New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz announced its 2023-24 executive board with women's basketball rising senior Madison Mullman and softball rising senior Jillian Shelbourne elected as the newest president and vice president, respectively.   

Rounding out the Hawks 2023-24 e-board is Student Development Chair Morgan Hammell (women's basketball), Diversity & Inclusion Chair Nick Brown (men's swimming), Mental Health co-chairs Morgan Woolley (field hockey/women's lacrosse) and Gaby Treble (women's soccer), Community Relations co-chairs Cate DiGiacomo (women's volleyball) and Elias Elcock (men's lacrosse) and Communications co-chairs Isabella Shepherd (softball) and Matt Brignati (men's lacrosse).      

Mullman and Shelbourne previously served as the Diversity & Inclusion Chair and Communications Co-Chair last year while Mullman, along with Brown, Chloe Jeffares (women's swimming) and Hammell representing SUNY New Paltz at the SUNYAC SAAC retreat this past April.   

"I am really glad I had the opportunity to attend the retreat," Mullman said. "It allowed us to be around student-athletes who are going through the same things we are and wanted to become better leaders and make changes in athletics. I really enjoyed listening to the speakers we had the two days about their experiences and how they want to better us as athletes."  
 

Mullman, Hammell, Jeffares and Brown joined student-athlete representatives across each 10 SUNYAC members from April 15 to April 17 in Syracuse, NY. Arriving Saturday night, the group participating in an axe-throwing bonding event before attending a SUNYAC sponsored bowling Special Olympics event — one of their favorite memories for Jeffares and Brown.   

"My favorite part of the experience was working with special Olympics at the bowling event," Jeffares said. "I was grateful for being able to give a fun day to all of the Special Olympic athletes. I was happy I got to talk to them."  

"I really enjoyed all the interactive activities like axe-throwing, which allowed for everyone to have a lot of fun and also to get to know all the other student-athletes better," Brown added. "I also had such a fun time working with Special Olympics at their bowling event."  
Following Special Olympics, a Cortland student-athlete created a series of games that included questions on mental health, giving the group an opportunity to learn more about one another and mental health among athletes. Later in the evening, SUNYAC brought in distinguished speaker, Bonni Hodges to present "When the College Experience Ends," speaking on dealing with grief after college athletics ends, as it becomes a large part of a student-athletes identity, touching on ways to deal with the mental aspect of being a student-athlete throughout their collegiate career and once it does come to an end.   

"I had a great experience at the retreat. It was nice meeting all of the athletes from the other schools," Hammell said. "We got to get to know each other at axe throwing and the next day we got to work with and get to know the special Olympic athletes. Bowling was definitely my favorite part of the experience. We all had a great time."  

On the final day, student-athletes attended the Solvay Fire Department where they listened to Dr. Maggie Tieman talk about nutrition before ending the retreat with SAAC elections of the SUNYAC e-board. Brown was nominated as the Vice President of Legislation, while Mullman was nominated as a Cabinet Alternate.   

Mullman, who previously served as the Hawks Diversity & Inclusion Chair this past year, takes the reins from former president Cassidy Deaver (women's basketball). She and Shelbourne will resume as President and Vice President at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.   

"I'm super excited to be elected SAAC President for next year and to work with the new E-Board," Mullman said. "I am really looking forward to getting some more events that get the whole community and campus more involved with our athletics and be able to raise awareness to different organizations that we are looking to work with in the upcoming year." 

**********************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.