Vicky Chun

In this episode, Alison chats with Victoria “Vicky” Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. Chun shares how her role at Yale has evolved and grown as she supports excellence in athletics at every level, from rec sports to varsity. 

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Victoria M. "Vicky" Chun, a true trailblazer in the world of collegiate athletics, was appointed as the Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics at Yale University by President Peter Salovey on February 1, 2018. Her official tenure with the Bulldogs began on July 1 of the same year. Chun made history as both the first woman and the first Asian American to hold this position.

Since assuming her role, Chun has exhibited dynamic leadership and unwavering dedication to Yale Athletics. Her innovative approach to the challenges of NCAA Division I athletics has earned her past recognition as a "Game Changer" by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.

In July 2024, Chun was appointed to serve on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and will serve through August 31, 2029.

She also serves on the Visiting Committee for Student Life at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

In March 2023, Chun was bestowed with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year award, lauding her as a thought leader and decision maker in the world of college athletics. It was the second time she received this honor, the first being in 2018 while serving as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Colgate University. Chun became the first Director of Athletics to win at two different institutions within the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) since the award’s inception in 1998.

Yale Athletics has reached remarkable heights since her appointment including 11 national championships, 38 Ivy League titles, 57 major individual year-end Ivy League awards, 61 team national championship/tournament appearances, 144 All-Americans, and 86 NCAA individual qualifiers. Her commitment to holistic success is evident in the recognition of over 180 Academic All-Ivy student-athletes during her tenure, and the elevation of Yale's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

During Chun’s first five years, she oversaw the complete revitalization of the athletic department’s facilities, including more than $100 million in new construction and renovation projects.