JULIE SORIERO
Former Director of Athletics and Department Head of DAPER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Julie Soriero arrived at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in July of 2007 as the Director of Athletics and the Department Head of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER). Retiring in January of 2020, she led MIT intercollegiate athletics through a transformation into one of the top intercollegiate athletic programs in the country.
Boasting one the largest athletic programs in the country with 33 varsity sports, under her leadership, MIT captured numerous New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships and was awarded both the men’s and women’s NEWMAC President's Cups from 2016‐2017 through 2018‐ 2019. Competitively, MIT finished consistently in the top 10 in the Learfield Directors' Cup for a number of years during her tenure, with a second place finish in 2017‐18. That year, the MIT Engineers won a NEWMAC‐record 14 conference championships. In addition, three teams advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with men's basketball and women's tennis advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight. The softball program competed in the College World Series for the second time in three seasons, along with a fourth place showing at the NCAA Championship by the women's cross‐country team. The year was capped by a national championship from the co‐ed sailing.
MIT also sits as the leader in NCAA Division III for Academic All‐Americans. In addition to their competitive success, Soriero also focused on student development and initiated a leadership program for student‐ athletes titled a “Culture of Care” which focused on sexual assault prevention, mental health, diversity and inclusion and secured an endowment fund to support these efforts and programming.
Since her initial arrival at MIT, Soriero was a tireless and successful fundraiser. Over her MIT career, she raised well over $25 million for a variety of capital project improvements or new construction. Additionally, Soriero fundraised for four head coaching endowments ($2 million), two director‐level endowments ($2.5 million), and completed the fund‐raising for two coaching endowments that were initiated prior to her arrival.
In 2018, Soriero was the recipient of the prestigious NCAA President's Pat Summitt Award which honors the recipient for significant lifetime achievement in demonstrating a devotion to the development of student‐athletes and making a positive impact on their lives. She has received additional recognition for her leadership, including the 2014‐2015 Division III Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA and the 2012 Division III Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports. In July of 2021, Soriero will be inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame
Her collegiate career began in women’s basketball where she coached for over two decades at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels. In 1986, her Jefferson University team (Formerly Philadelphia Textile) made it to the NCAA DII Final Four. Following a distinguished 10‐year career at the University of Pennsylvania (NCAA DI–Ivy League), Soriero began her transition into athletic administration at Colorado College, a NCAA DIII institution that also supported two nationally competitive NCAA Division I teams (men’s ice hockey and women’s soccer).
A noted speaker, Soriero has presented at the US–China Sports Forum in Bejing, the NACDA and NCAA Conventions, as well as a number of educational programs with Women Leaders in College Sports. During the 2017‐18 academic year, she served as the President of Women Leaders in College Sports and has also served in a number of leadership roles including the NCAA DIII Management Council, the NCAA Olympic Sports Committee, and chair of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics.
Soriero has been invited to conduct numerous intercollegiate program reviews on other campuses and is currently a consultant with SHIFT Executive Coaching with a focus on intercollegiate athletics administration mentoring, leadership and career development.