DR. GERI POLVINO:  Beyond Winning

When you sit down with Dr. Geri Polvino, one theme emerges again and again: growth is forged through challenges, not despite them. It’s a conviction that carried her from the classroom to the volleyball courts of EKU to a successful second career in finance, and it’s what continues to fuel her extraordinary generosity to EKU students today. 

A Rochester, New York native, Dr. Polvino first came to Eastern after being recruited by Ann Uhlir. What was intended as a graduate assistantship soon became a lifelong calling. She built EKU’s Volleyball program from the ground up, teaching physical education while pursuing her doctorate at the University of Iowa—completed at just 30 years old. She became EKU’s first female conference volleyball coach and a pioneer in her field, combining a deep understanding of human performance with practical application. In 1980, she was commissioned as the first female International Volleyball Federation coach instructor, bringing coaches from around the globe to EKU for one of the organization’s most successful training courses. 

But for Dr. Polvino, the purpose was never just about winning games. “One day, I sat down and decided there had to be more than just winning,” she recalled. “It was about going beyond winning—establishing confidence that women can do anything. I always wanted to position young women for success.” 

Her philosophy was shaped in part by her own childhood. As a young fast-pitch softball player, Dr. Polvino once missed a fly ball that cost her team a championship. Devastated, she turned to her father for comfort. Instead, he told her: “If you can’t lose any better than that, you better stop playing sports.” That hard truth stayed with her. Failure, she says, has always driven her more than success. 

When she eventually stepped away from coaching, Dr. Polvino didn’t slow down. At age 60, she reinvented herself as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, fueled by a lifelong fascination with the stock market. “Investing was always my hobby,” she explained. “But at 60, I was studying 15 hours a day to pass the Series 7. I failed the first exam by two points, passed the second by two. Every action I’ve taken is in response to a disappointment that I’ve tried to correct.” She went on to serve clients for two decades, training the next generation of women advisors before retiring. 

Her love of challenge has always gone hand in hand with her love of giving back. Together with her parents, she established one of EKU’s earliest scholarships for volleyball athletes—born out of her frustration at the lack of opportunities for women at the time. That gift has since grown, compounding over decades into transformational support for students. Most recently, she provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the entire EKU Volleyball team: a summer study abroad in Europe. “Travel has been such an important part of my own life,” she said. “I wanted the team and their coaches to see the world, to step into something new. That kind of experience builds confidence you can’t get anywhere else.” 

Dr. Polvino attributes her success to numerous colleagues and friends, including her best friend of 45 years, Shirley Niezgodski; both of her parents; and Ann Uhlir. Her father’s grit, her mother’s generosity and Uhlir’s relentless drive all shaped the leader she became. Now, through her philanthropy, she hopes to pass those lessons on. “Money will never make you happy,” she said. “But it gives you freedom and choice—and with that freedom, you can do things that bring you joy.” 

For Dr. Polvino, joy has always come from investing in people. Whether building EKU’s Volleyball program, guiding families as a financial advisor or opening doors for students today, her story is proof that true success lies not in the wins themselves, but in what you do beyond winning. 

To join Dr. Polvino in supporting the EKU Volleyball team, visit go.eku.edu/give-Volleyball.