LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell Department of Athletics announced today that Ashley Robbins has been named Associate Director for Communications. In this capacity she will assist in the oversight of the athletic communications office for the River Hawks' 18 Division I intercollegiate sports.
 
Robbins joins the River Hawks after serving two years as Assistant Director of Media Relations at Longwood University. She will serve as the primary communications contact for the River Hawk men'sbasketball program.

"We are thrilled to have Ashley join our external team in the athletic department," said Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Pete Souris. "She is a rising star in the industry and brings many talents to campus from her experiences over the last seven years in the business."

"I'm extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to join the staff at UMass Lowell and become part of the River Hawks community," said Robbins. "Great things are on the horizon for the athletics department and the entire university. I am thrilled to be able to come in on the ground floor of that, using my Division I experience to help UMass Lowell adjust and grow during its reclassification years, as well as flourish into the future with the America East Conference."

Robbins was the media relations contact for several sports at Longwood, including women's basketball, field hockey, men's soccer, softball, women's lacrosse and men's tennis. While with the Lancers, she coordinated all the graphic design needs and digital media guides for the department, as well as coordinating the social media efforts for Longwood Athletics.

Prior to Longwood, Robbins served as a media relations assistant at Boston College for one season (2011-12) as the media contact for field hockey, women's lacrosse, swimming and rowing. She produced weekly and post-game football notes while with the Eagles and assisted with game day operations for football and women's basketball.

Robbins worked four years in the Orange athletic communications office, including two years as an undergraduate SID covering softball, cross country and track and field and two seasons as a communications intern assisting with football and men's/women's basketball. The Leominster, Mass., native earned her bachelor's degree in sport management from Syracuse University in May of 2011.

She also interned at the Boston Bruins in 2010, served as manager of sports information for the Bay State Games (2010, 2011) and interned for the New England Revolution in the summer of 2009.

Robbins will begin her duties with UMass Lowell on Tuesday, May 27th.