For the first time in Saint Paul Academy and Summit School history, there is a female Athletic Director.

Dawn Wickstrum is the new Director of Athletics. She was hired last spring from the Frances Park School in Chicago, Illinois. She officially took over the position on July 1 from former Athletic Director Peter Sawkins.

In Wickstrum’s first year she doesn’t want to completely overhaul the program: “I want to observe this first year,” Wickstrum said, “…what I really don’t want to do is to come in and change everything this program does, because it is a great program.”

In the first few months of Wickstrum’s tenure, there has already been some change in the program after the resignation of former Boys Basketball coach Kevin McKenzie and the hiring of Isaiah Wallfred to replace him, in addition to the promotion of Matt Funk from Assistant to Head Coach for Boys Hockey.

Wickstrum’s long term goal for the program focuses on more than just sports. “I want people to learn life lessons from the athletics at our school, because most of our student athletes do not move on to play in college,” Wickstrum said.

Wickstrum is “really excited to start the year and see what the program is like,” she said.