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Author: Jen Fried, National Convention Correspondent

The day began with COFFEE.

“It has to start with the presidents.” I have heard this statement regarding commitments to diversity and inclusion in more presentations than I can count. If all presidents shared Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon’s commitment to diversity so many doors would open. “Diversity is a priority of mine, not only because it is the right thing to do but it also makes the institution so much stronger. He described his cabinet, half of which was filled by women and explained “women know how to empower and help a team to be effective and discover their multiple talents.”

In the General Session: No Football? No Problem! Lynn Hickey of USTA and Sheryl Levick of Georgia State talked candidly about adding football to their campuses. Sheryl immediately challenged the attendees stating, “everyone in the room should consider leadership opportunities that include intercollegiate football in their careers. Women should have total professional career options, just like the men do. Sheryl shared that she hired a female director of football operations as well as a female SID and athletic trainers, emphasizing new professional opportunities for women administrators on her campus due to the addition of football. Lynn spoke of “adding a program that must build a culture that is appropriate and positive, building a program the right way that most importantly will center on all student-athletes so that they have the best experience possible” Lynn exhorted the audience to “please get involved in football, in building buildings, in raising money. You can do it and you need that experience on your resume.”

In the next session Stephanie Rempe of the University of Washington, Tom Waggoner and Jane Meyer of the University of Iowa presented “Facilities: Get in the Conversation and Take a Seat at the Table.” They took the audience through the entire process of building facilities including financing, engineering and design, and budgeting. In order to get a seat at the facilities building table, Stephanie Rempe encouraged the audience to “make sure you are seen throughout your department. You must know the ones who are making the decisions. Represent yourself well, follow through, do excellent work and keep up your network. If you do all of these things then we would want to help you because you are doing such a great job.”

There is no way I could do justice to the Nike Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon other than to say that I am so gratefully indebted to my foremothers in athletics and I know that I stand upon their shoulders. The 2011 NACWAA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:

Nan Nichols: “I’ve had a very fulfilling life with all the people I taught and coached and played with and smiled with, and sometimes even cried with.”

Louise O’Neal: “I’ve been proud to be part of the very early stages of developing opportunities for women in sports. I’m bowled over by what is happening today. I hope today’s leaders will be able to look back in thirty years and feel they did things to better opportunities for women in sports. The duty of all of us is to leave the level of excellence in women’s athletics at a higher level than we received it. Although things are very exciting now, we have a great deal more to strive for.”

Judy Sweet: “The quote ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has’ by Margaret Mead so appropriately recognizes what NACWAA is all about. We have changed our part of the world and have the CCWA to thank for having the vision to recognize that an organization of women’s administrators needed to exist. NACWAA is women helping women. NACWAA is collaboration, advocacy for equity and inclusion, Title IX protection, enacting legislative strategies, and determining how we could truly represent the voice of female student athletes and helping to ensure they have the opportunities they deserve. NACWAA also represents the willingness to ask for help, support growth, celebrate successes and an opportunity to enjoy the ride. This award represents to me the true value of teamwork, learning from one another, and maximizing opportunities for all to participate in and contribute to a truly great profession.”

Chris Voelz: “While there were difficult times, it was not difficult while one was surrounded by generations of young people whose future you helped to shape and while one was surrounded by great professional colleagues. I have some wonderful leaders who handed me their baton and said ‘go for it.’ Now I take that baton and hand it to you, the only difference is that the baton I’m handing you is a pencil that has everything you need to ‘go for it.’ This pencil will help you erase the inevitable mistakes, this pencil requires sharpening once in a while just like you, it will remind you to get the lead out if you ever get to sedentary, will show you how firmly to hold and how firmly to be held, will remind you it has a point and you need a point of view. It will remind you that what matters most is always inside. It’s your time, go for it!”

Title IX: The Emerging Sports Debate was presented by Janet Judge, Karen Morrison and Barbara Osborne. Janet examined emerging sports within the context of Title IX compliance. Specifically she reviewed how the three prongs of Title IX (substantial proportionality, history and continuing practice of program expansion, and full and effective accommodation of interests and ability applied to emerging sports. Janet highlighted that adding emerging sports to athletic departments presented opportunities to comply with Title IX but also discussed the numerous questions that athletic departments face in their efforts in this proves. Janet presented the “reason to do it” by stating that when Fresno State added women’s lacrosse, a regional girls lacrosse was developed and an entire community of high school girls now had the opportunity to play the game.

Photo: (l-r) Lynn Hickey, UTSA Athletic Director; Susan Bassett, Carnegie Mellon Athletic Director; Cheryl Levick, Georgia State University Athletic Director; following the No Football? No Problem! session.

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