Columbia University Athletics, Columbia Alumni Association, and ColumbiaDC would like to invite you to:

A conversation with Peter Pilling, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education

With Special guest, Katie Meili '13CC (Olympic Gold Medalist)

Join fellow DC-area alumni at The CASE Foundation for a reception and engaging conversation on the state of collegiate athletics with Columbia Athletics Director Peter Pilling. Topics will include investments in athletics, the impact of technology and data analytics, discussions on leadership, wellness, and careers in sports. Pilling will answer questions from attendees following the talk.

Opening Reception: 6-6:30 p.m. The reception will include appetizers, beer and wine.
Interview and Q&A: 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Closing Reception: 7:45-8:30 p.m

You can get your tickets HERE.

Peter E. Pilling was appointed director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education in February 2015. Prior to joining Columbia Athletics, Pilling served as senior associate athletic director at several of the most respected college sports programs in the country, including Villanova and Brigham Young universities. As a vice president at IMG College, the nation’s largest collegiate sports management company, Pilling has extensive experience serving athletics departments of Division I schools including Texas Christian University, Baylor University and the U.S. Air Force Academy..

During Pilling’s first three years at Columbia, the Lions have claimed five team national championships (2017 Archery Compound; 2016 fencing, 2016 lightweight rowing, 2018 Men’s Lightweight Rowing, 2018 Archery Compound), four individual national championships (Jake Hoyle, 2016 men’s fencing/foil; Omar Khalifa, 2017 men’s squash; Bianca Gotuaco, 2017 archery; Iman Blow, 2018 women’s fencing/foil), 12 Ivy League team championships, 41 individual conference or Ivy League titles, along with the 2016 CollegeInsider.com postseason basketball tournament championship.

Under Pillings’ guidance, the 2017-18 academic year ranked among the most successful in the 150-year history of Columbia Athletics. Columbia captured two national team titles (2018 men’s lightweight rowing, 2018 archery compound) and one individual national title (Iman Blow, women’s fencing), won a school-best seven Ivy League titles and secured its highest-ever finish in the national Learfield Directors Cup standings. In addition, 23 student-athletes earned All-America honors, eight student-athletes were named the Ivy League Player or Performer of the Year in their respective sports, six coaches garnered Ivy League Coach of the Year honors, three teams earned No. 1 national rankings, 10 programs earned top-25 national rankings, eight teams advanced to NCAA Championship events and eight teams finished either in first or second place in the Ivy League standings or championship event.

Katie Meili

Balancing Georgetown Law School and training seemed to be no issue for former Columbia women's swimming standout and Olympic gold medalist Katie Meili '13CC, who placed second in 100 breaststroke at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships on July 28. That finish earned her a spot at the Pan Pacific Championships in Japan this week.

Meili, who also served as a volunteer assistant for the Hoyas in 2017-18, finished behind world record holder Lilly King to securing a berth at the event, being held from August 9-14. By earning a spot, Meili can compete in any event she chooses, regardless of which event she qualified in.

"It's been one of the best summers I've had swimming," Meili told SwimSwam.com after Nationals. "I didn't know if I was going to swim this year. With school, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to balance it all. Just the fact that I was able to continue swimming I'm so grateful. I'm definitely pleased. Definitely a lot of hard work."

Since winning gold with the 4x100 medley and a bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke in Rio, Meili won more gold at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary with the 4x100 medley quartet after swimming the second leg in the preliminary heats to qualify the United States for the finals, where they eventually went back to the top of the podium. Meili also took silver in the 100-meter breaststroke and bronze in the 50-meter breaststroke.