Queen's Athletics & Recreation (A&R) Executive Director Leslie Dal Cin will be retiring on May 31 after an outstanding 35-year career in sports administration, the last 15 years at Queen's as our first female Athletic Director.  

"I am excited for Leslie, and I respect her decision, which has been long planned, and timed as we are hopefully looking to the end of the pandemic," says Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney. "Leslie's dedication to Queen's, A&R, and to university athletics in Canada has been incredible.  Her leadership of A&R has had a positive and transformative impact on the lives of thousands of Queen's students. She has worked tirelessly to support student-athletes, providing them with the best facilities, coaching, and support to enhance their academic and athletic success. She will be missed."

During her time at Queen's, Leslie has grown A&R and its operations significantly, recruiting talented and dedicated staff who have expanded varsity and recreational programming. Leslie and her team have worked incredibly hard over the past two years, in particular, implementing new and complex protocols and processes to ensure our Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), and as many physical activity options as possible, have been available to students despite lockdowns, closures, and restrictions.

A former university student athlete and coach, Leslie has championed the Queen's varsity experience to enhance student-athlete success. She oversaw the development of tailored programming and structures to promote our Gaels' academic skills and achievements, and has worked with faculties and schools to recruit and support student-athletes holistically throughout their studies and varsity careers. She has implemented initiatives to promote student mental health, equity and diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity, as well as campus and community leadership, most notably establishing the Varsity Leadership Council. She led a review of the sport model that resulted in full-time professional varsity team coaches, and has ensured the growth and sustainability of sport and recreation clubs.

Leslie has also spearheaded the redevelopment of every athletic facility across campus, including the ARC, Richardson Stadium, all outdoor fields, and new purpose-built varsity training spaces. With her team, she has increased student use and expanded community access to those facilities. This includes growing the department's Q-Camp program, establishing the Jr. Gaels program, and creating strong partnerships with the secondary school sport community, Pathways to Education, and other local sport and not-for-profit organizations. In addition, in collaboration with campus partners, Leslie has led the successful charge for Queen's to host many provincial, national and international sporting events. 

A respected leader in the national post-secondary sport sector, she has led and been involved in numerous initiatives through service on U SPORTS and Ontario University Athletics Boards and Committees.  

"My decision to retire comes with gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to serve in this role," she says. "I have enjoyed a full career and the good fortune of meeting and learning from so many outstanding people. I have been surrounded and inspired by our student-athletes, student leaders, coaches, colleagues, and alumni who continually strive for excellence. In sport, you learn the value and importance of working as a team, and I have been so fortunate to have had so many great teammates over the years, as well as the fantastic support of university leadership."

Leslie will be leaving a strong Athletics & Recreation program and a highly skilled team as her legacy, ready for the next chapter and poised to take on new opportunities. A national search for Leslie's successor will soon be underway.