COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Janice Ruggiero, UNM’s recently retired Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Affairs has been named as a recipient of the Mountain West’s Dr. Albert C. Yates Distinguished Service Award. Along with Ruggiero, late long-time athletic communications lead Lawrence Fan of San José State also was named as a winner of the award. Together, they become just the 13th and 14th winners in the league’s nearly 25-year history.
The Dr. Albert C. Yates Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who has served, supported and promoted the goals and ideals of the Mountain West or a member institution; an individual who, through personal effort and dedication, has enhanced the ability of the conference and/or its member institutions to provide a positive experience for the student-athletes enrolled at any member institution.
The award is chosen by the MW Recognition Committee, made up of two athletic directors, two senior women administrators and two faculty athletic representatives.
Ruggiero is the fourth Lobo to earn the honor, joining Breda Bova (FAR) in 2013-14, Rudy Davalos (AD) in 2005-06, and Linda Estes (former Sr. Assoc. A.D. and champion of women’s athletics), the first winner in 1999-2000.
Ruggiero retired in January after a 32-year career as an administrator at UNM, and that followed a three-year career on the Lobo women’s basketball team. She retired as the Deputy A.D. for Internal Affairs, a position she held from December of 2015. Prior to that she served as the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs for 15 years. She spent her final 22 years with UNM serving as the department’s Senior Woman Administrator.