Penn State Abington Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler announces that Director of Athletics Karen Weaver will leave at the end of this month to assume a faculty position at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
“Penn State Abington College appreciates Weaver’s leadership and vision in establishing a vibrant and growing athletic environment for our student athletes,” Sandler said. “She has left a lasting legacy, and we wish her much success in her career.”
Weaver, who has headed the department since 2006, has guided Abington athletics through a period of unprecedented change. Under her leadership, Abington added six sports, hired six full-time staff members, launched a new website (abingtonsports.com), and guided the program into the North Eastern Athletic Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
She also launched the Director’s List, an academic honor roll for student athletes, and instilled her passion for social media throughout the department. The athletic facilities also were upgraded during Weaver’s watch: a total renovation of the baseball fields and the Athletic Building including new fitness equipment, a new gym floor and state of the art bleachers.
Her most significant achievement came last month when Abington was granted full active membership in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. For the first time, Abington student athletes will be eligible to compete for NCAA national championships.
“The faculty, staff and student athletes have been incredible to work with during this time of tremendous change and growth,” Weaver said. “Achieving NCAA status is just the first of many wonderful things that will happen at Penn State Abington. I depart with very mixed emotions but know that I left the college in a good place.”
Weaver will become a faculty member at Drexel’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies. As an associate professor, she will work primarily with the fast-growing Sport Management graduate and undergraduate programs as well as collaborate with the Higher Education Management master’s program.
She will supervise and serve on doctoral committees, and along with other faculty members, assist Drexel in creating a public policy forum focusing on intercollegiate athletics. Weaver also plans to extend her sports media and broadcasting research interests.
A national search has begun for a new director of athletics. Weaver will remain as a consultant to Abington until the new director is in place.
