Margie Tversky - Hall of Fame
Margie Tversky
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 1970
Margie Tversky’s career in athletics and student services is closely tied to a turning point for women’s sports at Barnard and Columbia. She arrived in 1969 as a part-time physical education instructor at Barnard while completing her Master of Arts degree in physical education, curriculum and teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned the degree in 1970 and quickly moved into roles that blended teaching, administration and advocacy for student-athletes.
After beginning her career as a high school physical education instructor and director of athletics in California, Tversky moved to Iowa and joined Christine Grant in developing the University of Iowa's women’s athletics program. She served as assistant athletics director and head field hockey coach for five years. Under her leadership, the program reached a new level, winning AIAW state championships in 1976 and 1977.
She returned to Barnard in 1978 as director of athletics, overseeing a nine-sport intercollegiate program as women’s athletics gained national visibility and structure. As the AIAW’s policies evolved, Barnard teams also welcomed women from Columbia’s Schools of Engineering and Nursing, expanding opportunities for Columbia students to compete.
When Columbia announced it would begin admitting women to Columbia College in 1983, Tversky initiated the effort to merge Barnard’s existing women’s program with Columbia’s emerging women’s athletics offerings. The approach pooled resources, allowed Columbia to sponsor nine varsity programs in its first year of coeducation and gave coaches the ability to recruit to both Barnard College and Columbia University. The NCAA approved the plan, leading to the creation of the Columbia University-Barnard College Athletic Consortium, the only Division I consortium of its kind in the country.
As Columbia’s associate director of athletics responsible for women’s sports, she helped bring back women’s rowing and added women’s soccer within the first two years of the consortium. She also worked with administrators, staff and alumni as facilities were updated to better serve women on the main campus and at Baker Field. Women gained representation in the Varsity C Club and, over time, took on leadership roles within the organization.
Tversky led Columbia’s women’s athletics administration through 1990, but her work laid the foundation for the success of Columbia’s women’s varsity programs.
She continued her work in Maryland, including stints as athletics director at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and as associate director of athletics at Towson University, where she oversaw academics, compliance and student services and advised the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. From 2001 to 2005, she served on the NCAA Academic, Eligibility, and Compliance Cabinet representing the Colonial Athletic Association. In 2014, Tversky moved to Towson’s Division of Student Affairs and retired in 2019.
After beginning her career as a high school physical education instructor and director of athletics in California, Tversky moved to Iowa and joined Christine Grant in developing the University of Iowa's women’s athletics program. She served as assistant athletics director and head field hockey coach for five years. Under her leadership, the program reached a new level, winning AIAW state championships in 1976 and 1977.
She returned to Barnard in 1978 as director of athletics, overseeing a nine-sport intercollegiate program as women’s athletics gained national visibility and structure. As the AIAW’s policies evolved, Barnard teams also welcomed women from Columbia’s Schools of Engineering and Nursing, expanding opportunities for Columbia students to compete.
When Columbia announced it would begin admitting women to Columbia College in 1983, Tversky initiated the effort to merge Barnard’s existing women’s program with Columbia’s emerging women’s athletics offerings. The approach pooled resources, allowed Columbia to sponsor nine varsity programs in its first year of coeducation and gave coaches the ability to recruit to both Barnard College and Columbia University. The NCAA approved the plan, leading to the creation of the Columbia University-Barnard College Athletic Consortium, the only Division I consortium of its kind in the country.
As Columbia’s associate director of athletics responsible for women’s sports, she helped bring back women’s rowing and added women’s soccer within the first two years of the consortium. She also worked with administrators, staff and alumni as facilities were updated to better serve women on the main campus and at Baker Field. Women gained representation in the Varsity C Club and, over time, took on leadership roles within the organization.
Tversky led Columbia’s women’s athletics administration through 1990, but her work laid the foundation for the success of Columbia’s women’s varsity programs.
She continued her work in Maryland, including stints as athletics director at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and as associate director of athletics at Towson University, where she oversaw academics, compliance and student services and advised the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. From 2001 to 2005, she served on the NCAA Academic, Eligibility, and Compliance Cabinet representing the Colonial Athletic Association. In 2014, Tversky moved to Towson’s Division of Student Affairs and retired in 2019.
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