Bio

Meagan Connolly joined Bryant University as the Director of Athletic Development in July 2016. She enters her seventh year in Smithfield in 2022-23. 

Connolly has been a key part of Bryant's growth over the last six years, helping the Bulldogs shatter records for Black & Gold Club membership and reaching record numbers in fundraising. She was a key part of creating the Jeff Doppelt '73 Black and Gold Challenge that raised funds for all of Bryant's varsity programs and has been a key cog in the fundraising efforts to expand Bryant's facilities footprint. 

In this newly created role, Connolly will work to engage alumni, parents, friends and supporters and drive philanthropic support for Bryant's varsity teams and athletic priorities. She will lead in the building of a robust athletic engagement and giving program through establishing successful relationships and developing strategic engagement and solicitation strategies for Black and Gold stakeholders and supporters.

Prior to arriving at Bryant University, Connolly served as a development officer for the Department of Athletics at Northeastern University. During her time at Northeastern, she collaborated with alumni, parents and friends to increase major giving for Husky Athletics. These strategies included the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of men’s rowing, which yielded over $1 million for the program, as well as the 50th anniversary of the 1966 College World Series team.

Before joining Northeastern, Connolly was the Director of Fundraising and External Relations at USA Field Hockey and established the organization’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising program. Additionally, she served as a Friends and Family Coordinator at the London Olympics in 2012. Connolly has also held positions as Associate Director of the Holy Cross Fund for Athletic Fundraising at the College of the Holy Cross, and as Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Programs at St. Lawrence University.

Connolly received her Master of Arts in Education Administration from St. Lawrence University, where she coached the varsity field hockey team, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Maine, where she was a field hockey captain and two-time Northeast All-American.

A native of Mahopac, N.Y., Connolly has a son, Nolan.