ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – Heidi Birtwistle, Eastern University’s associate director of athletics and senior women’s administrator, was honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) as the recipient of the 2023 MAC Lou Sorrentino Award. 
 
The award, named after the former Lebanon Valley College Athletic Director, is presented to the MAC athletics administrator who has had a sustained and influential role in conference and national affairs and embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy. Sorrentino served Lebanon Valley College as a student-athlete, coach, and athletic director for nearly 60 years, from 1950 until his passing in November of 2010. The award was established in 2012.
 
Birtwistle has served Eastern University in a variety of roles since arriving on campus in 1990. After graduating from Messiah College, she began working in Eastern’s athletic department in 1990. She became Eastern’s Senior Woman Administrator in 1998 and was influential in the department as Eastern moved into the Middle Atlantic Conference in 2008. 
 
In her current role, Birtwistle’s official responsibility is to coordinate academic support for Eastern student-athletes and ensure NCAA compliance for the department. The academic support role is a new position and will be critical as Eastern’s department continues to grow. 
 
She has served Eastern Student Development as a Residence Hall Director of Hainer Hall since 1997. Even while serving as an RD, she did a pair of extended stints as interim Athletic Director. In all her official positions, she has served as an advocate for student-athletes, and a mentor, listening ear, and positive role model for Eastern coaches and student-athletes. 
 
She played softball at Messiah and has served on the NCAA Rules Committee for that sport. In addition, she worked on the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Women’s Volleyball Committee and was the Tournament Chair. She has served the MAC as league sport liaison for Men’s Volleyball.
 
She has served the University and its student-athletes while supporting her husband Mark in his career coaching volleyball and raising two kids. Daughter Ali graduated from the University of Delaware and is currently teaching in Colorado, and son Jackson is playing lacrosse and pursuing a degree at Syracuse University. 
 
“Over the years,” Athletic Director Eric McNelley said, “Heidi has had so many roles in this department. She was a tremendous help to me in my transition into the Athletic Director position. I appreciate her willingness to take on a new role and challenge in our growing department. In everything she does, she works to support our student athletes. This is a well-deserved honor.”
 
In her over thirty years at Eastern, she has worked with nine different Athletic Directors and has seen her role change and develop almost annually. She earned her undergraduate degree from Messiah and has a Masters in Counseling from Eastern.