Sandy Barbour Retiring from Penn State

Penn State’s Athletic Department will have a new leader, as Sandy Barbour announced her retirement

Sandy Barbour, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, will retire this summer.

In 2014, Sandy Barbour became the 9th athletic director in Penn State history, overseeing 31 varsity sports, over 800 student-athletes, and more than 300 staff.  She oversaw seven of the top 10 fundraising years in Penn State athletic history.

Penn State achieved six NCAA championships in her tenure (women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and wrestling) along with 39 conference championships (31 in the Big Ten) and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT).   She also added 34 individual national champions and helped Penn State finish in the top 20 of the Learfield Director’s Cup five times.

"“These last eight years have been the most incredible and satisfying of my career.  The passion, the commitment, and the purpose with which the Penn State community prusues excellence is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I am honored and privileged to have had hte opportunity to serve Penn State students, coaches, faculty, staff, and our incredible community.:"

— Sandy Barbour, in a statement

Penn Staet student-athletes achieved the 11 highest semesters all-time in a number of students earning a 3.0 GPA and tied the school record for Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 92% in 2021.  Barbour also oversaw the creation of the ’20 year Master Plan’, the conversion of the Morgan Academic Center, Lasch Football Building renovation and the transformation to what is now Panzer Stadium (lacrosse).