New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz announced the hire of its newest Associate Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Ronald Baines.
 
Baines joins the Hawks after serving as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Student-Athlete Development at New Jersey City University for the last four-plus years.
 
Baines will take on the role of Associate Director for SUNY New Paltz Athletics, Wellness and Recreation with main responsibilities stemming in compliance and finance.
 
Baines was a jack-of-all-trades while with the Golden Knights. He helped improve fiscal oversight across six varsity programs, increased operational efficiency, strengthened departmental financial planning, improved cross-campus alignment, ensured all compliance with NCAA, NJAC and New Jersey University rules were permissible, provided sport administrative oversight and represented the department a University at various conference and NCAA committees and working groups.
 
"We are excited to welcome Ron to New Paltz," said SUNY New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Renee Bostic. "He brings a diverse breadth of experience and will be a tremendous asset as we continue our conference transition to the NJAC. Welcome to the Hawks family."
 
Prior to his most recent role at NJCU, Baines served as the Assistant Director of Career Engagement & Program Development for a year at the University after spending a year at the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia, where he was a STEM Program Manager. Baines also worked in the National Football League from September 2019 to April 2020 in Player Social Marketing.
 
"Joining SUNY New Paltz as Associate Director of Athletics, Wellness, & Recreation is a genuine honor," Baines said. "This university has a long-standing reputation for putting students at the center of everything it does, and that values-driven approach is what drew me here. My focus on the business and compliance side is straightforward: help this department operate with discipline and integrity, protect the institution and the student-athlete in every decision we make, and ensure the foundation of our program is one our coaches, staff, and athletes can rely on. I'm grateful to the New Paltz community for the trust they've placed in me, and I'm ready to get to work."
 
Baines earned his Master's in Sports Management with a concentration in International Marketing from St. John's University in May 2019 after earning his bachelor's at his alma mater Bowie State. He additionally held roles as an adjunct professor, the NCAA Division III Inclusive Leaders Program, NJAC DEI Chairman, at the Dr. Charles Whitocmb Leadership Institute, as a NCAA Division III Administrator Advancement, BIG 3 basketball league as a player personnel and at IMG College.
 

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