Anastasia Rodionova was presented with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with minors in entrepreneurship and sports management at Indiana University East’s 48th Commencement Ceremony held May 10 in Richmond, Indiana.

Anastasia Rodionova

Rodionova is one of 17 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players enrolled at IU East through an educational agreement between the campus and the Women’s Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA).

She is one of eight WTA players to graduate under the agreement to date. IU East alumnae include former World No. 1 Venus Williams, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, Alla Kudryavtseva, Irina Falconi, Katalin Marosi, Sandra Zaniewska and Ivana Lisjak.

“I am so glad that I was finally able to visit campus and to be here for graduation,” Rodionova said.

Rodionova was presented with her diploma by IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe and IU President Michael A. McRobbie. Rodionova enrolled at IU East in the summer of 2013 and has attended part-time.

In April, Rodionova received the Outstanding Student in Business Administration. Outstanding Student Awards are given to individuals in their degree programs who displayed outstanding academic achievement at IU East.

Anastasia Rodionova and Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe meet before the Commencement Ceremony in Civic Hall.

Rodionova continued to play on the WTA Tour while pursuing her degree online. The ability to study and take courses while she traveled internationally was a benefit to her.

“I have been very busy playing tennis,” Rodionova said. “Without the online program, I wouldn’t have been able to get my degree and to continue playing tennis full time. I encourage other WTA players to do the same.”

IU East and the WTBA have an agreement that establishes IU East as the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for WTA players.

Current WTBA Chairperson and WTA Player Board Representative Lisa Grattan comments: “We applaud Anastasia for earning her business administration degree and achieving an Outstanding Student Award from Indiana University East. We are also pleased to mention that Anastasia is the first WTA player to participate in the university’s commencement ceremony in Richmond, Indiana. The WTBA is proud of all WTA players who take advantage of our partnership with IU East and we also recognize that Anastasia has been a vocal supporter of this program to her peers.”

Anastasia Rodionova joins the processional for IU East School of Business and Economics graduates to receive her diploma.

The agreement provides the opportunity for players to professionally train and play tennis while completing their bachelor’s degree online. IU East’s online degree completion programs offer the high quality of an Indiana University degree to students throughout Indiana, nationally and internationally. IU East offers 14 options for students to complete their bachelor’s degree or certificate online.

Rodionova visited the IU East campus and participated in commencement activities including the annual Senior Shindig celebration for graduates. She also met with members of the faculty, staff and IU East community during a special graduation luncheon for students who traveled to take part in the evening’s commencement.

During the Commencement Ceremony, IU East Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe and School of Business and Economics Interim Dean Nick Delener presented Rodionova with her degree.

She joins the IU East alumni family of more than 10,000.

Cruz-Uribe first met Rodionova in August 2015 while she was playing at the Western & Southern Open tournament held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Anastasia Rodionova received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with minors in entrepreneurship and sports management from IU East.

“It was a pleasure meeting Anastasia again but this time to welcome her Richmond and to the IU East alumni family,” Cruz-Uribe said. “Anastasia is an outstanding student. I commend her dedication to focus on her academics while traveling, training and competing.”

Rodionova is an Australian citizen who currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida. She was born in Tambov, Russia. Rodionova has been a professional tennis player since 1997. Winner of 11 WTA doubles titles, she was a member of the 2012 and 2016 Australian Olympic teams. She played for the Australian Fed Cup team and appeared at the 2014 WTA Finals doubles competition in Singapore.

She said now that her degree is complete, she plans to use her knowledge and experience to open a tennis training facility.

Her sister, Arina Rodionova, is also a professional tennis player. She is working toward her degree in business administration through IU East’s online degree completion programs.

About the WTA
Founded on the principle of equal opportunity for women in sports by Billie Jean King in 1973, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 1,800 players representing 85 nations competing for a record $164 million in prize money. In 2018, the WTA was watched by a record-breaking global audience of 600 million. The 2019 competitive season includes 55 events and four Grand Slams in 29 countries, culminating with the WTA Finals Shenzhen, offering an unprecedented $14 million total prize purse and honoring the season’s top singles and doubles players.

About the WTBA
The Women’s Tennis Benefits Association (WTBA) is a non-profit organization, established to promote and protect the common interests of all women tennis professionals (the “Members”) and to unite them in a single representative organization. The Organization’s primary activities are to administer and manage the pension plan and other assets owned by or on behalf of the Members; to oversee the Member Health Insurance and Disability; and to offer “Transitions” Educational Programming. Further information on the WTA can be found at wtatennis.com, facebook.com/WTA  and twitter.com/WTA.

About IU East and IU East Online Programs
Indiana University East has an enrollment of nearly 4,500 students. IU East is both a traditional campus that excels in innovative learning options and a virtual campus with select online degree completion programs. The university’s customized bachelor’s and master’s programs – a portfolio of over 50 degree program options – anticipate the growing needs of citizens in the region, state and nation.

IU East’s online degree programs offer the high quality of an Indiana University degree to students throughout Indiana, nationally and internationally. IU East offers 11 options for students to complete their bachelor’s degree online in English with an emphasis in Technical and Professional Writing, Mathematics, Natural Science and Mathematics with a Mathematics Concentration, Communication Studies, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology, General Studies, and an RN to BSN Mobility Option. IU East also offers a Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Mathematics. For more information, visit iue.edu/online.