West Babylon, N.Y. - Ruth Rodriguez has been hired as a Communications and Operations Assistant, the East Coast Conference announced on Wednesday afternoon. Rodriguez joins the ECC after graduating from New York Institute of Technology in May.

Rodriguez will assist in the league's day-to-day communications efforts for all of the ECC's 19 championship sports. She will play a role in coordinating the conference's championship tournaments and special events, as well.

During her time at New York Tech, Rodriguez earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design and was a four-year member of the Bears' softball team. 

Rodriguez also has professional experience as a graphic designer. She worked with New York Tech's student affairs office designing the department's annual report and other flyers, and with the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league affiliate of the New York Mets, creating graphics for the stadium video board.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Ruth to the East Coast Conference office as our first official Communications and Operations intern," said Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. "As a former ECC student-athlete, we know she has a strong connection to the conference and NCAA DII and are confident she will make a great contribution."