Ruben Sança
Executive Director
112M Recreation Center
413-545-4090
rsanca@umass.edu
Ruben P. Sança is the inaugural Executive Director for the Department of Recreation and Wellbeing at UMass Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UMass Lowell, with dual concentrations in Finance and Management, along with a minor in Economics and an MBA from UMass Lowell. He previously served as the Founding Director of the Office of Student Life and Wellbeing at UMass Lowell while playing a pivotal role in guiding UMass Lowell to become the first institution in New England to adopt the Okanagan Charter, reflecting his commitment to holistic student wellness. While at UMass Lowell, he also served in various roles and capacities including in student affairs business management and financial administration and athletics administration.
With a versatile background in student affairs, wellness, athletics and financials, he currently oversees the strategic planning, budgeting, and operations of the campus recreation, wellness programs and facilities, catering to a diverse community of over 30,000 students, faculty, and staff at UMass Amherst. His leadership aims to cultivate a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation while enhancing student engagement, retention, and the overall quality and accessibility of recreation and well-being services.
Sança values diversity, equity, and social justice, striving to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to his team. Committed to broader community impact, he currently serves on several leadership teams including the US Health Promoting Campus Network, the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletics Association, and the Cape Verde Olympic Committee. Additionally, Sança holds certification as a Mental Health First Aid instructor and is a member of the World Olympians Association.
Jason Incorvati, PhD
Associate Director for Programs and Student Development
112H Recreation Center
413-577-3680
jasonink@umass.edu
Jason earned his doctorate in Higher Education in 2023 from UMass. His dissertation is titled, "The Professionalization of Collegiate Recreation and the Educational Pathways of its Practitioners: An Exploratory Study." Jason received an M.S. in Exercise and Sport Sciences in 2005 from the University of Florida. At Florida, Jason was a graduate assistant in the Department of Recreational Sports and worked as a high school basketball and football official as a member of the Mid-Florida Officials Association. A double UMass alum, Jason received his B.A. in Philosophy and worked in the Campus Recreation program as a sports supervisor and official. Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2006, Jason was the Coordinator of Intramural Sports at Missouri State University. Jason is a former Massachusetts high school basketball official and member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.
Deb Howard
Associate Director for Facilities & Operations
112K Recreation Center
413-545-8057
debhoward@umass.edu
Deb joined the Recreation & Wellbeing team in the Spring of 2024. She received her M.S degree from Western Kentucky University, specializing in facility and event management in 2017 and a B.S in Exercise Science with a focus in Human Performance from Southern Connecticut State University in 2015. Prior to UMass Deb held two positions at UConn working in the Athletics and Campus Recreation departments overseeing the daily maintenance and operations of various facilities. Additionally, she served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Events at Wittenberg University, managing operations, schedules, and external rentals of the athletic facilities. Deb also has experience in the parks and recreation sector beyond higher education, having served as the Assistant Park Manager for the City of Indianapolis. She holds a certification in Facility & Event Management, Certified Pool Operator (CPO) and is a CPR/First Aid/AED Instructor with the American Red Cross.
Adventure Programs
Austin Darley
Assistant Director for Adventure Programs
Ascend
860-992-9940
adarley@umass.edu
Austin joined the Recreation & Wellbeing team in the Spring of 2023. He received a B.S in Sports & Leisure Management from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2014. Prior to working at UMass, Austin worked at UConn Recreation for the past 10 years in various level of position. Starting as a volunteer trip leader working his way up to Assistant Director of Climbing Center & Outdoors. During his time at UConn, he was able to assist with the design of the Climbing Center & Adventure Center in the Student Recreation Center that opened 2019. He has a great passion for the outdoors and excited to offer new exciting outdoor adventures to UMass community.
Club Sports
Ernie May
Coordinator for Club Sports
111 Recreation Center
413-545-2756
edmay@umass.edu
Ernie May joined RecWell in 2024 as the Coordinator for Club Sports. He returns to UMass after serving at several NCAA Div I & III institutions Coaching Baseball. Colleges included stops at Springfield, Wofford, UMass, Trinity, Northland, Harvard, and Dean. Other roles included Director of Intramurals at Wofford and Northland, Coordinator for Contest Management Director for Volleyball, Ice Hockey, and Soccer at Northland, as well as faculty roles at both Wofford and Dean in Physical Education and Sport Management programs. Prior to working in the Collegiate ranks, he had stints in professional baseball with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves working in roles from intern to Minor League General Manager and Scouting. An Amherst native, he attended Keene State receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education and Sport Management and then a master’s degree from Springfield College in Education minoring in Sport Management. He also attended Drexel University in Philadelphia working toward an EDD track in Educational Leadership with a concentrating in Athletic Administration.
Facility Operations
Alexis Gross
Coordinator for Facility Operations and Aquatics
111 Recreation Center
413-577-3867
alexisgross@umass.edu
Alexis received her M.A. from Rowan University for Higher Education Administration in 2022. At Rowan, she worked as the Graduate Coordinator of Facilities and Operations for the Department of Campus Recreation. Prior to that, she attended Montclair State University and received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analysis in 2020. In her time at Montclair, she worked for the Department of Campus Recreation in various areas including aquatics, special events, outdoor adventure, and facility operations. Alexis also holds a Lifeguard/CPRO Instructor certification from the American Red Cross.
Lawrence Bergeron
Recreation Repairer
107A Recreation Center
413-577-3862
larryb@umass.edu
Larry graduated from Chicopee Comprehensive High School in Chicopee, MA in welding and metal fabrication. At UMass, Larry worked for Parking Services prior to coming to Recreation & Wellbeing in 2009. Larry's hobbies include restoring cars, woodworking and home maintenance.
Shawn Sullivan
Recreation Repairer
107A Recreation Center
413-577-3862
shawns@umass.edu
Shawn graduated from Smith Vocational High School in metal fabrication and came to UMass in 2001. Shawn worked with Landscape Services and Custodial Services before coming to Recreation & Wellbeing in 2009. Shawn enjoys golf and exercising.
Fitness
Greg Hannum
Coordinator for Fitness
112 Recreation Center
ghannum@umass.edu
Greg joined the Recreation & Wellbeing team here at UMass Amherst in June of 2024. He graduated from Westfield State University with a bachelor's degree in Movement Science with a concentration in Exercise Science in the spring of 2018. During his time there he was a proud member of the Rugby Club where he played for 3 years. With a lifelong dedication to health and fitness, Greg has been a member of the Exercise is Medicine organization and presented a published research project at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) national conference in Denver, Colorado. He then completed a 450-hour internship at Conca Sport & Fitness where he taught youth/high school and college athletes, adult training, both 1:1 sessions & small/large groups. Adding to Greg’s unique training background, he taught a strength and balance class at the Westfield Senior Center with the average client age being 85 years old. Before working at UMass, Greg was the Manager and Head Trainer at F45 Training Hampshire Meadows for the last 5 years (2019-2024) where he was the face of the studio and gained a wide variety of experience both in coaching and managing tactics. He has held certifications through Mike Boyle’s Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC), American Council on Exercise (ACE) as well as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Fun Fact: Greg is a DJ on the weekends, can play the drums/piano and all sorts of percussion instruments!
Intramural Sports
Nicholas D'Amato
Senior Assistant Director for Sport Programs
112J Recreation Center
413-577-3861
ndamato@umass.edu
Nick received his M.S. in Recreation and Sport Administration in 2014 from Western Kentucky University. At WKU, Nick was a graduate assistant in intramural sports and intern in club sports. A UMass alum, Nick received his B.S. in Sport Management in 2012 and worked in Campus Recreation as a sports supervisor and program assistant. Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2019, Nick worked at University of Connecticut Recreation from 2016-2018 as Coordinator for Intramurals & Tournaments, then as Assistant Program Director for IMs & Tournaments. Previous to UConn, Nick was Coordinator for Intramural Sports & Sport Clubs at Keene State University from 2014-2016. Nick is a basketball official with the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials and an NCAA Division III women's basketball official.
Matthew Sackstein
Coordinator for Sport Programs
111 Recreation Center
413-545-5821
msackstein@umass.edu
Matthew joins us from Oklahoma State University where he completed his Graduate Assistantship in Competitive Sports. While there, he worked closely with Campus Recreation student staff to offer quality intramurals and special event programs. He also worked as a high school sports official in football, basketball, and baseball which he hopes to continue with here in the Pioneer Valley. As an undergraduate, Matthew earned his B.S. in Biotechnology from Penn State while serving as an official, supervisor, and program assistant for intramurals. Matthew loves sports and knows firsthand that the lessons you learn on the field last a lifetime. He hopes to continue making an impact through recreation here in Amherst and can’t wait to get started!
Marketing and Member Services
Patricia Shea
Assistant Director
110 Recreation Center
413-577-3866
pas@umass.edu
Patty is a UMass alum with a B.S. in Physical Education & former UMass varsity field hockey coach. Patty was a member of the United States Olympic team, US Pan American team & US National Field Hockey team. Prior to joining Recreation & Wellbeing in 2009, Patty worked at Penn Monto, Inc. in Hadley, MA in customer relations, administrative operations, catalog production, marketing and website design. Patty maintains involvement with White Mountain Enterprises, Inc., where she assists in administrative components, including online services management & event marketing and programming. Patty was elected to the University of Massachusetts Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Lori Oliver
Human Resources Coordinator
111A Recreation Center
413-545-4087
lorijo@umass.edu
Lori joined Recreation & Wellbeing in 2014. Lori has worked at UMass in several departments since 1984, including Undergraduate Admissions and Residential Services. Lori received her associate's degree in Accounting at the University of Phoenix in 2007. Lori enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as traveling and riding motorcycles.
David Litterer
Office Manager
112 Recreation Center
413-545-4503
litterer@umass.edu
Dave has worked at UMass in several departments since 1986. Dave joined Recreation & Wellbeing in 1999. He received a B.A. in Economics at UMass in 1982 and a Master's degree in Public Administration from UMass in 1997. A United States soccer historian, Dave is the author of "An Overview of American Soccer History" and a contributing author of the book THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN SOCCER HISTORY. An inveterate "trailblazer," Dave enjoys clearing and marking hiking trails in Western Massachusetts.
Wellbeing Education and Services
Michelle Letendre
Health Promotion Specialist
112 Recreation Center
413-577-5073
mll@umass.edu
Michelle holds a master's degree in school counseling from UMass Amherst and is a summa cum laude graduate of Western New England University, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her work at UMass is an extension of a counseling and mental health career spanning more than three decades. Michelle’s employment as a Health Promotion Specialist at UMass began in 2006 and has included significant work in the BASICS program, organizing health related campus-wide events, and most recently serving as a certified BHI PART Instructor (Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Positivity and Relaxation Training) teaching PART classes to undergraduates. In addition to a lifelong career devoted to helping young people ‘find their way,’ Michelle’s passions include dance, she is a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor, and parenting her son has always been the ‘best part of her day.’
April McNally, MPH
Health Promotion Specialist
112B Recreation Center
413-577-5186
amcnally@umass.edu
April has been at UMass since 2001. She previously worked with UMass Extension’s Nutrition Education Program, and then with the Center for Health Promotion. She is passionate about prevention, inclusion, and wellbeing for students and the campus community. Her work includes directing the Peer Health Education program, teaching a resiliency course, creating opportunities for contemplative practice, overseeing the Paws Program, and incorporating various elements of positive psychology into her work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master of public health degree in community health education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Craig Friedrich
Clerk
112 Recreation Center
413-577-5071
cfriedrich@umass.edu
Craig started at UMass in 1998 and held a position for 13 years in IT. Part of his duties were operating the Mainframe and PeopleSoft systems. He was educated at area colleges and a technical school and earned certifications in computer operations and programming. In 2012 he took a position in the Center of Health Promotions, managing the BASICS office. Craig is new to RecWell and will be supporting administrative duties in both areas. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends along with outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming and fishing.