Academic Services Announces Staffing Changes
5/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Academics & Compliance
The Marquette University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced staff responsibility changes within its academic services and student support department.
Adrienne Ridgeway, who serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support & Student Programs, assumed leadership of the department in fall of 2015 and coordinates the academic services for all of the University's 16 varsity programs. She works primarily with the men's basketball and men's and women's tennis programs. Ridgeway, who has been at Marquette for nearly 15 years, earned her bachelor's in speech-language pathology in 2001 and master's in the same field two years later. She also completed her master's work in college student personnel at Marquette.
As an Assistant Director for Academic Services, Maureen Lewis is now responsible for honors student-athlete programming and serving as advisor to Chi Alpha Sigma. She also coordinates the group's community service efforts and works with women's lacrosse and men's and women's cross country/track & field. Lewis earned her bachelor's in journalism and advertising from Marquette and her master's in counseling from the University as well.
"Maureen is an extremely dedicated and caring professional in the department who has served student-athletes at Marquette for nearly 15 years," Ridgeway said. "She has made important contributions to not only Marquette student-athletes, but also to the profession, presenting at conferences on topics related to student-athlete development and care for the whole student."
Katie Simet is also an Assistant Director for Academic Services and Student Programs. She works specifically with the volleyball, men's soccer and men's lacrosse programs and will now head up the department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee efforts, as well as the leadership development programs. Simet has been at Marquette for six years and is a 2006 graduate of the University with a degree in psychology and elementary education. She earned her master's in student development administration from Seattle University in 2010.
"Katie is a dynamic professional who has made significant contributions to the growth and development of Marquette student-athletes for several years," Ridgeway said. "I think her value is most evident by the student-athletes voting her the support staff person of the year at the recent Blue and Golden Globes awards program."
Nicolle Lewis is the newest member of the staff, having joined the unit as an Academic Counselor in the fall of 2015. She focuses her efforts on the women's basketball, women's soccer and men's golf teams and is responsible for training and developing the tutors and academic enrichment coaches. The Wind Lake, Wisconsin native played basketball at Illinois State and earned a bachelor's in exercise science in 2009 and a master's in sports management in 2010. In 2015, Lewis earned her doctoral degree in health education and promotion from the University of Missouri.
"Nicolle has been a tremendous addition to our staff and it didn't take her very long to make an impact on our department and student-athletes," Ridgeway said. "Having been a student-athlete herself, she has a great understanding of the demands made of our students and the best methods required for time management."
Meryl Franke is finishing her 12th year at Marquette as a Program Director for Athletics Specialized Learning Services. In her role, Franke provides student-athletes with strategies and skills needed to achieve academic success. She also works closely with tutors to facilitate academic support. Prior to MU, Franke taught in the Menomonee Falls School District. She earned a bachelor's in education from Northern Illinois University and a master's in education from Cardinal Stritch.
"Meryl has had an important impact on the success of our student-athletes, creating individualized learning plans and offering the one-on-one attention that some of our student-athletes need," Ridgeway said. "She is a rock star when it comes to working with our students."
