Princeton University Athletics
Thursday TigerBlog - The Great Karen Malec
March 05, 2026 | Tiger Blog
There was seismic news within the Princeton Department of Athletics this week.
You probably didn't hear about it, which is why TigerBlog is talking about it here.
It has nothing to do with the championships Princeton won last weekend, or any of the other big wins or individual honors that defined the last few days. Nope. Nothing.
Or maybe, the more TB thinks about it, maybe those things are in fact related.
The news was the announcement earlier this week from Karen Malec that she will be retiring at the end of the academic year. Karen is Princeton's Senior Associate AD for Event Operations; when she finally leaves Jadwin Gym, it'll be the end of a 36-year tenure with the athletic department.
Where can TB start to talk about his longtime colleague and great friend? How about with the basics: You won't ever meet a better person than Karen Malec.
She's funny and friendly and defaults to a smile. She multi-tasks with the best of them. If she's stressed, she doesn't show it. If you're stressed, she knows just what to say.
And when she says it? She does so in that high-pitched voice of hers, a voice that brings much-needed energy and compassion to any conversation.
She is a great family woman, with her husband Maleci, himself a longtime public safety officer at Princeton, and son Kyle.
She's a great friend, especially within her Princeton Athletics foursome with Kim Meszaros, Nancy Donigan and Sandee Moore (who retired herself a year ago). How many concerts have they gone to? How many nights out have they shared?
That's the four of them, doing what they do — having fun. Of course, they all know when it's time to have fun and when it's time to be serious. It's a defining characteristic of Karen's, actually.
And that's where the connection comes in.
The number of areas where Karen influences Princeton University — not just the athletic department — is staggering. Pretty much any event that comes up in any athletic facility has her fingerprints all over it.
Think about how many events that is. Then think about what goes into every event. Then you have a sense of what Karen has done all these years.
The sheer number of details that go into every event is overwhelming. It's not something that you even notice when you're at one of them, which is exactly how it should be.
It's also something that Princeton's coaches and athletes don't have to worry about either. They get to focus on training and competing, instead of worrying that something may or may not have been done away from the game itself.
TB would like to think that at least a small part of Princeton's athletic success is related to that — and that's a credit to the work that Karen Malec has done.
Karen grew up in Mercer County. She graduated from Curry College in Massachusetts. Her first job at Princeton was as the Dillon Gym manager.
This is from her bio:
In her current position of Associate Athletic Director of Event Operations, Karen coordinates the operations of the home athletic contests for our 38 sports teams. This includes event security, parking, dining services, custodial needs, officials, clock operators and all event personnel. Over the years Karen has played an integral role in hosting the numerous championship events held at Princeton since 1998 including NCAA, Ivy League, ECAC, WNIT, NIT, ITA, EIWA, and ECAC HOCKEY Championships held on campus. In addition, Karen has contributed to the success of the many university events during her time such as: 2005 US Secretary of the US, Condoleezza Rice speech, The Governor's Ball in 2006, 2014 National Special Olympics, the 2014 visit by The Dalai Lama, 2012 & 2018 She Roars Conference, facilitating COVID vaccination spaces & events, as well as the annual Alumni Day and Prom events.
That's quite a record.
She's earned the right to step away. TigerBlog will miss her, for sure. So will Kim, Sandee and Nancy. TigerBlog asked them all for their thoughts. Here is what they came up with:
"I think there will be a time referred to 'before Karen' and 'after Karen' here as she has left an indelible mark on Princeton and the Department of Athletics. She is one of the hardest working people I've ever known who can smile and keep positive through it all. I'll miss seeing her every day but know that our friendship and many adventures await." — Kim Meszaros
"Karen is the hardest worker I know. She has poured her heart and soul into her position here. Her years of dedication to the Athletic department will surely be missed by all. I will cherish our friendship forever. I am wishing her endless joy, happiness, relaxation, long fun-filled weekend adventures and good health in her new journey." — Nancy Donigan
Lastly, Sandee decided to speak directly to her friend:
Karen,
I realized early on that you were a force to be reckoned with in athletics! If I ever needed answers or to get things done, you were my first call! Our friendship is one of the greatest gifts I received from my time at Princeton and I am so grateful for all the wonderful memories we've shared and for all that is yet to come! You leave incredibly large shoes to fill, but an even larger legacy of all Princeton athletics stands for. I wish you so much love, health and happiness in this next chapter, you deserve it!!! Congratulations!!
What else needs to be said, other than Karen's legacy at Princeton, as someone who cared about every event on campus and embodied the very best of what the department hopes for from those who represent it, is secure forever.
