ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT Athletics will establish the Joe and Marybeth Markiewicz Student-Athlete Well-Being Center, made possible through a $1.36 million commitment from Joe and Marybeth Markiewicz, both members of the RIT Class of 1985.
Located in Clark Gymnasium, the new center will serve as the hub for RIT Athletics' student-athlete development and leadership programming, further strengthening the department's commitment to the holistic development and well-being of its student-athletes.
The commitment will support the renovation of the current Athletics Conference Room into the Student-Athlete Well-Being Center, provide funding for a graduate assistant position and support student-athlete development programming. The commitment includes $1 million to establish the Markiewicz Family Endowed Fund, providing sustained support for staffing and programmatic expenses associated with the center.
"Joe and Marybeth's commitment is transformational for RIT Athletics and, most importantly, for our student-athletes," said
Jacqueline Nicholson, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "We believe the student-athlete experience should be about much more than what happens in competition. Our responsibility is to develop the whole student-athlete and prepare them to lead, serve and succeed long after their playing careers are over. This center gives that work a home and provides us with the resources to make an even greater investment in our student-athletes."
The center will support more than 700 student-athletes across RIT's 25 varsity programs. Programming will focus on areas including leadership development, mental and physical well-being, career preparation and mentoring, academic enrichment, community building, resilience and belonging.
"Joe and Marybeth's generosity reflects a powerful belief in what the student experience can and should do: help students discover their strengths, develop as leaders, build resilience, and prepare for lives of purpose and impact," said Dr. Sandy Johnson, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs. "The Student-Athlete Well-Being Center creates an important home for that work within athletics, while reinforcing something we value across the university: our responsibility is not simply to support students while they are at RIT, but to help prepare them for who they will become long after they leave us. This commitment will make that possible for generations of student-athletes."
The vision for the center reflects the Markiewicz family's belief in a holistic approach to student development and the important role intercollegiate athletics can play in preparing graduates for meaningful careers, community engagement and lives of purpose and integrity.
"Marybeth and I look back on our years at RIT as highly influential in shaping our lives," said Mr. Markiewicz. "Managing a full class load, being away from home, handling stress and pressure, striving to perform athletically, maturing personally, taking responsibility for our choices, and preparing for life beyond the classroom and playing field all contributed to our growth as young adults and to our success in our careers, marriage, family, and service to society. Our opportunity to give back has taken shape through a vision to support the leadership development and well-being of RIT student-athletes. We are proud to partner with RIT to establish this center, helping student-athletes succeed on campus and better prepare for the rest of their lives."
Both Joe and Marybeth have deep connections to RIT and its intercollegiate athletics program. Joe earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering in 1985. Joe was a standout member of the baseball team, leading the Tigers in several statistical categories and serving as team captain in 1985. Marybeth also graduated from RIT in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and was a member of the women's volleyball team.
