POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray has announced the hiring of Josie Skelley as the Red Foxes' first Director of Development for Athletics.
 
"As we continue the transformation of our athletic department, Josie will be an outstanding addition," said Director of Athletics Tim Murray. "Her background in development work and her experience as a Division I student-athlete at Northwestern will serve her well in her new role. She will provide our coaches and administrative staff tremendous support as we develop our advancement work and improve our student athlete experience."
 
Skelley arrives at Marist with a proven track record of developing, marketing, and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, and a deep passion for athletics.
 
Skelley's most recent position was at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where she served as Assistant Director of Family Giving since March of 2023. In this position, she managed a national portfolio, raising $3.5 million in the 2024 fiscal year in collaboration with the Director and Associate Director of Family Giving.
 
At Phillips Academy, Skelley also managed the Andover Fund Parents Committee and Welcome Ambassador volunteer programs. Through her efforts, the committee's volunteer base grew by 27 percent. She was responsible for planning, managing, and executing all Family Giving events.
 
From 2019-22, Skelley was Director of Volunteers and Assistant Director of Development at Alfond Youth and Community Center in Waterville, Maine. There, she managed over 5,000 hours of volunteerism, acquired and maintained over $100,000 in federal and state grants, and raised over $750,000 in the 2022 fiscal year through numerous special events.
 
Skelley's passion for athletics began as a student-athlete at Northwestern University, where she played varsity field hockey and majored in English Literature. She has continued her involvement in the sport through coaching, including a head coaching position at Gordon College, and assistant coach positions at Vassar College, Colby College, and Plymouth State University. Coaching is also engrained in the Skelley family; Josie's husband, sister-in-law and brother-in-law are all head coaches in their respective sports at the collegiate and prep school level. Skelley and her husband Tad live in the Poughkeepsie area with their two daughters, Madden and Colbie.
 
"I am honored to be named as the inaugural Director of Development for Athletics," said Skelley. "I'd like to thank Tim Murray, Mike Byerley, Chris DelGiorno, and the entire search committee for trusting me with the task. It is a thrilling time to join the Red Foxes; as the college moves toward its centennial birthday, I am eager to further enhance the student-athlete experience here at Marist and continue to build on the department's history of success and excellence on and off the playing field. I am excited to meet Marist's alumni, families, and friends, and look forward to what we will accomplish together!"