [the move] is natural in many ways because, for us at Northeastern, athletics is very much a part of building community as a university,” Mantella said. “They are a central part of campus life. We are really focused on all of the activities and services outside the classroom. I think it’s going to be wonderful, a great addition to the enrollment group.”

The change allows the department to have constant communication with areas that affect and impact students like financial aid, housing, student affairs and residential life, said Athletics Director Peter Roby.

With this move, the department can build the men’s and women’s athletic teams in the ongoing way the office promotes activities on campus, Mantella said.

“[We’ll be] more intentional about how we leverage all of our work with students to bring them the very best array of recreation and high level of excitement at the games and athletic competitions,” Mantella said.

Before the change, which occurred last spring, athletics reported to the general university counsel, Roby said. The time spent under the general counsel was dedicated to figuring out which office would be the best place for Athletics, he said. Prior to reporting to the general counsel, athletics used to report to the president, he said.

The department has not reported to the president since President Joseph Aoun arrived at Northeastern in 2006 because he wanted to empower the senior leadership team, Roby said. Aoun limited the number of direct reports he had for sake of efficiency, and began to have Athletics report to a function in his cabinet but not directly to the president, Roby said.

“It’s not atypical for the director of Athletics to report to some other administrator,” Roby said. “I actually prefer it because now it’s the opportunity for us to be integrated into the mainstream of life on campus.”

The Student Government Association (SGA) works with the university budget and student priorities, which are through the Office of Student Financial Services, and the campus recreation fee, which is through the Office of Student Affairs, said Rob Ranley, SGA president. Before the change, athletics was on its own because it is legal counsel, Ranley said.

“We had to pull all the people for the university together, and now it will be easier because they’re all in the same room,” Ranley said.

SGA currently has “a good working relationship with Mantella,” and the change will make it easier to work with just one person, Ranley said.

Since Aoun arrived at Northeastern, the Office of Development’s amount of support and partnership with the Athletics Department has grown, Roby said. Aoun has hired new people in the Office of Development who recognize the value and potential of the athletics department to create a sense of engagement with alumni, he said.

“They work closely together to strategize and reengage new people and reconnect with individuals that the department hasn’t talked to in a while,” he said.

As Aoun has learned more about the Athletics Department and its coaches, he recognizes what great ambassadors they are and its mission and values, Roby said. He wants to find ways to promote those values, Roby said.

“You can’t deny the fact that sport in our culture is important. People pay attention to it and it gives people a chance,” Roby said. “Regardless of what college they graduate from at Northeastern, there’s a likely interest in athletics in a sense of pride in seeing our teams be successful. I think people are more focused on that.”