Ben Kern Named Director of Recreational Sports

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Ben Kern has been named the Director of Recreational Sports at Western New England University, Director of Athletics, Recreational Sport & Physical Education Matthew LaBranche announced.

"We are so happy to welcome Ben to Western New England," said LaBranche. "Ben brings a wealth of on-campus recreation experience which makes him the perfect person to elevate our program to new heights. His knowledge and interest in leadership development align nicely with our department's mission to promote and develop comprehensive excellence in all the students we serve. I have no doubt that our recreation programming will flourish under Ben's direction."

Kern comes to Western New England after serving as the Outdoor Program and Aquatics Coordinator within the Campus Recreation Department at Texas A&M University at Galveston since June 2018. While in that role, Kern helped design and supervised the construction of the university climbing wall, ran adventure trips for the Outdoor Program, and helped organize and facilitate professional development conferences on campus. He also supervised the outdoor pool and lifeguard staff.

"I'm excited to join the Western New England athletic department and help build out the Recreation Department to provide more offerings for our student body," Kern said. "I want to hear what the students are looking for, and try to provide opportunities for inclusive participation on campus."

Prior to his time at Texas A&M-Galveston, Kern spent five years at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, first as a graduate assistant for Intramural and Club Sports before being promoted to Facilities Coordinator.  

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Kern earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Kansas State University in 2013. While at Kansas State, Kern served as a student supervisor for Intramural Operations. An avid fan of the Kansas City Royals, Kern enjoys playing board games and rock climbing.