New school year, new faces.
But some familiar names are back.
If you pay close attention, you might even see her name hanging from the Mirenda center ceiling.
Bethany Ragusa (formerly Bethany Lang), a former standout track and cross country athlete, has returned to Neumann as a sports management professor.
Since graduating from Neumann, Ragusa has built a diverse career in higher education and athletics, making stops at Cabrini, West Chester, Temple, Texas A&M, Chestnut Hill, and Thomas Jefferson University.
And now, she’s back, ready to bring her experience and knowledge to the students of Neumann.
Though she brings years of professional experience to the classroom, Ragusa’s roots as a student-athlete remain a defining part of who she is.
While she doesn’t brag about it in the classroom, Ragusa’s time as a student-athlete was both remarkable and historical.
Not only did she set school records in the 800 meters event, but she also became Neumann University’s first female steeplechase runner.
“I think a lot of my teaching, my lectures, especially since it is related to sport and for the love of sport, is related from my experience here as a student athlete,” Ragusa said. “It was something nice to be a part of, and to see other student athletes in class, it’s an amazing experience.”
Drawing on that foundation, Ragusa understands what it takes to succeed in the competitive sports industry.
It’s difficult, it’s cutthroat, and it’s ever-changing.
“You’re going against 10,000 people. What can you do to stand out?” she said.
That awareness shaped her goal in the classroom: to make things realistic, professional, and current.
“The biggest thing that I want to try to get through students is how to differentiate themselves and find themselves in the industry that they love and want to pursue,” she added.
And being at Neumann adds a whole new layer to her job.
“This is my seventh institution, and there is nothing like Neumann. There is nothing like the people here and how people know the mission,” Ragusa said.
Reconnecting with Dr. Julie Lanzillo has been another highlight of her return.
“I remember the minute that I met Dr. Lanzillo, I just looked up and I was like, oh my gosh. This is what I came here for,” Ragusa recalled. “She revamped the whole program, and I look at her as a mentor.”
Lanzillo remembers meeting Ragusa in her first year as a faculty member at Neumann.
In the eyes of Lanzillo, Ragusa’s passion and desire to lead shone through immediately.
“I knew then she was dedicated to pursuing a career that would allow her to serve students pursuing a career in sports and by now returning to Neumann as a faculty member, that has come full circle,” Lanzillo said.
Neumann isn’t just Ragusa’s alma mater.
Today, it’s her everyday life.
“Now that I’m coming back here, it’s crazy because I can just say, oh, I went to that college, but no, I’m working at that college. I think that’s a big part of myself, and kind of who I am now,” she said.
Her return has opened small opportunities to let her celebrate and double down on her Neumann pride.
For example, recently she was given a yard sign for the upcoming college fair.
“Are you gonna put that up?” some questioned.
To which she responded,
“Of course! Because I always talk about Neumann.”
For Ragusa, blending her professional experience with her love for Neumann makes teaching more than a job — it’s a chance to give back to the place where it all began.
Ragusa is back on track—this time, helping students find their stride.
