--Courtesy of Pomona-Pitzer Athletics--
Claremont, CA — [Dec 15, 2025] — Pomona College and Pitzer College announce the appointment of Danielle Lynch, Ed.D. as the next director of athletics for the Pomona-Pitzer athletic program and chair of Pomona College's physical education department. Lynch comes to Pomona-Pitzer from Haverford College where she served as Director of Athletics, fostering an inclusive culture where sports amplify education. Beginning April 1, Lynch will lead a dynamic program that supports 21 NCAA Division III varsity sports; a robust physical-education curriculum, club and intramural programs; as well as student wellness initiatives.
Lynch brings to the role more than two decades of leadership in collegiate athletics administration, including compliance, equitable access and oversight, as well as a commitment to student-athlete welfare. She double majored in geography and anthropology at Rutgers University before earning a master's in education from Bucknell University and a doctorate in lifelong learning and adult education from Pennsylvania State University. She will report to interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of Pomona College, Brent Carbajal, with secondary reporting lines to Pomona president G. Gabrielle Starr and Pitzer president Strom C. Thacker.
"Following a comprehensive nationwide search, I couldn't be more pleased to welcome Dr. Lynch to the Pomona-Pitzer community," said Brent Carabajal, Ph.D., interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Pomona College. "Dr. Lynch brings a wealth of applicable experience and an administrative acumen that will serve our student-athletes and Athletics staff very well. She understands the important role physical education can have in a liberal arts education — and has the right toolkit to realize her impressive vision."
The national search, which began this past summer, was overseen by Pomona Senior Associate Dean April Mayes, who led a committee of faculty, staff and administrators from both colleges.
With Lynch's appointment, the Pomona-Pitzer athletic program, which is home to more than 600 intercollegiate scholar-athletes and supported by dozens of coaches and staff, enters a new chapter anchored in competitive ambition, community, and an inclusive vision for physical education and athletics.
"At Pitzer, we champion student-centered leadership and collaborative innovation, and Dr. Lynch embodies those values," said Strom C. Thacker, president of Pitzer College. "Her commitment to access, wellness, and academic and athletic excellence will strengthen our shared program and create new opportunities where Sagehen student-athletes can flourish."
"Student athletes at Pomona-Pitzer find community in their teams and develop the discipline to succeed in sport and in life," says G. Gabrielle Starr, president of Pomona College. "Dr. Lynch's dedication to inclusive community-building along with competitive excellence makes her an ideal leader for Pomona-Pitzer Athletics."
Widely recognized for its sustained excellence, the Pomona-Pitzer athletic program earned dozens of SCIAC championships across its 21 varsity teams over the past decade and has regularly sent programs into deep NCAA postseason runs.
In recent years, Sagehen teams have secured multiple NCAA national titles in men's cross country, as well as men's and women's water polo, the latter winning four straight including the 2025 championship. Recent individual successes include national championships in women's singles tennis in 2023, and women's swimming, which won the 200 and 400 freestyle relay races in 2024. That same year, Alexandra Turvey, who swam in both of those national championship-winning races, was named NCAA woman of the year, the first Division III athlete to ever win that distinction.
This competitive strength matches exceptional academic achievement: Pomona-Pitzer student-athletes consistently post GPAs among the highest in Division III, earning annual Academic All-American honors, conference scholar-athlete awards, and top-tier NCAA graduation success rates. Together, these accomplishments underscore a program that excels nationally while upholding the academic distinction of the two colleges.
A former college athlete herself, Lynch competed in the 400-meter hurdles and pentathlon while at Rutgers, an experience that ignited a lifelong passion for athletics and student development. Her coaching career began at United States Military Academy (West Point) and continued at Bucknell, where over eight years she helped guide more than 20 school record–holders and 30 Patriot League champions.
Later, at Penn State Harrisburg Lynch founded and led a track & field and cross-country program from scratch, ultimately coaching six All-Americans and the school's first national champion during her eight-season tenure. Lynch served at Susquehanna University as Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance, where she oversaw compliance for 22 varsity sports and served as the university's deputy Title IX coordinator before joining Haverford College as Director of Athletics in 2022.
Throughout her career, Lynch has been deeply committed to student welfare, inclusive practices, and building programs that foster both competitive excellence and equitable access, a commitment she is eager to bring to the Pomona-Pitzer community.
"I am excited to join an institution where academic excellence, athletic achievement, and physical education are all essential parts of the student experience," said Lynch. "Pomona-Pitzer's commitment to holistic development aligns deeply with my values. This role offers an opportunity to support student-athletes while also strengthening the physical education curriculum, ensuring all students and the greater campus community benefit from wellness, movement, and lifelong health education."
The national search for a new director follows the departure of Miriam Merrill who served as chair of the department of physical education and director of athletics for Pomona–Pitzer Sagehens until June 2025. Since her departure,
Brandon Johnson, senior associate director of athletics, has served as interim athletic director, ensuring our Sagehen athletes can continue to learn and compete at the highest level.
"I am very grateful for the leadership of Interim Director of Athletics
Brandon Johnson," added Carbajal. "His commitment and dedication to the excellence that characterizes Pomona-Pitzer Athletics is clear, and I know I echo our athletes and our athletic staff by expressing my appreciation for his continued engagement until Dr. Lynch's arrival."
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