By Nate West
News Assignment Editor
Barbara Questa, senior associate director of athletics, will take over the duties of Athletic Director Steve Watson who will undergo elective, preventative heart surgery. Watson’s last day was Tuesday, and he is estimated to be out for six to seven weeks.
However, Questa is not an interim athletic director. She will be adding Watson’s responsibilities to her own during his medical leave.
“I do not have that title,” Questa said. “When you have an interim athletic director, there literally is no athletic director. We have one, he’s just taking a medical leave of absence.”
As senior associate, Questa is the department’s next-in-line, making it natural progression for her to take over Watson’s responsibilities. Questa said everyone in the department understands they’re going to have to pick up some extra work while Watson is out.
“There are certainly things that I am more involved in now that I was not two days ago,” Questa said.
Questa said that the two have been preparing for his leave for the past few weeks.
“We’ve prepared for this to make up some of the transitions, so that way when he did leave yesterday (Tuesday), we can still continue on with a seamless transition,” Questa said.
Many of Questa’s added responsibilities will focus around the new strategic athletic plan, funding for the department and representing St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10.
Questa said she’s flattered Watson and the administration have the confidence in her to do the job, but would prefer to see Watson healthy.
“It’s kind of exciting, but we would all rather see him with his health,” Questa said.
westnl11@bonaventure.edu
