Tucson Standard

The University of Arizona athletics department has announced the creation of its first fully endowed position: the Tyler Family Endowed Assistant Athletics Director for C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development. Sofia Read, the director of the Edward T. Bell C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development program, will assume this role, as announced by Arizona Athletics on May 31.

Read expressed her enthusiasm for enhancing the student-athlete development program by offering Wildcats opportunities for personal and professional growth and mentorship to help them lead "healthy, positive, impactful and fulfilling lives following graduation."

"I feel very fortunate to be able to support students in this role," Read said. "This appointment is truly a testament to the Tylers and their support of the student-athlete experience. There are a lot of great things happening in Arizona Athletics and a lot of awesome stuff happening in student-athlete development."

The endowed position was established with a commitment from Kerry and Charles Tyler, UArizona alumni and long-time supporters of both the university and Arizona Athletics. During the pandemic, they reestablished the student emergency fund, named the Richard H. Tyler Student Emergency Endowed Fund in honor of Charles' father, a local teacher.

"I am so appreciative of the Tylers for their support of our student-athletes and their partnership with the University of Arizona," said University President Robert C. Robbins. "I am very proud of the focus on our student-athletes' total success and the tradition of excellence it enables, and Dr. Read is an incredible mentor and the ideal person to hold this first endowed position within Arizona Athletics."

Read joined Arizona Athletics in 2018 as assistant director of C.A.T.S. Life Skills before leading the unit after Becky Bell's retirement in 2020. The student-athlete development program is part of Cedric Dempsey's C.A.T.S Program—Commitment to an Athlete's Total Success—which provides athletes access to programs that foster leadership, community engagement, and personal development.

"Our student-athlete experience is rooted in excellence in competition, classroom, and community as we champion all Wildcats to achieve their dreams," said Desireé Reed-Francois, director of athletics. "Dr. Read's leadership continues the outstanding legacy of our C.A.T.S program... I would like to thank the Tyler Family for their incredible generosity in supporting all 508 of our student-athletes."

A former two-time captain of Towson University's women's soccer team, Read understands firsthand how vital support can be for developing athletes' potential.

Read graduated from Towson Honors College with a Bachelor’s degree in sports management before earning a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and later completing her doctorate at UArizona.

Recent activities supporting student-athletes include hosting Community Cats Fall Festival with Boys & Girls Club Tucson; Career Night featuring over 25 employers; Career Trek networking opportunity; sending five athletes to Black Student-Athlete Summit.

"Our biggest success is...the ways that all C.A.T.S areas...support student-athletes every single day," Read said.