SUNY Potsdam Alumni Name Laura L. Mooney '06 a 'Rising Star'

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From left, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg, 2016 Rising Star Award recipient Laura L. Mooney ’06 and Alumni Association President Amy Kellogg ’99.

POTSDAM, NY (07/21/2016)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Laura L. Mooney '06 with the 2016 Rising Star Award at the College's Bicentennial Reunion Weekend.

The Rising Star Award is presented to an alum who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in the first decade following graduation. Mooney was recognized for her outstanding accomplishments so early in her career, in the field of athletics higher education and administration.

A dynamic leader both on and off the athletic field, Mooney was an outstanding dual sport athlete in women's soccer and lacrosse, as well as an accomplished student artist at SUNY Potsdam. While attending Potsdam, she was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, as well as the Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in art studio with a minor in art history, before moving on to SUNY Cortland to obtain her Master of Science degree in sport administration and management.

After graduation, Mooney became an assistant women's soccer and lacrosse coach at SUNY Maritime. In just six short years, she advanced to the position of associate athletic director for administration there, to include the roles of senior women's athletics administrator and athletic department business manager, which included development and oversight of a $1.7 million budget. While at Maritime, she had the highest winning percentage of any women's sports program at the campus, and led the women's soccer team to its best record in program history.

In the spring of 2014, Mooney was selected as the athletic director for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass., making her one of the youngest collegiate athletic directors in the country. She was also selected to participate in the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program, which is an intense year-long program designed to elevate those in senior-level positions within athletic administration to the next step as a director of athletics.

With the encouragement, hard work and dedication demonstrated throughout her college career, Mooney has also shown outstanding professional achievement and development in her field of athletic administration at an extraordinarily young age. She also serves as a mentor and positive role model for female student athletes. Mooney is a member of numerous NCAA committees and national athletic associations.

In addition to all of her professional achievements, Mooney also volunteers with local sports programs, and serves as president of the Bronx Irish Soccer League and vice president of the Westchester Women's Soccer League.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. As the College marks its bicentennial in 2016, SUNY Potsdam will celebrate a 200-year legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 4,100 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and leadership in the arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community is nearing the completion of Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which has raised $33.5 million for scholarships and programs.

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