Castleton

Spartans

Tyson was named the first Assistant Vice President of Athletics and Fitness for Vermont State University in November 2022. In her role, she is responsible for all varsity, club and intramural athletics programs on each of VTSU’s campuses and oversees SHAPE programming and Castleton’s Spartan Arena.

Prior to her promotion to her current role, Tyson served as Castleton’s Associate Dean for Athletics and Recreation from 1999 through 2023. She was responsible for the oversight of 28 varsity athletic programs and nearly 600 student-athletes who compete at the NCAA Division III and primarily in the Little East Conference.

When Tyson arrived at Castleton in 1999, the school sponsored 12 varsity sports with just over 100 student-athletes competing in the NAIA Division II and NCAA Division III. She successfully led Castleton’s transition to full-membership in the NCAA Division III, as well as the addition of eight varsity sports including men’s and women’s ice hockey and football. In 2015, Tyson and Castleton announced the addition of eight additional sports, including wrestling, track and field, nordic skiing and rugby, bringing the department to 28 varsity offerings.

In August, 2011 Tyson was the picture of calm amidst chaos as Tropical Storm Irene ravaged the Castleton campus, submerging all of the college’s outdoor facilities, as well as wiping out the entire first floor of the Spartan Athletic Complex which housed the football locker room, offices, weight training and equipment storage. Under Tyson’s direction Castleton was able to host all of its home events without postponement, and was fully functional less than one year later. 

Tyson has not limited herself to on-campus endeavors, seeking leadership roles within the NCAA, ECAC, NAC and LEC. She has served on the Officials Negotiating Committee as well as the Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Women’s Lacrosse selection committees for the ECAC.

Prior to Castleton Tyson spent 10 years at Davis and Elkins College as an Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education while serving as the Head Coach of the NCAA Division I Field Hockey team and NCAA Division II Softball team. While at Davis and Elkins she also served as the department’s compliance coordinator as well as the Senior Woman Administrator for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 

Tyson achieved her Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, as well as a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Sport Studies at West Chester University where she was a member of the nationally-ranked NCAA Division I Field Hockey team.