CSB alumna Glennis Werner Roseboom hired as new athletic director

Glennis Werner Roseboom is coming home.

After 20 years living outside her home state of Minnesota, Werner Roseboom is returning in July to a place she holds near and dear to her heart.

Werner Roseboom, a 1993 College of Saint Benedict alumna, has been hired as the school’s next athletic director, CSB President Mary Dana Hinton and Vice President of Student Development Mary Geller announced Wednesday morning.

Werner Roseboom takes over for Carol Howe-Veenstra, who announced her retirement in October after 30 years with the Blazer athletic department. Howe-Veenstra’s last day is June 19, and Werner Roseboom is slated to start on July 1.

“I am simply thrilled to accept the athletic director position at Saint Ben’s. I cannot wait to be back on campus,” said Werner Roseboom. “The prospect of working to support the talented team of coaches and staff, and student-athletes is something I have been working toward since leaving graduate school and throughout my years at the United States Olympic Committee.

“My upbringing in Cannon Falls and undergraduate experience at Saint Ben's provided me with a great foundation in my life. I have enjoyed some amazing experiences, but my heart has always remained in Minnesota.  I have longed for the right opportunity to move to home,” added Werner Roseboom.

“It was very exciting to offer the position of Athletic Director to Glennis Werner Roseboom.  I had a top- notch committee who worked very hard over several months to bring two highly qualified candidates to campus.  It was immediately evident that Glennis was the top choice from the stack of evaluations that the CSB community, and in particular, the Blazer coaches and student athletes provided” Geller said. “The excitement and enthusiasm that Glennis displayed for NCAA DIII women’s athletics and in particular her personal experience as a former Blazer athlete ignited the community.  Glennis has all the skills and experience to take the torch being passed from one great female athletic AD to another – on National Girls and Women in Sport Day no less!  I have all the confidence that Blazer athletics will continue to challenge and inspire generations of young women student-athletes under Glennis’s leadership.”

For the past two years, Werner Roseboom served as assistant general manager at VillaSport Athletic Club & Spa, a luxury spa in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She oversaw the management team, dealt with building repairs and developed quarterly strategic plans and oversaw a $10 million annual budget at the 12,000-member facility.

For 15 years prior, Werner Roseboom – a native of Cannon Falls, Minnesota – worked her way up through the ranks at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. She started as a residence life coordinator and served as a scheduling coordinator, operations manager and associate director before serving for six years as the director (2007-13).

As the director, Werner Roseboom oversaw all aspects of operations at the elite international sports training facility. She attended six Olympic and Paralympic games dating back to 2002 to help execute training and competition plans, and was part of a team that raised $16 million for facility construction and renovation.

“There are a million reasons why returning to CSB is an opportunity I'm excited about, but most importantly this return means to find passion in my work through supporting women in their education and development,” Werner Roseboom said.

Werner Roseboom graduated with a degree in social work from Saint Benedict in 1993. While at CSB, she was part of four straight trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament with the Blazer basketball team. In 1992, she helped the team to the Sweet 16, and in 1993 Werner Roseboom was part of the CSB squad that won its first 28 games in a row and made it to the NCAA Division III Final Four. That team is in the CSB Hall of Fame.

“It is with great joy that the College of Saint Benedict welcomes Glennis Werner Roseboom as athletic director. Glennis brings strong sports management experience to our campus, and as an alumna she very personally understands the importance and value of our mission,” said Mary Dana Hinton, president of CSB. “Having been a CSB student-athlete, Glennis knows that our first commitment to students is their academic development, closely followed by the growth of leadership skills and confidence. We are proud of the smart, self-assured leaders we graduate at the College of Saint Benedict, and the way our Blazer athletic program contributes to that achievement. I thank the search committee for their exceptional work.”

Werner Roseboom was selected by a search committee that included constituents from all facets of the college – athletics, admissions, institutional advancement and administration. She was one of two finalists in a 70-applicant pool for the position. She had her final interview on campus Jan. 27.

Werner Roseboom takes over an athletic department pushing to be one of the best in the MIAC. Saint Benedict finished second in the MIAC All-Sports race in 2013-14, its best finish since 1999-2000. After the fall season, the Blazers were in second in the 2014-15 all-sport race with 35.5 points.