As assistant athletic director for campus recreation, Alexandra Kissinger is quietly orchestrating much of what happens inside the O’Pake Fitness & Recreation Center at St. Joe’s.

Kissinger traces her path back to her undergraduate days attending Temple University where she worked in Temple’s campus recreation department. She graduated from Temple in 2014 and started her position as campus recreation coordinator at St. Joe’s in 2016. By 2021, she had been promoted to her current position.

Kissinger described her role as a constant juggling act that changes with the calendar.

“Every day is different, which is why I enjoy my job,” Kissinger said, noting that the start of the fall semester looks nothing like the quieter weeks at the end of the year.

Kissinger’s days are packed with overseeing club sports and making sure teams are registered, practices and games are scheduled and travel is coordinated. She also manages the intramural program, facility operations, group fitness classes, the esports lab and the internship program. Other responsibilities include overseeing the budget and training staff in safety procedures, which she said was a big priority.

From the outside, O’Pake can look like a polished, seamless operation. Kissinger said that perception hides how much work is involved to keep it that way.

“Things might be going on in the background that students are unaware of, but as long as we’re putting on great programs, we see the participation numbers and we see a ton of students now in our renovated facility,” Kissinger said, referring to O’Pake, which re-opened in August 2024.

A big part of the job is “trying to control the chaos,” Kissinger added with a laugh.

That chaos can come in the form of staffing shortages or broken equipment, and Kissinger has learned to stay flexible.

“We try to plan in advance, but a lot of our position is kind of rolling with the punches,” Kissinger said.

Alexis Alicea Trelles ’28, a fitness center attendant who works with Kissinger, said she does well to orchestrate the many moving parts of her role.

“She’s always on top of the chats, and she’s always making sure that the staff is comfortable with what the tasks are that we have to do and with reaching out if any problems come during the shift or after the shift or outside of work,” Alicea Trelles said.

For all the behind-the-scenes logistics. Kissinger insisted O’Pake runs on student power.

“Honestly, without our student staff, we definitely would not be running smoothly, and that’s also for the lifeguards in the pool … If we don’t have lifeguards, then the pool’s not open. If we don’t have front desk staff and fitness center attendance, then the building’s not overseen,” Kissinger said.

Maria Gutierrez ’27 said student staff like herself feel that appreciation.

“She cares about her students,” Gutierrez said. “She cares about making events at O’Pake. She’s very involved, and I like that she just wants to do it because she wants to do it. She makes us feel welcomed.”

Whether students work for Campus Recreation, work out at O’Pake or participate in a sport, Kissinger said she hopes they enjoy their experience and the lifelong friendship often made on teams.

“Getting involved in recreation is a great way to meet people, whether it be our staff that are close knit and help one another or intramural participants,” Kissinger said.