Staff
Grace Clark
Grace Clark is in her second year with the Harvard Varsity Club and third year working for the Harvard Athletic Department.
A 2006 graduate from Fordham University majoring in Communications and Media Studies, Clark was an active member of the Athletic Department for the Rams. She started as the manager of the Women’s Basketball team her freshman year and became a walk-on player her senior year. Clark also was a student trainer for the football team and an intern for WFUV, the student run professional radio station. While at Fordham, she became the creator, producer, writer and on-air reporter for the Fordham Nightly News entertainment segment.
She is continuing her education at night through various courses at The Harvard Extension School.
Since moving to Boston, Clark has become active in various athletic activities including basketball and dodge ball as well supporting the Crimson and cheering on the Sox.
Bob Glatz
Bob Glatz has been the Executive Director of the Harvard Varsity Club since July of 1997. Bob was a starting running back on the 1987 Ivy Champion football team and graduated from Harvard with a degree in psychology in 1988. Prior to arriving at the Varsity Club, Bob was the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY, where he also coached varsity lacrosse, JV and varsity football and some basketball.
Bob’s hobbies include travel, playing poker and showing up on various TV shows (Oprah, The Price is Right, Dark Justice, etc.). A proud uncle of 9 nieces and nephews, Bob is able to spend a lot of time with his family and currently resides in Watertown, a short ride from the Varsity Club.
Michele McLaughlin
Michele McLaughlin, hired in August 2000, is a veteran of the Harvard Varsity Club staff. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a BA in Communication Sciences and a master’s degree in Sport Management.
Prior to beginning her career with Harvard McLaughlin was an Administrative Assistant for the Head Coach of UConn Football. She joined the Harvard Athletics staff as an Operations Coordinator in September 1999 and a year later was hired by the Varsity Club as a Staff Assistant. She easily moved into the role of Publications Coordinator in 2001 and eventually to Assistant Director in 2006. In her position as Assistant Director McLaughlin oversees the Friends fundraising for nine sports (men’s & women’s crew, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s water polo and wrestling). She has also served as the editor-in-chief of News & Views of Harvard Sports, the Varsity Club’s monthly newsletter covering all 41 of Harvard’s intercollegiate programs, since 2001.
McLaughlin currently resides in Framingham, MA but is originally from Hamden, CT. She and her husband Peter have one son, Nolan.
Neil Murphy
Neil Murphy, hired in November 2008, is the newest member of the Harvard Varsity Club, but by no means unfamiliar with Harvard Athletics. Murphy, an Abington, Mass. native, attended Westfield State College where he lettered for four years and captained for two years the varsity baseball team before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Movement Science. Prior to beginning his professional career in the Harvard University Department of Athletics in August 1998, Murphy attended Springfield College as a two-year graduate assistant with the baseball program and earned a master’s degree in Athletics Administration.
At Harvard, Murphy has served in various capacities over his ten year career. Most recently, as assistant director of athletics, Murphy oversaw five varsity programs including men’s & women’s ice hockey, men’s & women’s water polo, and wrestling. He was also responsible for managerial oversight of intercollegiate scheduling and team travel, and was the institutional contact for ECAC Hockey.
With the Varsity Club, Murphy will work primarily with the Friends of football and baseball to support their fundraising efforts. He and his wife Amy currently reside in Scituate, Mass. The couple has two sons, Ryan and Quinn.
Geoff Rathgeber
The youngest member of the Harvard Varsity Club team, Geoff Rathgeber began as a Special Assistant in October of 2008.
Geoff graduated from Cambridge’s most prestigious university in June of 2008 with a degree in History and Literature. As an undergraduate, he could be found most days either with his head submerged in the lukewarm waters of Blodgett Pool or hiking between the Quad and the athletic facilities. Last June, his efforts in the pool and classroom earned him the Bingham Award and the Reardon Award at the 2008 Senior Letterwinners’ Dinner despite the fact that he did not know what the Varsity Club was or why it was important in the grand scheme of Harvard Athletics. Now, having learned what a crucial role the Club plays, he is working on several different Varsity Club initiatives to build awareness of the Club among the alumni and undergraduate communities.
Outside of the office, Geoff enjoys participating in noontime soccer and is a founding member of the Varsity Club post-work Fit Club. He is a big fan of trivial information and hopes to one day beat Alec Trebek at his own game in Jeopardy.
Kristen Schmidt
Kristen Schmidt made the move from an assistant field hockey coach at Harvard to the Varsity Club in September 2006. Schmidt, a Greenfield, Mass. native, attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she was a member and captain of the nationally ranked UMass field hockey team before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. While an assistant coach at Harvard, Schmidt attended Boston College, earning a master’s degree in Administrative Studies.
Schmidt came to the Varsity Club as a staff assistant, and was promoted to Assistant Director in August of ‘08. She works with HRFWA and the Friends of Basketball, Fencing, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Sailing, Squash, Tennis and Track & Field to support their fundraising efforts. Schmidt currently resides in Watertown, MA.
Betty D. Whitney
Financial Administrator, Retired, having served under five Executive Directors of the Varsity Club and three University Athletic Directors. Since Bob Glatz forgot to replace my position, I continue to work part-time watching the pennies, nickels and dimes for the Club. Married to Pat Petronelli and live in Newton, MA. Oh yes, staff can’t date or marry without my approval!