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Approaching one year as the University of Hartford’s Director of Athletics and Recreation, Alicia “AQ” Queally is working to create a new community surrounding Hartford Athletics.

Seeing herself as a transformative leader, Queally oversaw a highly productive fall semester on the field with all four of Hartford’s fall sports programs competing in the ECAC tournament, including ECAC titles by Men’s Cross Country and Women’s Soccer. Along with the championships came the opening of a new track and field facility on campus in October. Looking forward to winter season and beyond, Queally spoke about the success continuing into the future. “I feel strongly that we’re really where we need to be in regards to what type of student athlete experience the NCAA should be producing at this point in time on our level.” Outside of the on the field experience, Hartford Athletics has put a new emphasis on social media with the idea of giving their athletes a level of recognition beyond the traditional gameday coverage, something Queally has said was an immediate need for the Hawks.

“I made the comment that we really need to be broadcasting ourselves more, and I wasn’t sure if that was intentional that we weren’t…but for us to brand ourselves is very important.. “The more we put ourselves out there, the better we are.” From the athletes’ perspective, it gives them the recognition for their performances, and “They can show off who they are and the hard work they’ve been doing.” The social media movement is just one part of the Athletic Department’s bigger picture, with “AQ” wanting “More championships…” but emphasizing the need for well-rounded student athletes, “…I also think with that comes student athletes that are thriving in their sports programs, not only that but also in their academic programs. They are making a difference on campus, and people see that Hartford Athletics are doing a lot. We’re getting our name out there and showing who we are as people and not just as that school that transitioned…”

In 2021, the University of Hartford announced their intention to reclassify their athletic programs after a leaked document showed that an outside consulting firm was tasked with showing how much money would be saved if the University’s athletic programs were reclassified from division one to division three. The backlash was immediate, as athletes, coaches, family, and alumni felt betrayed by the school’s decision to end a near 30 year history as a D1 institution just weeks after Hartford Men’s Basketball competed in their first ever March Madness Tournament.

While time has shown that the school’s administration stood behind the decision to move from Division 1 to Division 3, it has not been a smooth transition for Hartford. Many of the school’s athletes transferred out of Hartford and multiple lawsuits were filed, including one against the University of Hartford’s Board of Regents made by former Hartford Men’s Basketball Coach John Gallagher (Both sides reached a settlement in 2022).

While there are only few athletes still competing for Hartford from the University’s Division 1 era, Queally has acknowledged the fact that the university alumni play a major role in maintaining the Hartford Hawks community. With that in mind, AQ has promised to keep an “open door” for communication not just for student athletes, but alumni as well.  “People reach out, I have an open door, open phone, I want to let them know that their feelings are valid, no matter what they are. There’s been a lot of instability, so really being very intentional in how I’m leading and having pointed dialogue with individuals, and listening. Doing a lot of listening. People have been hurt and they have a little bit of trauma attached to that, and really hearing them out and figuring out how do we move forward from that . based on the fact that the reality is that they chose Hartford for a particular reason, and it was taken away from them….”How do Hartford Athletics plan to heal a community that has felt slighted?

“We want to serve our [campus community] first and make sure that we are taking care of our own.” While the campus community comes first, Hartford Athletics is currently looking to branch out beyond the Hartford campus and into the Greater Hartford community by offering opportunities to students who don’t have access to the higher education settings provided by the University of Hartford. Other plans for Hartford Athletics to grow their presence in the community have been taken into consideration, which Queally challenging teams to do two acts of service a semester. Moreover, the Athletics department is looking to give more people within the university community the access to be apart of something bigger.

New proposals have been made to build new tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, and light installations on the new track and field facility. However, in a confirmed change made this past summer, the athletics department has been given more oversight of club sports on the University of Hartford campus. With this shift, clubs and intramural sports have had more access to the facilities used by varsity athletics on campus. including Men’s Club Soccer’s first ever home game played on Al-Marzook Field.

With the new track and field facility opening up, which includes a grass field inside the track, Director Queally is looking to schedule more home events for clubs and intramurals, as well as regain the trust of club sports on campus. “Once the inner field of track is set and we have permission, that will allow for more activities because that’s another field…The main thing for me is that students know that we’re trying to do our best to create an environment where they feel like they are heard, and we’re trying our best to allow them to have as much access as we’re willing to give them…Again, history has stated otherwise, so people are a little guarded, which is okay, but if we can create greater access, that’s awesome.”  While the process of fully integrated clubs and intramurals is only at the beginning, Queally is hopeful that the athletics department will ease the historical frustration of club sports on campus and restore the trust of administration . “I think it is just continuing the reach outs and having very intentional engagement with them, not just planning what’s on the calendar, but being involved in the process and listening to them. Where is the frustration point, are practices working based on schedules, trying to be consistent, so that people can plan their class schedules around practice, and try to make it fun. I’m here for them…it doesn’t work if our students aren’t happy and they are not feeling like we are being very intentional and transforming their experience into a positive.”

With a foundation in place, Queally will continue to guide the Hartford Hawks into a new era full of opportunities to compete for, play for, and serve the campus and greater Hartford Communities.