Athletics: Cross Country's TJ Hodges is USD's New AS President
Men’s cross-country runner TJ Hodges is gearing up not only for a new season of running but also running USD’s Associated Students as its 2016-17 president.
“I’m very excited for the upcoming year,” Hodges said. “I’m looking forward to what we can do for our student athletes and for what it means for USD students in general.”
USD head cross-country coach Will Guarino thinks Hodges will do a wonderful job in this role.
“TJ will make a great president for he has engaged in so many roles that encompass campus life,” Guarino said. “He has only been here for two years, but his talents can easily focus when dealing with the numerous issues that a student president must tackle daily.”
Hodges has been gaining experience in leadership roles since high school. At the Phillips Exeter Academy boarding school in New Hampshire, Hodges served as dorm representative nearly all four years and was the head of public relations his senior year while also being captain of the cross-country team.
At USD, Hodges has been involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), he was an AS senator in 2015-16, and served as a resident assistant (RA). Additionally, he is a team captain for the cross-country team.
“This (past) year he was a resident assistant, so he was not afraid to take the necessary steps to lead his residents and to help them with the daily administration of campus life,” Guarino said. “I showed up at a welcome event for parents, and TJ was one of the key hosts that showed humor and an upbeat spirit to describe the essence of life as a Torero to new families.”
Asked why he wanted to run for president, Hodges said, “Having confidence in myself as a leader, which I think comes from being captain of the cross-country team this (past) year, and seeing it as something I’m comfortable with.”
Hodges, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, is an accountancy major and has done a summer internship at Deloitte and Touche, one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, with the hopes of landing a full-time position in public accounting. Hodges will graduate in Spring 2017, needing just three years to finish his undergraduate degree. He will pursue a master’s degree in accountancy this year while completing his final year of eligibility on the USD cross-country team.
“TJ is a great example of the opportunities student athletes have to get involved in a variety of campus activities,” stated Ron Valenzuela, USD’s assistant athletics director of academics and student development. “TJ will continue the work of previous student leaders to provide meaningful and inclusive student-sponsored educational, social and service opportunities for students.”
Hodges becomes the first student-athlete to be AS President since Jennifer McCann, who also ran cross-country, held the position in 1994-95.
“I know I have other skills and strengths in other areas that I think can represent the cross-country team and athletics in general,” Hodges said. “Now being in the position of a student advocate, I hope I can be a student-athlete advocate as well. I really believe it’s hard to understand what student-athletes go through unless you are one. It’s hard to focus on class when you have an upcoming race. When I’m trying to figure out the best course of action to take with the AS resources we have, I can think of those things student-athletes are thinking of.”
Hodges’ parents both went to USD, where his mother ran cross-country, making USD an extra special place for him. “Being a Torero means striving for competitive excellence, while maintaining a supportive community amongst each other.”
Hodges is aware of the importance of collaboration between student groups to enhance school spirit and Torero pride. “A lot of the focus has been on the big basketball game or the big football game, and just measuring school spirit based on that,” he explained. “I think that has merit and is really important, but there are other things we can focus on too, like partnering with Greek Life organizations or theater events with guest speakers on campus. Because if we can get students to first get involved with things going on campus, then when the big game comes up, it will be a no-brainer for students to attend.”
— Mason Shoultz
Upcoming Events
Women's Soccer: Aug. 12 — USD hosts Arizona State (exhibition), Torero Stadium, 7 p.m.
Men's Soccer: Aug. 14 — USD hosts Arizona Western JC (exhibition), Torero Stadium, 5 p.m.; Aug. 18 — USD hosts Grand Canyon University (exhibition), Torero Stadium, 7 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball: Aug. 26 — USD at Stanford, Palo Alto, Calif., 7 p.m.; Aug. 27 — USD vs. Minnesota at Stanford Invitational, Palo Alto, 4 p.m.
Men and Women’s Cross-Country: Sept. 3 — USD teams at Mark Covert Classic, Brea, Calif., 8 a.m.
Football: Sept. 3 — USD hosts Western New Mexico, 6 p.m., Torero Stadium
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Contact:
Athletics
athleticsRSVP@sandiego.edu
(619) 260-5917