Women’s History Month: How Rutgers Athletics Academic Services Coordinator, Gilah Rosenberg, Helps Sports Thrive

Added by Breanna Casey on March 8, 2013.

Everyday this month, Double G Sports will be featuring interviews from prominent women in the sports industry as our way of celebrating Women’s History Month. This project is in its 2^nd year.  Today we feature Rutgers Athletics Academic Coordinator, Gilah Rosenberg.

Gilah Rosenberg with a pair of Rutgers student-athletes.

Gilah Rosenberg’s interest in sports sparked as a child as she watched games with her father. Luckily for Rutgers athletes, this premature curiosity in the field eventually grew into a passion of aiding athletes, whether it be academically, athletically, or on a personal level.

Rosenberg returned to her alma mater, an experience she describes as pretty awesome, as the Rutgers athletics academic services coordinator. After tutoring within the athletic department, her abilities to progress student-athletes in the right direction earned her a more permanent spot in the Rutgers athletics family.

Although Rosenberg is undoubtedly dedicated to her work, it takes a great amount of organization and understanding of the hectic athletic schedule to keep the Rutgers athletics program running smoothly.

“I coordinate all three of the academic services within our department. I hire all tutors, study hall monitors and class checkers, train them and coordinate programs throughout the semester.” Rosenberg said.

With a great deal of responsibility comes a great deal of pride, and there is no question that Rosenberg finds her job rewarding. Rosenberg acknowledges that it is sometimes difficult to deal with the negative light student-athletes are sometimes placed in. Whereas student-athletes often fall under the category of “dumb jock”, Rosenberg knows that the Scarlet Knights have much to offer, both on and off the field.

Gilah Rosenberg

“It’s so rewarding to watch a student-athlete do well on an exam they just took or getting a good grade on a paper. The best thing though, is to see a student-athlete graduate.” Rosenberg boasted on behalf of the Knights.

In light of women’s history month, Rosenberg is especially impressed with the all around toughness of the lady Scarlet Knights. Numbering the many strengths of women’s athletic programs at Rutgers, she finds them intensely dedicated and hardworking. This pattern of behavior seems to be a habit for women here at Rutgers University.

“They have some great female role models within the Rutgers Athletics department who give them great examples to model their behavior and future by.” Rosenberg said.

The boldness and determination of female athletes at Rutgers is necessary to survive in the world of sports, as Rosenberg admits that it is harder for females to gain the same level of respect as males. In a field that is dominated by the opposite sex, women find themselves working twice as hard to earn the same level of recognition.

However, Rosenberg believes that anything is possible with commitment and hard work, regardless of your particular sex. She is a strong believer in the notion that hard work pays off. This is a message that comes through to the athletes, as they are regularly rewarded with outstanding honors. In the past year alone, women’s track and field star Asha Ruth was given the Werblin Award, Brittney Lindley earned the Coursen Award, and rower Katherine Gelthman received the Athletic Director’s Excellence award, to name just a few.

As Gilah Rosenberg helps the entirety of the Scarlet Knights better themselves in all realms of life, it is definitely safe to say that she is a great female role model, as well.