GRINNELL, Iowa – When Jani Springer joins the Grinnell College athletic department, she will bring a wealth of experience.
 
But just as important is the variety of experience that accompanies the new Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Student Success.
 
"Jani's background connected with so many of our needs and the variety of her past work and education presented deep correlations to our work in the Athletic Department at Grinnell," said Grinnell Director of Athletics and Recreation Andy Hamilton '85. "Throughout the interview process she displayed great associations between her professional past and non-profit projects with our current and future plans."
Springer comes to Grinnell from Bluefield State College in West Virginia, where she served as both Senior Woman Administrator and Head Athletic Trainer.
 
She helped Bluefield secure two NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Grants, served as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Advisor, chaired hiring committees for staffing of 12 new sports and support staff, academically advised student-athletes and supervised the assistant athletic trainer and student workers.
 
Additionally, Springer is president of the Performing Arts Initiative for Students of Color (PAISOC), a non-profit based in Rhode Island with a mission to increase the number of students of color participating in the performing arts through leadership programming, mentorship and awarding scholarships.
 
Prior to that she worked for Drum Corps International, where she served as head athletic trainer of the Madison Scouts, Colts and Santa Clara Vanguard. She also served as lead diving and assistant swim coach at Bethany College in West Virginia, where she also was a physical education instructor and taught a "Camp and Dance" course as well as ballet, jazz and choreography courses.
 
Before that, Springer was an athletic trainer at Bulkeley High School in her native state of Connecticut.
 
"We are excited for Jani to begin her work connecting with our student-athletes, employing our student success plans and contributing to
diversity, equity and inclusion processes within our department and around campus this fall," said Hamilton.

Springer earned a bachelor's degree in athletic training from Springfield College in Massachusetts and master's degrees in kinesiology-sports psychology and motor behavior from the University of Tennessee and teaching and learning from Bethany College. Springer is currently pursuing her PhD in leadership studies from the University of the Cumberlands.