(VALLEJO, Calif. – July 30, 2012) – Marv Christopher, athletic director for The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a campus of The California State University, has been named the NAIA California Pacific Conference Athletic Director of the Year for the 2011-2012 season. The selection was made after a vote of Christopher's peers in the conference.

Christopher, who has served as Cal Maritime's director of athletics since 2004, has overseen the Cal Maritime Keelhaulers’ rise in the California Pacific Conference. Last year, the Keelhaulers had marked improvements in all of the conference-sponsored sports, including the men’s basketball teams’ historic achievement of going undefeated in California Pacific Conference play and the school’s first berth into the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships. He also served a vital role in the conference’s expansion to southern California and Arizona.

"This honor is well deserved," said Dr. Gerald Jakubowski, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Cal Maritime. "Cal Maritime had another great year of athletic successes. Marv does a fantastic job of motivating coaches and athletes despite limited staff and budget. I am happy he is being recognized for his efforts!"

Christopher is responsible for the management and supervision of Cal Maritime’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation, which includes such intercollegiate and intramural sports programs as men’s and women’s basketball, crew, golf, rugby, sailing, water polo, and women’s volleyball. Prior to his post at Cal Maritime, he served for 19 years as the director of athletics at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY.

"I am truly honored to have been selected by my peers as the 2011-12 California Pacific Conference Athletic Director of the Year," said Christopher. "This honor comes to me only because of the support of Cal Maritime's administration, faculty and a very dedicated and hardworking coaching staff. I would like to thank my Cal Pac colleagues for this honor and for the pleasure of working with a very dedicated group of directors and a commissioner, whose vision for the Cal Pac Conference will afford a very bright future."

ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, The California Maritime Academy, a campus of The California State University, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. Cal Maritime was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as #18 in the “Top 20 Best Value Colleges” in the nation – and the #1 Best Value in California for providing students with the highest quality education for their academic dollar. Located in Vallejo, Calif., the campus serves approximately 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees preparing students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business, and global logistics. It also offers a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number of extended learning programs and courses. For more information about Cal Maritime, visit www.csum.edu.