Marist University Athletics

Dr. John Ritschdorff is in his 21st year as the NCAA faculty representative for Marist athletics. In this role, Ritschdorff is responsible for monitoring the academic progress of the student-athletes and overseeing eligibility certifications. He also chairs the Standing Committee on Athletics - Marist's campus-wide advisory board to the Athletics Department.

In 2008, Dr. Ritschdorff was named to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Leadership Council, one of the most prestigious and important bodies within the NCAA. The Division I Leadership Council is the primary advisory group on policy issues to the NCAA Board of Directors. In this new role, Ritschdorff will assist the Board in identifying strategic issues that will impact intercollegiate athletics, as well as issues that may require legislative solutions.

Ritschdorff is now in his fourth decade of service at Marist, having joined the department of mathematics in 1970. He has served as Chair of the department of mathematics and computer science, Chair of the Marist faculty, Dean of the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts, Assistant Academic Vice President, and Dean of Academic Programs.

Ritschdorff received his bachelor's degree from Marist and earned his master's degree and doctorate from New York University.

A native of New York City, Ritschdorff lives in Poughkeepsie with his wife, Joanne, and three children, Todd, Eric and Lauren.