Johnna Strenchock has been named the Director of the Florida Gulf Coast University Student-Athlete Learning Center, Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh announced on Friday, Sept. 18.
Strenchock brings an array of experience to FGCU, with previous stints at Florida State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Most recently, Strenchock spent one year at UNLV as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Academic Support.
As the Director of the Student-Athlete Learning Center, Strenchock will develop a strategic vision for the Student-Athlete Learning Center in cooperation with Kavanagh, Dr. Jim Wohlpart, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and Dr. Ludmilla Wells, the Faculty Athletics Representative. Strenchock will serve as the primary academic liaison to selected sport teams and will be responsible for designing and implementing success plans to assist student-athletes in enhancing their skills in areas of educational deficiency and maintaining successful advancement toward their degree programs.
Strenchock will also be responsible for working with individual at-risk student-athletes and monitoring academic progress of all student-athletes, while creating a culture for positive change and a climate of academic honesty.
“We are excited about our enhanced partnership with Undergraduate Studies under Dr. Wohlpart’s tremendous leadership,” Kavanagh said. “In turn, we welcome Johnna to FGCU and look forward to her talents, experience and energized personality continuing the outstanding combination of terrific daily support and classroom outcomes that we associate with the collective academic performances of our Eagle student-athletes.”
“I am very excited about the collaboration that we are building between the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the FGCU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics,” Wohlpart added. “In shifting the Student-Athlete Learning Center into Undergraduate Studies we will be able to develop synergies and to capitalize on connections that otherwise might have been hard to make.”
While in Las Vegas, Strenchock served as the lead advisor for football and provided academic support for men’s golf, men’s swimming and women’s tennis. Strenchock also assisted the director with the daily administration and oversight of the athletics department’s academic support program. Her duties included completing preliminary transcript evaluations for incoming freshmen and transfer student-athletes as well as monitoring student-athlete class attendance and class progress. At UNLV Strenchock also hired and monitored a staff of tutors and mentored student-athletes on their educational and career plans to help them prepare for the future.
With help from Strenchock, UNLV saw 129 student-athletes earn conference academic recognition during the 2012-13 academic year. The recognition extended UNLV’s streak of 124 or more honorees to eight-years running. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic team, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and be a starter or significant contributor on their team.
Prior to joining the Rebels at UNLV, Strenchock was a member of the Florida State University athletics department for three years. She served in various roles with the Seminoles but finished her career in Tallahassee as the Academic Program Specialist for football. As the Academic Program Specialist, Strenchock provided academic advice and support for approximately 45 football student-athletes and the men’s basketball team. In this role she regularly monitored at-risk student-athletes and assisted with academic recovery plans. Strenchock also mentored student-athletes as they advanced in their academic careers and prepared for post-graduate life.
While at FSU, Strenchock served as a teaching assistant where she set guidelines for fitness-related undergraduate course work. She also assisted with marketing, promotions and game-day operations for the Seminoles.
The Pennsylvania native attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. where she was a member of the women’s basketball team. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 2008. Strenchock received a Master of Science degree in sport management from FSU in December of 2009.
What They’re Saying About Johnna:
“Johnna Strenchock is the perfect individual to come in and create and lead the Center. She is insightful, passionate about learning, and she understands athletics. With her leadership, the Student-Athlete Learning Center will continue to nurture the academic success of our student-athletes.”
– Dr. Jim Wohlpart, Dean, FGCU Undergraduate Studies