Dr. Sofia Read officially became the Tyler Family Endowed Assistant Athletics Director, C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development in May of 2024 as the athletics department’s first-ever endowed position. Read began oversight of the Edward T. Bell C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development program following the retirement of trailblazing icon Becky Bell in 2020.
As part of Arizona’s overall Commitment to an Athletes Total Success (C.A.T.S.), Read’s leadership of Arizona’s  Student-Athlete Development program has continued the pioneer initiative that began over three decades ago. Since its inception, Arizona has used innovative and effective programming to enrich all areas of the student-athlete experience. The C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development program advances the total student-athlete by implementing programs, events, and individualized support, that empowers student-athletes to develop as leaders, community members, and future professionals.
Under Read’s guidance, Arizona Athletics has continued its student-athlete development legacy through personal, leadership and career development as well as community service and engagement. The future of Arizona Athletics will remain focused on its student-athletes and providing the best experience for them to grow and develop as champions in their sport, the classroom and as leaders in our community.Â
Read joined the C.A.T.S. Student-Athlete Development team in July of 2018.
Sofia earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Towson University, where she was a student-athlete and 2-year co-captain on the women’s soccer team. After Towson, she went on to earn a Master of Science in Sport Management from the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Sofia spent her time with the Student-Athlete Success Program, and was also involved in sport-based youth development programs and campus initiatives focusing on sport and social issues. In May 2023, Sofia earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Arizona and her dissertation was on the experiences of student-athlete development professionals in college athletics and their journeys of critical awareness and action
