Seton Hall Athletics Congratulates Robin Cunningham on Her Retirement
8/10/2021 10:22:00 AM | General, Academic Support Services
South Orange, N.J. - Seton Hall Athletics congratulates a Pirates legend on an incredible career serving Seton Hall students. Robin Cunningham '78, MA '84, Ed.S. '96 recently retired from Seton Hall after 37 years working with both student-athletes and the general student body helping shape the lives of young men and women as an educator and advisor.
Prior to beginning her career in education, Cunningham was also one of the most outstanding student-athletes in Seton Hall history. The first female scholarship student-athlete at Seton Hall, Cunningham was a three-sport star in basketball, softball and tennis. In basketball, she was the program's first 1,000-point scorer and finished with 1,003 points and 865 rebounds and led the Pirates to AIAW National Tournament appearances in 1976 and 1978. In 1984, she was elected to the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame and became the first female student-athlete to have her number (32) retired.
"From all of us at Seton Hall Athletics, we would like to congratulate Robin on an incredible career of service to the University," Seton Hall Director of Athletics & Recreation Bryan Felt said. "Between her work as the athletics department's academic support director for 20 years and her work in the University's center for academic success for the last 17 years, she has made meaningful impact on the lives of so many young men and women who have gone on to greatness. Combine that with being one of the most successful student-athletes ever to don the Pirates uniform, and Robin will forever be an icon in Seton Hall history."
From 1984 to 2003, Cunningham worked directly with student-athletes as the department's Director of Academic Support Services. Student-athletes who worked with her during that time often thanked her for her guidance in helping them achieve academic success and stay on track while navigating their athletic responsibilities. In an interview with ESPN.com in 2019, former Seton Hall men's basketball head coach P.J. Carlesimo when reminiscing about the 1988-89 NCAA Final Four team said, "I always tell people that the most important person in our program was Robin. Whenever we recruited someone, we never promised playing time. We did promise that they would graduate from one of the finest academic institutions in the country." Earlier this year, former men's basketball star Oliver Taylor in an interview with Gannett New Jersey said, "After playing all over the world I went back and got my degree. Robin Cunningham called me anytime I came home. She stayed on me to get my degree, and I always thank her."
In 2004, she moved over to the Center for Academic Success to work with the general freshmen population; in 2006, she became the Director of the Seton Summer Scholars program; in 2010 she was named Associate Dean of Freshman Studies; she served as Interim Vice President of Student Services in 2019, and she concluded her career as Associate Vice President/Dean of Freshman Studies.
Originally from Westfield, N.J., Cunningham has received numerous honors for her work. In 1991, she a recipient of the Outstanding Adviser Award presented by the National Association for Academic Advisers. In 1994, she received a Distinguished Service Award from the Ernst & Young Law Symposium at Seton Hall University School of Law, and the President's Award for Outstanding Service to Students in 1996. Â Cunningham was presented with the Most Valuable Pirate Award for her service to the Seton Hall men's basketball team in 2002, and in 2005, she was honored as the University's Woman of the Year. She later received the 2008 Many Are One Humanitarian Award, as well as the University's McQuaid Medal in 2011.
Prior to beginning her career in education, Cunningham was also one of the most outstanding student-athletes in Seton Hall history. The first female scholarship student-athlete at Seton Hall, Cunningham was a three-sport star in basketball, softball and tennis. In basketball, she was the program's first 1,000-point scorer and finished with 1,003 points and 865 rebounds and led the Pirates to AIAW National Tournament appearances in 1976 and 1978. In 1984, she was elected to the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame and became the first female student-athlete to have her number (32) retired.
"From all of us at Seton Hall Athletics, we would like to congratulate Robin on an incredible career of service to the University," Seton Hall Director of Athletics & Recreation Bryan Felt said. "Between her work as the athletics department's academic support director for 20 years and her work in the University's center for academic success for the last 17 years, she has made meaningful impact on the lives of so many young men and women who have gone on to greatness. Combine that with being one of the most successful student-athletes ever to don the Pirates uniform, and Robin will forever be an icon in Seton Hall history."
From 1984 to 2003, Cunningham worked directly with student-athletes as the department's Director of Academic Support Services. Student-athletes who worked with her during that time often thanked her for her guidance in helping them achieve academic success and stay on track while navigating their athletic responsibilities. In an interview with ESPN.com in 2019, former Seton Hall men's basketball head coach P.J. Carlesimo when reminiscing about the 1988-89 NCAA Final Four team said, "I always tell people that the most important person in our program was Robin. Whenever we recruited someone, we never promised playing time. We did promise that they would graduate from one of the finest academic institutions in the country." Earlier this year, former men's basketball star Oliver Taylor in an interview with Gannett New Jersey said, "After playing all over the world I went back and got my degree. Robin Cunningham called me anytime I came home. She stayed on me to get my degree, and I always thank her."
In 2004, she moved over to the Center for Academic Success to work with the general freshmen population; in 2006, she became the Director of the Seton Summer Scholars program; in 2010 she was named Associate Dean of Freshman Studies; she served as Interim Vice President of Student Services in 2019, and she concluded her career as Associate Vice President/Dean of Freshman Studies.
Originally from Westfield, N.J., Cunningham has received numerous honors for her work. In 1991, she a recipient of the Outstanding Adviser Award presented by the National Association for Academic Advisers. In 1994, she received a Distinguished Service Award from the Ernst & Young Law Symposium at Seton Hall University School of Law, and the President's Award for Outstanding Service to Students in 1996. Â Cunningham was presented with the Most Valuable Pirate Award for her service to the Seton Hall men's basketball team in 2002, and in 2005, she was honored as the University's Woman of the Year. She later received the 2008 Many Are One Humanitarian Award, as well as the University's McQuaid Medal in 2011.
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