Jennifer Siu
Don Ludwig, director of Recreational Sports, needs only one word to sum up Jennifer Siu’s importance to his staff – “invaluable.”
The list of what Jennifer hasn’t done after 23 years as a staff member in Recreational Sports is considerably smaller than what she has done. She started as an intern in 1983 and stayed on as assistant director, working with intramural sports, officials and club sports. She was a tennis instructor and activity director for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) and later became a national evaluator. Every summer Jennifer traveled to universities around the country to evaluate their programs – “probably why I’m so comfortable at airports now,” she says. She was also involved in the planning and building of the Lyon Center, a highlight of her USC career.
Currently, as associate director, Jennifer’s primary responsibility is marketing and promotions. She also works with information technology and operations. All of which leads Don to call her “the most well-rounded professional of the department.”
Jennifer’s USC involvement extends beyond Recreational Sports. She has been on a “zillion” Student Affairs committees and is now starting on her second round in areas such as staff development.
Jennifer earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at USC – a B.S. in physical education and exercise science and an M.S. in athletics administration – both degrees USC no longer has, she reports with a smile. That love of athletics that motivated her choice of majors and careers spills over into her personal life. Jennifer considers swimming her best workout (“No one can interrupt me in the pool,” she says) and also plays volleyball and paddle tennis. Travel, reading and movies round out her interests.