Christopher Bledsoe has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics. In addition to providing leadership for all sports and recreational programs for the University, Bledsoe will now provide strategic administrative support to NYU Student Life efforts throughout the University's Global Network (GNU).

Bledsoe became New York University's Director of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation in September 1996. Prior to joining NYU, he served as the Director of Athletics and Intramurals at Pace University from 1988-96. At NYU he directs an athletic department which: fields 21 varsity sports teams and 26 intercollegiate club teams comprising over 1,250 student-athletes; a recreation course program enrolling over 10,000 persons each year and; an intramural program with over 8,500 participants annually. Leading a staff of over 650 people, Bledsoe's department also manages and operates the Jerome S. Coles Sports and Recreation Center and the Palladium Athletic Facility, which are utilized by over one million patrons each year.

In the Division of Student Affairs, Bledsoe's responsibilities include GNU staffing patterns, programming, operations, and facilities at the NYU portal campuses in New York City, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, and the 14 NYU study away sites around the globe. In addition, Bledsoe is focused on Emergency Preparedness planning and response on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs.

During Bledsoe's tenure as Director, the 1997 women's basketball team and the 2007 men's cross country team have won national titles, while the NYU varsity sports program finished a best-ever 14^th in the NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) Cup standings.
Under Bledsoe's leadership, NYU was honored as the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Jostens Institution of the Year, and with a NASPA – Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education, Gold Excellence Award in 2008.
 
Bledsoe has played a lead role in the design and implementation of interim and permanent facilities and programs for the extensive sports, recreation, leisure, and student life offerings of NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), a joint initiative of NYU and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Drawing on both the traditions of the finest liberal arts and sciences colleges and the exceptional resources of a major research university, NYUAD provides students with unmatched attention from professors who are leaders of their field, and with a unique and high-talent peer group. NYUAD enrolled its first class in the fall of 2010 and will move to its new campus on Saadiyat Island in 2014.  

Bledsoe has also served as a director of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA), the founding body of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), and as MIBA President in 2005. He has served on the NCAA Division III Management Council, the Academic Issues subcommittee, the NCAA joint subcommittee on the future of Division III athletics, the Strategic Planning subcommittee, and as a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council transition team. Bledsoe was also chairman of the NCAA Division III Membership Committee and acting chair of the NCAA Division III Infractions Committee.

Bledsoe earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University in 1980 and a MBA from Pace University in 1992.

In his early days, Bledsoe worked for the National Football League Properties, the New York Football Giants, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Metropolitan Golf Association.

After joining the Pace athletics staff in 1980 as the Assistant to the Director, Bledsoe subsequently served as Assistant Athletic Director and Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director before being elevated to Director. During his years at Pace, Bledsoe served as chair of the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference, and as President of the Mideast Collegiate Conference, the Liberty Football Conference and the Big Apple Basketball Conference. In addition, he served as the ECAC Vice President and a member of its Executive Council and Finance Committee.

Born in Dubuque, IA, and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Bledsoe resides in LaGrangeville, NY, with his wife, Marlene Stager. They are the proud parents Jordan, Dylan and Ethan.