Behind the Scenes: Meet Kristina Artino

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Kristina Artino
Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services
Years at Akron- 14
Alma Mater: University of Akron
B.S. in Post-secondary Technical Education '09
M.S. in Technical Education '11
M.A. in Education, Assessment, Evaluation, and Data Literacy '18

What was the deciding factor that brought you to UA?
My older brother Joe was already a student at Akron in the Exercise Science Program and spoke highly of Akron.

How has your position changed over the years?
I started at the UA as an administrative assistant in the Institute for Health and Social Policy working on grants. As I finished my Associate degree, I kept striving to finish my bachelor's degree. After finishing the B.S. degree, I had the opportunity to move over to the School of Communication. There I worked with students on their degree plans and fell in love with advising and helping the students. Soon after, I finished my master's degree and was offered the opportunity to move over to Athletics nine years ago as an Academic Advisor. I soon moved up to Sr. Academic Advisor, and now Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services.

What are your current responsibilities?
I oversee academics for the football, swimming & diving, and rifle teams. I supervise the Academic Coordinator for Football, the Learning Specialist, and four graduate assistants/interns. I attend weekly meetings with football coaches. I schedule and oversee all freshmen and at-risk students' study table hours and tutors via Gradesfirst.

I generate weekly reports for coaches. I work with the Compliance staff on all student-athlete eligibility. I visit with recruits and parents. I sit on various search committees for Athletics and UA. I present to various academic units on campus basic NCAA rules.

What have you learned during your time on campus?
I have learned that UA is a very special place. Just how the landscape has changed over the years, so have I. I continue to grow professionally, build meaningful relationships within my department and throughout campus, and continue to put my heart and soul in my career and working with the student-athletes. I am proud to be a Zip!

Do you have a favorite memory to share?
My favorite memory would be hosting the Annual Zippy Awards Banquet for five years. It was such a special event; I worked with wonderful staff members, and I was able to share such a special moment with the student-athletes. This made it such a memorable event.

What advice would you give to a college student who wants to pursue a career in collegiate athletics?
UA is a great place to start your career. The staff, coaches, folks on campus, and other student-athletes make it an experience you will never forget. Everyone gets to make choices in life, and if you have an opportunity to play collegiate athletics, it is a blessing. Work hard, strive to be the best you can be, never give up or let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. You are in control of your destiny, and the University of Akron is a special place to start to build your future, athletically and professionally. The world is your oyster!

What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
The opportunities that UA has given me are something I will never forget. The people I have met, the education that I received, and the experience have all been such a blessing for me.

Anything you'd like to add:
I just want to add one of my favorite quotes that continues to help me and my family get through many obstacles in life.

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that." – Rocky Balboa

The University of Akron Athletics

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