Region I: State Student Representatives

Maryland, Delaware & Washington D.C
Carol King
Towson University
cking12@students.towson.edu

Carol works as a Graduate Assistant, for facilities in the Campus Recreation Services Department at Towson University. She is a first year graduate majoring in Accounting and Business Advisory Services. In 2002, she graduated from Georgia Southern University with B.A. in International Studies and minor in German. From 2002 - 2007, she competed frequently as an amateur figure athlete until October 2007 when she won her professional card and became an active competitor in the professional ranks of the IFBB.

Although her association with NIRSA is relatively short, Carol believes it to be the perfect mechanism for educating professional staff and students on university campuses on the physiological and physical benefits of Recreation.

New York
Joe Histed
SUNY Brockport
jhist1@brockport.edu
Major: Dual Education Majors in History and Special Education.

I come from the very small and unknown town of Belfast New York. I graduated with just over thirty students in my senior class. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and playing my guitar. I joined campus recreation as a Fitness Center Attendant and have since been promoted to Building Manager and Fitness Center Student Supervisor. Although my field of study is in Education, my employment within the field of Recreational Services has opened many doors to further opportunities within the field of Recreation. I hope one day to further my education by completing a Masters degree in Sport Management or Campus Recreation. I look forward to collaborating with our Region I Representative and spreading the NIRSA mission throughout the state of New York.

Connecticut & Rhode Island
Erin Zukis
University of Connecticut
erin.zukis@huskymail.uconn.edu

Hi my name is Erin Zukis and I am proud to be your Student State Representative for Connecticut & Rhode Island. Currently I am a senior studying psychology at the University of Connecticut and plan on working towards a Master's Degree in Sport Management following graduation.
 
For the past two years I have dedicated the majority of my time outside the classroom to our Intramural Sports Program. I have grown to love the field of recreation through officiating and supervising nearly every sport we offer and am currently in the position of Senior Supervisor. I have spent countless hours at our recreation facility as an employee as well as a patron, and the relationships I have formed with both co-workers and peers have allowed me to realize that I would like to pursue a career in recreational sports. 
 
With a growing interest in campus recreation I attended the NIRSA Region I Conference in Lowell, MA as well as officiating at the Cornell Regional Flag Football Tournament this past year and have developed an appreciation for NIRSA and all it has to offer both as a professional as well as a student. The people I met through both of these experiences have given me invaluable information not only to further my career in recreation but also to become a better person as well. I am excited to do all I can to improve NIRSA and the community it serves in the coming year.

Maine
Timothy Marks
University of Maine
timothy.marks@umit.maine.edu

Hi, my name is Timothy Marks and I am the current graduate assistant for Campus Recreation at the University of Maine. I graduated from the University of Maine with a B.A.E. in exercise science and also a minor in sports medicine. I started my campus recreation experience as an intern for intramural sports. After being in intern for one semester I was offered the Graduate assistantship for the next two years. Throughout these next two years I hope to expand my education and my work experience through Campus Recreation. I look forward to representing the state of Maine and assisting all the other Regional l representatives when needed.

Pennsylvania
Emily Skoczlas
Slippery Rock University
ess2758@sru.edu

After one year as an Elementary Education major, I found a niche in campus recreation that better suites my personality. Currently, I am a senior Sport Management/Parks and Recreation major at Slippery Rock University with aspirations of joining the field of campus recreation upon receiving my undergraduate degree or going on to pursue a masters in a related field. My experiences in the field began four years ago as a lifeguard at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center at SRU. From there, my responsibilities grew to include welcome desk and weight room monitor, office assistant and intramural and facility supervisor.

Through spending countless hours at our recreation center, as a patron and employee, and developing strong relationships with co-workers and supervisors I have realized my professional passion. Further, as a believer in life long wellness, the dynamics of working in a college setting and facilitating recreational activities for students that they can continue throughout their life is an outstanding opportunity. Within the last two years, I have capitalized on opportunities to grow professionally in campus recreation by attending the PIRSA Conference, the Region III Student Lead On and both of the NIRSA Annual Conferences in addition to serving as the PA State Student Representative. These experiences have left me eager to become involved with such an amazing organization as much as I can so that I can, both, continue to grow professionally, as well as, share my experiences in and passion for campus recreation.

Serving as NIRSA's Pennsylvania State Student Representative for my second year, I would like to create more awareness about NIRSA's role in the developing of well-rounded students during the college years. Further, through the increased understanding of NIRSA's role, it is my goal to increase student membership and campus contacts in our national association as well as Pennsylvania's chapter, PIRSA. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or ideas that you may have! I would love to hear from you!

Massachusetts
Thomas Verrico
American International College
thomas.verrico@aic.edu

Bachelors: Political Science

Masters: Secondary Education - Anticipated May 2010

I am second year graduate student at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. I began working as an undergraduate work study for the Intramural Office during its first of operation. I transitioned from game worker and official to student supervisor. While enrolled in graduate studies, I have been a graduate assistant for campus recreation and am primarily responsible for the daily operation of college's intramural program. In this role, I create team schedules, coordinate and train officials, and organize program offerings. I also serve as a resident director in an upperclassmen housing complex, and as a program advisor for the campus pub.

New Jersey
Jonathan Virgil
Rider University
virgil@rider.edu

My name is Jonathan Virgil and I am a member of the Class of 2010 at Rider University. As the semester ended I was promoted to take on the official position as Intramural Supervisor but I have been working as an official for about 2 years prior. I am very excited to be apart of NIRSA as the New Jersey State Student Representative and are looking forward to getting to work.

New Hampshire
Daniel Gagne
University of New Hampshire
Djn53@unh.edu

My name is Daniel Gagne and your Student State Representative for New Hampshire and Vermont. Currently, I am entering my second year as a graduate assistant in Campus Recreation at the University of New Hampshire. I am working towards my master’s degree in recreational management.

I began my interest in campus rec and NIRSA as an official at Quinnipiac University. Refereeing a variety of sports allowed me to become involved with the program that developed my love for sports. I was an official for two years before being promoted to supervisor where I was able to attend NIRSA regional tournaments and the national conference, building my passion for the field.

Meeting people through NIRSA has been a great experience.  I look forward to serving as the student state rep for at least the next year and helping those that I can.  Please feel free to contact me with any information or questions you may have.

Vermont
Eric Wojtowicz
The University of Vermont
ewojtowi@uvm.edu

I am originally from Western Massachusetts and chose to go to school at the University of Rhode Island. There I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology. While at URI, I worked as an Intramural Sports official for Outdoor/Indoor Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Dodgeball, and other Special Events such as the Atlantic 10 Shoot-out. I also served as Head Student Supervisor for my junior and senior years and took on the task of diversifying myself by taking a job opportunity in facilities in which I served as a Building Supervisor for one year. Furthermore, I have been a NIRSA student member for close to three years now in which I attended various Region I Clinics and officiated at the 2008 Region I Flag Football Tournament at the University of Maryland. I have attended the last two Annual NIRSA Conferences in Austin, TX and Charlotte, NC and plan on staying a dedicated member of campus recreation for many years to come. Presently, I am the Assistant Coordinator of Intramural Sports at the University of Vermont, and look forward to supervising and mentoring my student staff so that they may receive the same amount of student development as I did when I was in their unique position.