Dear Campus Community,
Please help me welcome Sharief Hashim as the new Vice President for Athletics and Recreation at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, effective Oct. 5. In this role, Sharief will report directly to me and serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
Hashim brings more than a decade of progressive leadership experience in NCAA Division III athletics, most recently serving as Director of Athletics at Susquehanna University, where he led a program encompassing 23 varsity sports, more than 600 student-athletes and approximately 70 coaches and staff.
Throughout his career, Hashim has led athletics programs with a focus on student success, competitive excellence and institutional impact. At Susquehanna, he has overseen strategic planning, operations, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, facilities and student-athlete success. During his tenure, the university saw a 150% increase in conference championships, including its first NCAA football Final Four appearance in more than four decades. He also helped secure more than $2 million in unrestricted athletics gifts and led initiatives to strengthen alumni engagement, student-athlete wellness and athletics facilities.
Previously, Hashim served as Director of Athletics and Physical Education at SUNY Potsdam and Director of Athletics at Southern Vermont College. His career also includes experience in recreation and youth development with Montgomery County, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia, as well as coaching basketball at Wheaton High School in Montgomery County.
Hashim earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management, with a minor in counseling psychology, from Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University, and a master’s degree in sport management from Southern New Hampshire University.
As Vice President for Athletics and Recreation, Hashim will provide strategic leadership for the College’s intercollegiate athletics and recreation programs, with a focus on the student-athlete experience, competitive success and the role athletics and recreation can play in advancing student success, enrollment, engagement and institutional distinction.
Sharief brings a strong record of leadership and a clear understanding that athletics and recreation are integral to the educational experience and the broader mission of the institution. His commitment to student success, relationship building and strategic leadership will be tremendous assets to St. Mary’s College. I am especially pleased to welcome him back to Maryland and look forward to the contributions he will make to our campus and our community.
In a letter to the search committee, Hashim wrote, “Thanks to President Phillips, Donny Bryan and the search committee for their confidence in me and for the opportunity to join the St. Mary’s College community. I am excited and honored to serve as Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. I look forward to building meaningful relationships across campus, supporting our coaches and staff, and collaborating with alumni and friends of the College throughout the state of Maryland. Together, we will work to enhance the student-athlete experience, advance competitive excellence and build upon the continued success and visibility of Seahawks Athletics.”
Please also join me in expressing our sincere appreciation to Donny Bryan for his leadership and service as Interim Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. Donny provided steady leadership during an important period of transition, and I am grateful for his commitment to our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the College.
I also want to thank the members of the search committee for the time, care and thoughtful consideration they brought to this important search.
Please join me in welcoming Sharief to St. Mary’s College. I look forward to introducing him to our community this fall.
Best wishes,
Rhonda
Rhonda Phillips, Ph.D., FAICP
President
