Marist University Athletics

Alyssa Gates was promoted to Associate AD/Student-Athlete Enhancement in July 2024. The 2024-25 school year marks her 20th as Marist's Director of Student-Athlete Enhancement, and her 21st at Marist College.

In her position she oversees the Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement, including both Assistant Directors and the Academic Advisement Fellow. She is responsible for the academic monitoring and the continuing eligibility of approximately 600 student-athletes at Marist College.

In each of her years at Marist, the Red Foxes have led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll. In the 2009-10 school year, a school-record 18 of her student-athletes were named Academic All-District by ESPN The Magazine as selected by CoSIDA. In the 2010-11 school year, a school-record four Marist student-athletes earned Academic All-American honors. In 2013 and 2014, Marist won the MAAC GoodWorks Challenge, which measures hours dedicated to community service.

While earning her master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Kutztown University, Gates was a graduate assistant in the advising center where she worked with students who were on academic probation. She also served as a graduate assistant field hockey coach for Kutztown. 

Gates is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). She serves on the N4A's LGBTQA+ Committee and served as the Region 1 Director from 2012-14, overseeing N4A members from Maine to Maryland. In June 2011, she was awarded N4A's Professional Promise Award and in 2017 was awarded the organization's Professional Excellence Award. In 2017 she was selected by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce as a recipient of their 40 Under 40 Award.

In April 2013, Marist’s academic support program for student-athletes received program certification from the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A). This designation included a campus visit from an N4A consultant who determined that the Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement met industry standards for providing support and services to its student-athletes. 

In July 2010, Gates completed Sport in Society's Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Training for Gender Violence Prevention & Education at Northeastern University. She has served as an adjunct instructor in Psychology and current teaches Sports in Society for the department of Physical Education.

Gates recently served on Marist College's Strategic Planning Committee and currently serves on the Diversity Council as co-chair to the Outreach, Access, and Inclusion committee.  She is active in violence prevention education and awareness and is a member of the Grace Smith House Board of Directors.

Gates is a cum laude graduate of Mansfield University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. During her time there, she played four years of field hockey, serving as captain her senior season. She currently resides in Highland, New York, with her wife, Katie.