Jim Pignataro Named Lan Hewlett Award Winner

June 15, 2016 EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) has announced that Michigan State Executive Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services Jim Pignataro is the recipient of the 2016 Lan Hewlett Award. Pignataro was recognized during the 2016 N4A Convention, held June 9-11 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

This award is named in honor of Mr. Lan Hewlett, a long-time advisor at the University of Texas, who is generally acknowledged as the first to provide academic support services to student-athletes. The award is presented annually to an advisor who has demonstrated the following:

1. Sustained professional service in academic advising for collegiate student-athletes
2. High level of competency in administrative skills
3. Merited stature among and support from student-athletes, faculty, coaches, and fellow administrators
4. Innovative response in meeting varied and emerging needs of student-athletes
5. An effectiveness in the development of junior staff (where appropriate)
6. Significant contributions to the field through publications or professional involvement/development
7. Leadership in university affairs

Michigan State student-athletes have excelled not only in competition, but in the classroom as well under Pignataro's direction. For 11 consecutive semesters, Spartan student-athletes have posted better than a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. More than 400 student-athletes (419) posted a cumulative GPA above 3.0 in the spring semester of 2016, marking the highest total in the history of the department for the spring, and 19 teams maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA. The spring semester of 2016 also saw Spartan student-athletes compile the highest cumulative grade-point average in program history at 3.101. Additionally, 270 student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten honors throughout the 2015-16 academic year. A department record 328 student-athletes were honored at the 2016 SASS Academic Excellence Gala (student-athletes with at least a sophomore academic standing and a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA).

Pignataro was appointed Executive Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services in August 2015. Pignataro has been the Associate Athletic Director for Student Services and Director of Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) at Michigan State the past 14 years, and has overseen the Sports Medicine and Performance Department (athletic training, sports medicine, strength and conditioning) since 2007.

In addition to his previous roles, Pignataro coordinates the resource allocation group, which was identified as one of the four primary areas of focus by MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis in his new leadership structure for Spartan Athletics in 2015. The resource allocation group will evaluate the funding of many different components, including the core areas of scholarships, operations, compensation and facilities. In his new role, Pignataro has a lead role coordinating the collaboration between the various focus groups.

Pignataro's duties include: overseeing the operations of the Clara Bell Student-Athlete Academic Center which houses 12 full-time employees, two graduate assistants and over 85 tutors; overseeing athletics department units athletic training and strength and conditioning; and serving as the Athletic Director's liaison to MSU Sports Medicine.

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