ALFRED, NY -- Deb Steward, Associate Vice President for Student Experience, Athletics and Recreation, is leaving Alfred University, effective April 18, 2026, to become Vice President, Director of Operations at Canandaigua National Bank in Canandaigua, NY.
 
Steward was appointed to her current role at Alfred in May 2023, after having served five months as Interim Assistant Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. During her tenure at Alfred, the Athletics Department has undergone several transformational changes, none more significant than the construction of the Saxon Hill Sports Complex. The $30 million project, which is nearing completion, has facilitated the addition of four intercollegiate varsity sports—baseball, men's and women's rugby, and field hockey—and is expected to add an estimated 170 new students to the university's enrollment over the next six years including roster expansion for men's and women's cross country/track and field teams.
 
Kim Harvey, Vice President for Student Experience, commended Steward's work in advancing the Athletics Department and enhancing the student experience on campus.
 
"Deb has elevated our athletics program with passion, vision, and a deep commitment to our student‑athletes and athletics department staff. Since my arrival at Alfred University, Deb has been a tremendous thought partner," Harvey said. "Her insight, guidance, and unwavering support have propelled us forward and set the foundation for continued success, including milestone achievements with the addition of four new teams and the Saxon Hill Sports Complex. Her commitment to seeing this vision become reality is evident in every detail of what this investment will mean for our student‑athletes and the broader campus community."
 
Steward is credited with helping raise enrollment and retention rates of student-athletes by establishing protocols to help increase departmental grade point average. She oversaw the hiring process of a several coaches, as well as professionals in areas that support the Athletics Department, such as Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning, and Athletic Communications, and established "The ALFYS," a student-athlete end-of-year awards ceremony.
 
A national search for Steward's replacement will be conducted at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. Erin Schurr, Associate Director of Athletics and interim women's lacrosse coach, will serve as the Interim Director of Athletics. Steward will continue to support the university by serving as a consultant and working directly with Harvey and Schurr on several key projects, helping to ensure continuity during the period of transition. 
 
"I am proud that we built a culture of excellence based on clearly defined principles for success," Steward said. She pointed to expanded opportunities for student-athletes, the implementation of the Saxon Success Program, a leadership and life skills program that enhances the personal development of Alfred's student-athletes, and contracting with a sport psychology provider to assist department staff and student-athletes with the psychological factors that influence performance, and increasing philanthropic gifts to support the student-athlete experience. She called the Saxon Hill project "a major facility improvement project that will impact generations of Saxons to come."
 
An award-winning collegiate athletics administrator, Steward came to Alfred with more than 33 years in collegiate athletics, including more than 16 years at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where she served as Associate Vice President for Athletics and Recreation.  
 
While at HWS, Steward was named the 2014 ECAC Division III Female Administrator of the Year and the 2017 Women Leaders in College Sports Division III Administrator of the Year. She hired 20 head coaches at HWS, and in 2014 added women's ice hockey as the department's 12^th varsity sport. Under her supervision, the Hobart Statesmen and William Smith Herons received dozens of postseason tournament bids and won the 2013 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Championship. Prior to HWS, Steward served as the Assistant Director of Athletics at Ithaca College. A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Steward previously worked at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as a successful softball coach and administrator and began her professional career at St. Mary's (MN) University as a three-sport coach.
 
"Deb has been a true culture leader on our campus—someone who consistently centers the student‑athlete experience and champions the values we aspire to uphold as Saxons. Her integrity, compassion, and clarity of vision have transformed what athletics means within a thriving university community," Harvey said. "Across her extensive career in collegiate athletics, Deb has shaped programs, people, and priorities. Her impact at Alfred is far‑reaching—from the student experience to major institutional investments like Saxon Hill Sports Complex. She leaves a legacy defined by character, collaboration, and purpose."
 
"It will be very difficult to leave my team," Steward commented. "They have believed in me and my leadership. I care deeply about them personally and professionally. I will also miss watching our student-athletes compete and represent Alfred University."
 
Steward is looking forward to the next chapter of her life, which will allow her to spend more time with her wife, Amy, and her dog, Max. "They have been more than patient with the time demands of my career in athletics," she said.
 
"I am also looking forward to this new challenge in the banking industry and using my leadership skills, as a culture builder with a commitment to efficient processes, to help the operations team be the best back-office engine in the industry."