New York, New York – Borough of Manhattan Community College Director of Athletics & Recreation Borough of Manhattan Community College Director of Athletics & Recreation Matt Ruiz has announced the hiring of Fawzia Kheir as the next head coach of the Panther's men's and women's cross country program. Kheir will take over the BMCC men's and women's cross country program in 2023 after serving as an assistant coach at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey, in 2021 during their inaugural season in the America East Conference.
 
"As we searched to fill this position, Fawzia immediately stood out.  Her outstanding running credentials are only surpassed by her passion for the sport.  I am extremely excited to see where she can lead our Cross Country program!," said Ruiz.
 
Kheir brings an outstanding resume to a young BMCC men's and women's cross-country program as an assistant at NJIT and after a monumental athletic career at the NCAA and NJCAA levels for the Winston-Salem State University Rams and Essex County College Wolverines women's cross-country and track and field programs.
 
"I am extremely excited to accept the opportunity to lead the BMCC men's and women's cross-country program," said Kheir. "I am grateful to Borough of Manhattan Community College and Director of Athletics & Recreation Matt Ruiz for allowing me to build a competitive program in the CUNYAC conference with an exceptional family in the Panthers Athletic Department. I wake up every day with two choices sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them, and I look forward to driving that message to my future runners this fall."
 
As an assistant at NJIT in 2021 under head coach Al Alonso, Kheir assisted the staff in all aspects of the program, including an emphasis on middle-distance running. She teamed up with him to tutor Brian McGlew, an America-East All-Academic Honoree, who was NJIT's top finisher in the program's first-ever run during the 2021 America East Cross Country Championships.
 
Kheir was no stranger to high-level competition before jumping into the coaching ranks, having a tremendous career during her time at NCAA Division II Winston-Salem State in 2016, garnering numerous CIAA Individual Championships in the 3000, 1500, and 800 meters to go along with a CIAA Cross Country and Indoor Track Team championship. Kheir also captured NCAA Division II All-American Honors in the 800 meters and still holds the Ram's all-time program record in the event with a time of 2:10.10.
 
As a runner for the Essex County College Wolverine cross country and track and field program, Kheir was a six-time NJCAA Division I Track and Field All-American and two-time NJCAA Region XIX Cross Country Champion.
 
Kheir also made her mark as a competitor on the international level as a member of the Egypt National Track and Field Team in 2018, holding Egypt's record in the 4x400 relay.
 
Kheir also was one of the top runners in Hudson County during her high school career at County Prep High School and Dickinson High School, holding the Hurricanes program record in cross country and 200, 400, 800, and 1600 meters in 2009 and the Rams program record in the 400, 800, and 1600 meters in 2011 with three First Team All-County selections across all three seasons (XC, Indoor, and Outdoor) from 2008-2012.
 
She received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Winston-Salem State Unversity in 2017 and an Associate's degree in General Science from Essex County College in 2014.  
 
Kheir currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of nine varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).

Courtesy of BMCC Sports Information