RINDGE, N.H. (July 7, 2016) – Franklin Pierce University Director of Athletics Bruce Kirsh has announced three additions to the support staff of the University's Department of Athletics. Matthew Cerullo has been hired as Assistant Director of Athletic Communication, Makina Itchkavich-Levasseur has been tabbed as Assistant Athletic Trainer, and Marcus Williams has been brought aboard as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach.

"I am extremely pleased to welcome all three new hires to the Franklin Pierce Athletics family," said Kirsh. "I believe each brings the passion for their profession and the skills necessary to enhance our operation in 2016-17 and beyond."

Cerullo joins the staff in Rindge after spending the last two years as a graduate assistant in the Sports Information office at Regis (Mass.) College. His second year with the Pride also included a six-month stint as the Interim Director of Athletic Communication, during which he was responsible for organizing all media relations and statistical operations for the College's 18 NCAA Division III varsity sports. He also served as the primary media host for the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Championship. Cerullo will jump in as the primary media contact for men's and women's basketball at Franklin Pierce, with other sport assignments to be determined after his arrival on campus in August.

Originally from Norwood, Mass., Cerullo is a 2013 graduate of Nichols College, with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and earned his master's in organizational & professional communications from Regis in May. Prior to his time at Regis, he also served as an intern in the Sports Information department at Case Western Reserve University.

Itchkavich-Levasseur comes to Franklin Pierce after spending the 2015-16 year as a graduate assistant Athletic Trainer at Ithaca College. Her primary assignment with the Bombers was to work with the men's and women's track & field programs, though she provided coverage for the institution's other NCAA Division III sports as necessitated. Prior to her year at Ithaca, Itchkavich-Levasseur spent two years as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at fellow Division II institution Post University, where she worked primarily with the women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, women's basketball, women's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis teams.

Hailing from Alton, N.H., Itchkavich-Levasseur is a 2012 graduate of Springfield College, with a bachelor's degree in athletic training, and anticipates receiving her master's degree in exercise and sport sciences from Ithaca in August. Prior to her time at Post, she spent time as an Athletic Training intern at Barton College, as well as serving as a work-study student in the Athletic Training department as an undergrad at Springfield.

Williams joins the crimson and grey after spending the last two years as a graduate assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Division I Central Connecticut State University, where he worked primarily with the men's and women's soccer, golf, track & field and women's lacrosse teams, in addition to assisting with the training of both the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the football team. His time with the Blue Devils marked the fifth Division I tour of duty for Williams, who has previously worked as both an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach and a Strength & Conditioning Assistant at University of Detroit Mercy, as well as time spent as an intern within the Strength & Conditioning departments at both University of Pittsburgh and Quinnipiac University.

Currently residing in New Britain, Conn., Williams is a 2011 graduate of Pittsburgh, with a bachelor's degree in health and physical activities, and received his master's in physical education from Central Connecticut State in May. In addition to his time in intercollegiate athletics, he also spent one season as a Strength & Conditioning Coach within the Detroit Tigers farm system, where he worked with the franchise's Single-A, Midwest League affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).