The success <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong>sylvania athleticprograms weighs largely on the academic progress<strong>of</strong> each student-athlete. In order to achieve excellencein all areas, <strong>Penn</strong>’s student-athletes areencouraged to utilize services available throughits academic services program, which is coordinatedby Rosemarie Burnett.The Office <strong>of</strong> Academic Services works toinsure that all student-athletes maintain academicintegrity while making steady progress toward adegree. To this end, study sessions, tutoring inlarge groups or on an individual basis and counselingare made available to every student-athleteat the <strong>University</strong>. A student-athlete who is successfulin the classroom is one that is a successfulplayer on the field. The commitment to academicand athletic excellence requires discipline,dedication and motivation. These are the samecharacteristics needed for a <strong>Penn</strong> student-athleteto succeed beyond the walls <strong>of</strong> this university afterearning a degree from one <strong>of</strong> the most prestigiousinstitutions in the country.<strong>Penn</strong> provides assistance with the student-athlete’sacademic progress by working with the<strong>University</strong>’s support services to enable the studentto excel academically. The Academic ServicesOffice staff can provide valuable assistance with awide variety <strong>of</strong> concerns including:• <strong>University</strong> procedures• Educational and career goals clarification• Time management• Referrals to <strong>University</strong> resources• General strategies for succeeding at <strong>Penn</strong>Academic InitiativesEarning a degree from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Penn</strong>sylvania is a distinguished honor that willremain with you for the rest <strong>of</strong> your life. Walkingdown Locust Walk as a part <strong>of</strong> the tradition <strong>of</strong>graduation is a memory that will last a lifetime. TheOffice <strong>of</strong> Academic Services acts as the linkbetween athletics and other departments on campus.Through this program, Rosemarie Burnettand her staff:• Meet regularly with new students to discussupcoming academic requirements, transitionissues, time management strategies, etc.• Facilitate students’ career exploration.• Assist students with the selection <strong>of</strong> courses andmajor declaration.• Develop long-term academic plans.• Provide support for students with personal concerns.Grade -Tracking ProgramThe Grade-Tracking Program is designed to monitorthe academic progress <strong>of</strong> targeted student-athletesduring the academic year. Student-athletesfor this program include those on academic probationand those identified by their school eligibility<strong>of</strong>ficer, dean or coach. Information acquired fromthe faculty and deans is used as the basis <strong>of</strong> student-athletereferrals to the appropriate academicsupport service resources.CAAPCollegiate Academic Achievement ProgramThe Collegiate Academic Achievement Program isdesigned to provide student-athletes with supplementalstudy and tutoring opportunities as well asto foster academic interaction with fellow studentathletes.Some <strong>of</strong> our CAAP tutors are current student-athletes.During the academic year, rooms in the TowneBuilding are reserved for advising and tutoring sessions.Workshops are conducted in the beginning<strong>of</strong> the term on strategies for succeeding at <strong>Penn</strong>.In addition, career and graduate presentations areorganized during the academic year. CAAP sessionsare held every Tuesday, Wednesday andThursday evening from 7:30-10 p.m.Laptop Computer ProgramLaptop computers are provided to student-athletesfor use while at an away competition or while participatingin required practices and competitionduring vacation periods. The laptop computers (asavailable) may be used by any in-season varsitystudent-athlete whose participation in the nextscheduled competition has been confirmed by hisor her coaching staff.Faculty MentorsThe Faculty Mentor program at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Penn</strong>sylvania provides an additional resource forenhancing the athletic and academic experience<strong>of</strong> our student-athletes. Faculty Mentors workwith student-athletes, teams, coaches and administratorsto provide academic advising to currentstudent-athletes, serve as a resource for prospectivestudent-athletes and foster relationshipsbetween athletics and the <strong>University</strong> community.Recognizing the value <strong>of</strong> intercollegiate athleticswithin an educational setting, faculty mentors arededicated to encouraging a balance between thepursuit <strong>of</strong> both athletic and academic excellence.Rosemarie BurnettAssistant Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>Athletics</strong>Rosemarie Burnett is entering her sixth year asAssistant Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>Athletics</strong>. At <strong>Penn</strong>, Burnettserves as the Academic Coordinator for intercollegiatestudent-athletes and is the point person toacademic <strong>of</strong>fices in the undergraduate schools. Inaddition to meeting with students, she is the maincontact for <strong>University</strong> support services. A variety<strong>of</strong> services are <strong>of</strong>fered through the AcademicOffice and programs are organized for student-athletesand coaches throughout the academic year.Through her association with various campus<strong>of</strong>fices, Burnett has become involved with a number<strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> committees.No stranger to the Ivy League, Burnett receivedher bachelor's degree from Princeton <strong>University</strong>and a master's degree in Higher Education from<strong>Penn</strong>. Additionally, she holds a master's degreefrom Temple <strong>University</strong> in Sports Administration.Along with her administrative background,Burnett is a Master level track and field judge whohas <strong>of</strong>ficiated at the Olympic Games, OlympicTrials and Goodwill Games, as well as numerousnational championships, invitational meets and the<strong>Penn</strong> Relays.
Mitch BiunnoDr. Joel FishDr. Brian SennettDr. Joel FishSports PsychologistMitch Biunno,RPT, ATCHead Athletic TrainerCoordinator <strong>of</strong> AthleticTherapyMitch Biunno is entering his26th year at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Penn</strong>sylvania, and his 12th asthe head trainer/coordinator<strong>of</strong> athletic therapy. Biunnois responsible for overseeingthe prevention, evaluation,treatment and rehabilitation<strong>of</strong> injuries and related illnessesfor all student-athletes.Additionally, he coordinateshealth care services for student-athleteswith StudentHealth Services and theteam physician. Prior to<strong>Penn</strong>, Biunno, a 1976 graduate<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Vermont, was an athletictrainer with the New YorkJets, Lycoming College,Divine Providence Hospital,Little League World Seriesand the United StatesOlympic Committee. He isa member <strong>of</strong> five pr<strong>of</strong>essionalorganizations, includingthe American PhysicalTherapy Association and theNational Athletic TrainersAssociation.Dr. Joel Fish enters his fourth season as a sport psychologistfor the Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Athletics</strong> at the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong>sylvania.Fish and his staff are available to work with student-athletes,teams and coaches in order to developtheir mental skills for peak performance.Strategies are designed to help student-athletesand teams improve skills related to relaxation, focus,clutch performance, mental preparation, a positiveattitude, motivation, leadership and teamwork. Inaddition, Fish and his staff work individually with student-athleteson stress management, personal relationships,and other <strong>of</strong>f-the-field issues that impactupon athletic performance.Fish received his Ph.D. from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Wisconsin in 1981 and is a nationally recognizedexpert in sport psychology. He has been a consultantfor the Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers, Phillies and theUSA Women’s Soccer team.Rob WagnerStrength and Fitness CoachRob Wagner is in his 14th season as the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Penn</strong>sylvania's strength and fitness coach. He is aNational Strength and Conditioning AssociationCertified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and hismain duties include developing and implementingstrength and conditioning programs for <strong>Penn</strong>'s 33 varsityathletic teams and managing the Weiss WeightRoom, a 5,000 square-foot facility located insideFranklin Field, which is used by varsity athletes.Beyond the doors <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong>, Wagner is an authorand nationwide speaker on weightlifting where hismain audience includes competitive lifters, collegiateand high school coaches and athletes. He has been amember <strong>of</strong> USA Powerlifting since the organization'soriginal inception in 1984. He is currently in his thirdyear as chairman <strong>of</strong> USA Powerlifting's coaching committeeand is also a contributing writer to USAPowerlifting magazine.Wagner's accolades extend well beyond theteaching arena. He is a six-time National PowerliftingChampion in three different weight classes, earningtitles in 1986, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2002. Healso claimed the top prize at the 1993 WorldPowerlifting Championship after winning theAmerican Drug Free Powerlifting association'sNational Championship in the 181 lbs. Division, andwas a seven-time member <strong>of</strong> the USA NationalPowerlifting team (1993, 1996-98, 2000-02). InWorld Championship competitions, Wagner capturedthe gold medal in the squat in 1996 and 2002, a silvermedal in 2001 and a bronze medal overall in 2002. In2001 he represented the U.S. at the World Games inAkita, Japan and placed fourth in the 198 lbs. weightclass at the World Championships held in Finland. Hewas also a two-time gold medallist in the 1996 and2000 Pan American Powerlifting Championships.Wagner earned his bachelor's degree fromSalisbury State College in 1987, and in the same year,he set a then-IPF junior world record at 165 lbs. bylifting 688 lbs. His IPF junior world record stood for16 years (1987-2002). Wagner also holds Americanrecords at 181 lbs. (766 lbs.) and 198 lbs. (799 lbs.)and held the record at 165 lbs. (690 lbs.).Wagner was a two-year captain <strong>of</strong> the SalisburyState football team and helped his squad to theDivision III National Championship game in 1986. Heholds a master's degree in education from Salisburyas well, and is currently enrolled inthe Kinesiology doctoral program atTemple <strong>University</strong>, where he is completinghis dissertation.Jim SteelAssistant Strength and FitnessJim Steel is in his fourth season as the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong>sylvania's assistant strength and fitnesscoach. Steel is certified by the National Strengthand Conditioning Association as a Certified Strengthand Conditioning Specialist and the United StatesWeightlifting Federation.He has coached world and national champions,NCAA All-Americans and pr<strong>of</strong>essional athletes in awide variety <strong>of</strong> sports. Steel has also competednationally in powerlifting and has served as theMaryland state chairman for the United StatesPowerlifting Federation.Prior to coming to <strong>Penn</strong>, Steel owned Steel'sStrength and Fitness Incorporated in Crisfield, Md.,served as a scout for the Albany Firebirds <strong>of</strong> theArena Football League (1998), and was strength andconditioning coordinator at Charleston Southern<strong>University</strong> (1997-98), Eau Gallie High School inMelbourne, Fla. (1995-97), Gardner-Webb <strong>University</strong>(1994-95) and Montgomery College (1993-94).Steel earned a bachelor's <strong>of</strong> science degree inphysical education from Gardner-Webb and is a candidatefor a master's degree in post-secondary educationfrom Salisbury State <strong>University</strong>.Dr. Brian SennettHead Team PhysicianDr. Brian Sennett is entering his sixth year as headteam physician at <strong>Penn</strong>. Sennett originally held theposition during the 1993-94 school year, before leavingto take a position at Hahnemann <strong>University</strong> as anassistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor in orthopaedic surgery. In 1999,he returned to <strong>Penn</strong> as Chief <strong>of</strong> Sports Medicine andteam physician.Sennett completed his undergraduate studies atBrown <strong>University</strong> in 1984 and matriculated at <strong>Penn</strong>where he earned his medical degree in 1988.Following his medical education, Sennett completedan orthopaedic surgery residency at <strong>Penn</strong>,along with fellowship training in sports medicine andin hand and upper extremity surgery. His fellowshiptraining was completed at <strong>Penn</strong> and the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Mississippi.Sennett has authored numerous articles and spokenextensively on the care and prevention <strong>of</strong> theinjured athlete. His most notable work has includedcervical spine research in football players, which wonhim the Nicholas Andry Award for outstanding contributionsin the field <strong>of</strong> orthopaedic surgery. Sennettwas also recognized in “Top Doctors in Philadelphia”by Philadelphia Magazine.As an undergraduate at Brown, Sennett letteredfor the baseball team and earned first-team All-IvyLeague and Academic All-America honors in 1983.Sennett has also served as the head team physician atDrexel <strong>University</strong> since 1993.