University of Rhode Island Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn was selected as one of Under Armour’s Athletic Directors of the Year recipient for 2015-16, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced in March.

In total, 12 athletic directors from the Division I level were honored for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

“I am very honored and humbled by this recognition,” he says. “However, anytime an award like this is given, it is the result of a great deal of hard work and dedication from amazing student-athletes, coaches and staff. I accept this recognition on behalf of all of them.”

Since arriving on the Kingston Campus in July 2007 as the eleventh director of athletics in URI history, Bjorn has made it a priority that all 400 current and former student-athletes are united as one Rhody Athletics family.

Under his watch, Rhode Island has raised more than $15 million in external and internal resources aimed at facility and programmatic enhancements. A keystone of those enhancements opened its doors to the public in April 2014: The $5-million Ryan Family Student-Athlete Complex includes state-of-the-art strength and conditioning, sports medicine, and academic advising areas. Since then, the Thomas M. Ryan Center, already one of the top basketball facilities in the Northeast, has received major LED display upgrades and a new playing surface.