CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 10, 2022) – Days after the Queens University of Charlotte Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept an invitation from the ASUN Conference, members of the ASUN team, including Commissioner Ted Gumbart, today were at the Levine Center on the Queens campus to formally welcome the Royals into the conference.
The decision came after months of exploration and significant input from the university community. With additional investments in academics, health and wellness, facilities and the arts, Daniel G. Lugo, president of Queens University, says the transition is about more than athletics.
"This is a defining moment for Queens," Lugo said. "One that positions us to be a nationally-recognized university synonymous with the city of Charlotte, one that highlights our commitment to excellence in all that we do, one we have worked really hard for over a number of years, and one that we are prepared to take full advantage of. It's our time."
ASUN made the offer after a unanimous vote by their Presidents' Council, extending ASUN's footprint back into the State of North Carolina and expanding the league to 14 member institutions.
"We will have a record-setting 14 members entering 2022-23," Gumbart said. "That membership strength allows us to be extremely selective in any expansion considerations. Queens University adds value to the ASUN. What an awesome place Charlotte is to add to our portfolio. Queens University will become a national brand that's attached to Charlotte and we want to be a part of that."
The Royals will begin their four-year transitional period into Division I on July 1, 2022 and become the only North Carolina school to play in the ASUN.
"We are thrilled to join the ASUN Conference as we begin to make the transition to NCAA Division I," said Cherie Swarthout, director of athletics at Queens. "The vision of our president and Board of Trustees for the future of Queens, along with our propensity for winning championships, makes our athletic programs a great fit for the ASUN Conference. We are excited to provide our student athletes this next level of championship opportunities."
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About Queens
Queens University is a private, coeducational university located in Charlotte, N.C. The university serves nearly 2,500 students with 43 major and 63 minor undergraduate degree options and 12 graduate degrees. Students represent 44 states and 70 foreign countries. As part of the university's vision to promote educational experiences that nurture intellectual curiosity and promote global understanding, nearly two-thirds of traditional undergraduates participate in study abroad experiences and 100 percent take part in internships. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Queens 15th among regional universities in the south in its 2022 edition of Best Colleges.
About ASUN
Atlanta, Ga. – the only DI conference headquartered in the ATL, our footprint's primary media, sports, business, transportation and cultural hub
The ASUN, a Division I conference member of the NCAA, boasts a membership of institutions that share visionary leadership, bold ambition and creative innovation. As a nimble adaptive conference, unafraid to blaze a national pathway for better service to our student-athletes, teams, and institutions, the ASUN has a proud history of firsts, national academic and athletic achievements and a conference culture that walks the walk with its four ASUN Beams. Students First! Rise. Connect. Impact. #ASUNBuilt by Bellarmine (Louisville), Central Arkansas (Conway), Eastern Kentucky (Richmond), FGCU (Fort Myers), Jacksonville (Fla.), Jacksonville State (Jacksonville, Ala.), Kennesaw State (Ga.), Liberty (Lynchburg, Va.), Lipscomb (Nashville), North Alabama (Florence), North Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), and Stetson (DeLand, Fla.). Austin Peay, based in Clarksville, Tenn., and Queens, based in Charlotte, N.C., are both set to join the league in the 2022-23 academic year.
About Queens Athletics
A leading NCAA program located in Charlotte, N.C., Queens has been competing in co-ed intercollegiate athletics for 30-plus years. Distinguished by its commitment to the nurturing of excellence through a purposeful process, Queens Athletics intentionally promotes a unique experience that leads to success as the Royals deliver sustainable performances at or above a 3.3 GPA in the classroom and consistently rank in the top 10 of the Learfield Directors' Cup in competition.
Housing a diverse portfolio of varsity level sports, Queens athletes represent nearly 50 countries. The Royals hold 25 team national championship trophies, 144 individual national titles, and 100 conference tournament championships competing across six different conferences. Queens produces professional athletes and is an Olympians and Paralympians Made Here designated institution.
