Chapin steps down as Director of Athletics
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – American International College Director of Athletics Jessica Chapin has announced her resignation, effective May 23, 2024, to take on the same role at Brandeis University, her alma mater.
"It has been an incredible journey serving as the Director of Athletics at American International College. I am proud of the growth and accomplishments we have achieved together, especially during the challenging times we faced. I am grateful for the support of the AIC community and am excited to take the next step in my professional journey a Director of Athletics at my alma mater, Brandeis University. I am confident that AIC Athletics is poised for continued success, and I look forward to following its progress in the future," Chapin said.
Originally hired in 2014 as the department's Compliance Coordinator, Chapin became the Director of Athletics on January 1, 2020, and her tenure was marked by tremendous success in the face of extraordinary challenges.
Her first major hurdle was navigating the global COVID-19 Pandemic. Against that backdrop, AIC's student-athletes were able to safely return to play in the winter of 2020, and notable accomplishments in the two academic years that followed included back-to-back-to-back Atlantic Hockey Association titles for the ice hockey team and an appearance in the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Division I Tournament; the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament titles in women's volleyball in 2021 and 2022; two individual NCAA Division II National Championships for men's cross country and track and field; the first-ever Northeast-10 women's cross country, indoor, and outdoor track and field championships in program history; and the NIRA Championship in women's rugby.
The College also welcomed two additional teams to the fold: men's volleyball, which began competition in 2022, and the women's acrobatics and tumbling team set to begin next spring.
Nationally, AIC finished 19th in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings in 2021-22, the high-water mark for the department's history, best in the East Region.
In addition to athletic success, the Department and College experienced astonishing increases in fundraising amounts under Chapin's leadership. The 2021 Athletics Giving Week raised $197,515, more than double the previous year, and exceeded $200,000 the following year. The model was adopted by the College at large the following year, and in the two most recent years has helped AIC bring in over $750,000 in donations.
Chapin has represented AIC on several major committees, including current roles on the East Regional Advisory Committee for women's volleyball, the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions, and as Chair of the Atlantic Hockey Association's Executive Committee. She is a member of National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and Women Leaders in College Sports, and previously has served on the NCAA Research Committee, National Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Legislation Committee, and Olympic Sport Committee, all as part of the NCAA Division II Management Council.
American International College (AIC) will conduct a national search for the College's next Director of Athletics to begin immediately. The search process will be conducted with the assistance of a search committee comprised of key stakeholders, including staff, student-athletes, and faculty. The committee will work diligently to identify and recruit a talented and experienced individual who will lead AIC's athletics program with integrity, passion, and a commitment to excellence. Interested applicants can learn more here.