Some 700 student-athletes, coaches and faculty mentors met in the Res/Center Center Sept. 12 for North Central’s annual celebration, The Huddle, to kick off the new year. President Hal Wilde and Director of Athletics Jim Miller were the first to speak and reflected on last year’s successes and how to balance athletic and academic success. After the traditional NC Influence T-shirts were distributed and coaches and faculty mentors were introduced, guest speaker Sue Enquist addressed the enthusiastic crowd.

Among the many new faculty and coaches this academic year are nine full-time, tenure-track faculty. They are Leila Azarbad, assistant professor of psychology; Suzanne Chod, assistant professor of political science; Kristin Geraty-Bonacci, assistant professor of sociology; Andrei Guruianu, assistant professor of English; Katherine Heller, assistant professor of mathematics; Kelly Howe, assistant professor of theatre; Jonathon J.