April 19, 2018: Introducing Bucknell's Next Director of Athletics & Recreation

Dear Bucknellians,

I am excited to share with you the news that we have successfully concluded our search for our next director for athletics & recreation, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you Jermaine Truax.

Jermaine, who currently serves as Loyola University Chicago's Deputy Director of Athletics, emerged as the leading candidate from a pool of highly qualified individuals during a national search. A former student-athlete himself, Jermaine holds broad administrative experience at a number of institutions, and he has earned the respect and admiration of many within collegiate athletics for his leadership and his commitment to a true student-athlete model.

This successful outcome would not have been possible without the commitment of our search committee members, who worked in partnership with Witt/Kieffer's executive sports leadership practice. The committee includes:

  • Co-chair Linda Smolka - Associate Professor of Mathematics and Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)
  • Co-chair Scott Rosevear - Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations
  • Doug Allen '88 - Professor of Management
  • Bill Conley - Vice President for Enrollment Management
  • Kelly Cook - Head Coach, Women's Soccer
  • Georgina Dodge - Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Pierre Joanis - Vice President for Human Resources
  • Meghan Kovac '18 - Softball Player and Chair of Bucknell's Student-Athlete​ ​Advisory Committee
  • John McBride - Head Coach, Men's and Women's Water Polo
  • Jennie Stevenson - Assistant Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Committee on Athletics
  • Rivka Ulmer - Professor of Jewish Studies
  • Lauren Wicklund - Associate Athletic Director for Leadership Development

My thanks to all of the members​ ​of the committee​ ​for their efforts on this search. I'd also like to​ ​extend my sincere gratitude to Deputy Director of Athletics Tim Pavlechko '91 for serving as​ ​interim director of athletics & recreation so admirably these past few months. Tim is a passionate​ ​and committed colleague, and I am grateful for all that he has done for the University, both during​ ​this interim period and throughout his career at Bucknell.

Jermaine, his wife, Nimra, and their three children will join us on July 1, and I look forward to​ ​officially welcoming them to the Bucknell community. In the meantime, please join me in​ ​congratulating Jermaine. I am excited to see the ways in which he​ ​helps​ ​elevate what is already​ ​among the best Division I​ ​athletics​ ​programs in the country.

‘ray Bucknell!


John