I am pleased to announce that, after a national search, Dr. Nicole Annaloro has been appointed Senior Director of Athletics at Sonoma State University, effective June 1. Nicole becomes the 11th athletic director in the history of Sonoma State after serving for a year as the interim and only the second woman named Senior Director of Athletics since the university’s men’s and women’s programs were combined in 1981.
Nicole joined Sonoma State University in 2019 as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Her commitment to student-athlete academic and athletic excellence and health, wellness, and safety are her driving values. Dr. Annaloro’s leadership is rooted in providing the tools and opportunities for student-athletes, coaches, and staff to succeed.
Prior to joining SSU, Nicole was the Senior Woman Administrator and Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), a private liberal arts university and member of the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference.
Dr. Annaloro has a Ph.D. in Art Therapy, an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy, and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Notre Dame De Namur University. She is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. This training and experience has allowed her to hone her skills in conflict resolution, personal growth, and communication. She served as the campus Ombudsperson at NDNU for nine years, demonstrating her ability to navigate conflict and address individual and group needs. Her training as a social worker sharpened her ability to remain calm in crises and work under pressure. This skill set continues to serve her well as an administrative leader in an evolving climate of college athletics.
Dr. Annaloro is passionate about college athletics and the opportunities it provides student-athletes to develop skill sets to complement their academic education and support them well beyond college. As a former college athlete, coach, and current athletics administrator, she knows first-hand the impact college athletics can have on personal growth and development and lifelong relationships and memories. Furthermore, she maintains an ardent belief that college athletics plays a significant role in fostering school spirit and traditions for current and prospective students, as well as alumni.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Nicole Annaloro!
Joyce Lopes
Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer