As the Hofstra University Department of Athletics celebrates the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, we will honor, acknowledge, and inform our University community about some of the members of the Pride who helped make a difference at Hofstra and paved the way for today's current student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams. Leading up to the June 23 anniversary of the passage of Title IX, Hofstra Athletics will feature many individuals who played a role in enacting change or those whose experiences at Hofstra were enhanced by the efforts of those who came before them.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the United States of America that was passed as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives funding from the federal government.
Please consider a gift to celebrate and support the 50th anniversary of Title IX! All proceeds from this campaign will go directly towards our Hofstra Athletics Pride Club account for women's athletics.
Today we feature a tribute to Executive Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator
Cindy Lewis as the
head coaches of our women's programs and Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. offer their thoughts on Cindy.
Cindy Lewis, a 2022 inductee into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame, has been a member of the Hofstra Athletics administration for more than 40 years, and holds the position of executive associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator. Lewis also serves as the department's Title IX coordinator in addition to handling sport administration duties for several of the Pride's 21 athletic teams.
A1979 graduate of Hofstra with a degree in physical education, Lewis played field hockey and women's lacrosse for four seasons, and after earning her master's in physical education from the University of New Hampshire in 1980, she returned to her alma mater and served as field hockey and women's lacrosse coach for five and three seasons, respectively.
Over the course of her Hofstra tenure, Lewis has been involved in the profound growth of Pride athletics. Her commitment to the implementation of Title IX has allowed women's athletics at Hofstra to flourish. She oversaw the introduction of women's soccer and women's golf as intercollegiate sports. Lewis was also instrumental in the hiring of Bill Edwards as softball coach and Joanne Russell as women's soccer coach, both of whom had Hall of Fame careers and led their teams to great success.
Outside of the Hofstra umbrella, Lewis is a member of the Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Officiating Association Board of Directors and was inducted into the Long Island Metro Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2020.
Lewis has also served on the NCAA Volleyball and Women's Lacrosse Committees and was the chairperson of the volleyball committee in 1995. In addition, she serves as a site representative at NCAA Volleyball and Lacrosse Championships and has been tournament director at several NCAA Championship events held at Hofstra.
Lewis' dedication to Hofstra athletics and all of the student-athletes and coaches that have been a part of the program is unparalleled and she has been a great influence and mentor to many.
