Tag Archive for: Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month: Celebrating Shauna Cobb

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sport industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you!

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Shauna Cobb.  Shauna is the Senior Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator at Boston College, where she has served since 2021.  Prior to joining the Eagles staff, Shauna was the Director of Academics and Membership Affairs at the NCAA, where she worked for 12 years.  Her responsibilities at the NCAA included co-oversight of the team that processes interpretations and waivers of Division I academic legislation. She also had oversight of the Division I Academic Performance Program, which involved management of academic data operations, penalty waivers, APR improvement plans, public releases, and policy interpretations. A 2001 graduate of Clemson University, Cobb shared her talents on two other ACC campuses, serving as a compliance administrator at both Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, before joining the NCAA in 2009. 

Below is a summary of our conversation:

Please give me a brief history of your life/career

Shauna began her athletics career at Georgia Tech.  At the time her duties involved oversight of the National Letter of Intent program, which she now views as a rich formative experience, largely because it allowed her to interact and form valuable relationships with the ACC conference office personnel.  As an Associate AD at Virginia Tech, she was able to continue to expand her skill set, acquiring knowledge and experiences that would ultimately lead her to the NCAA national office. Never content with the status quo, Shauna’s quest to master her craft resulted in her completion of the NCAA’s Whitcomb Leadership Institute in 2008, as well as the NCAA/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement in 2012. In 2016, Cobb participated in the NCAA Pathway Program, a year-long experiential learning opportunity for senior-level athletics administrators.  The most recent stop along her journey brought her to Chestnut Hill in her current position at Boston College. Cobb credits her willingness to be “coachable” as being a significant contributor to her career advancement. 

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?

Shauna’s driving force is her desire to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes.  At every step of her decorated career, she has sought to support, encourage and inspire young people.  At the NCAA, she relished the opportunity to impact tens of thousands of students through her work with Academic and Membership Affairs, but ultimately, the ability to establish more personal relationships with student-athletes is what led her back to campus in her current role last fall.

What’s the biggest thing you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career?

Cobb said that as she was starting her professional journey, she wishes she had fully appreciated how important relationships were.  She also stated that she would encourage younger professionals to treat every interaction as a potential job interview.  In saying this, she noted a conversation with Curtis Solomon during her tenure at Georgia Tech.  What seemed like a mundane conversation at the time still resonated with Solomon years later when Cobb was recruited to join the NCAA staff.

When asked about her role models growing up? In sports, in business?

Shauna identified several role models whom she cited as having been instrumental in her career trajectory.  She credited Amy Huchthausen, a supervisor at the NCAA, for her willingness to share valuable information and pour into her growth as a young professional. She also noted Curtis Solomon as being another mentor during her time at the national office.  She credits Solomon with helping her shape her professional identity and values. Shauna also expressed gratitude for the compassionate guidance of Diane Dickman.  Dickman was the individual who hired Shauna to her first position at the NCAA.  Cobb remembers Dickman telling her, “I’m not going to let you fail”, and spoke of how meaningful it was to have that level of trust and support as a young staff member at the NCAA.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?

Shauna shared that a former Vice President at the NCAA once reminded her that “this building won’t love you back.” What she gleaned from this nugget of advice was that she needed to understand who she was and what was important to her so that the job didn’t define her. 

Another piece of advice that she reflects on to this day is to never give so much that you have nothing left to give.  

Finish the sentence, The best part of my job is    student-athletes.  The kids keep you young!             .

Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Shauna is her commitment to paying it forward.  Just as she credits her mentors at the NCAA for showing her the way, she firmly believes that it is her obligation to do the same for others.  Shauna stated, “The information doesn’t belong to me, so why wouldn’t I share it with others? We can’t be afraid to let other people shine. Blowing out your candle doesn’t make mine shine any brighter.” 

Shauna’s candle is most certainly shining brightly!  She is truly a credit to the profession and an inspiration to aspiring women in athletics, and beyond.  We are grateful that she took the time to share some of her story with us. Please join Spry in celebrating her wonderful contributions to the sports industry!

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Kirsten is the Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Syracuse University.

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Kirsten Elleby

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sport industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you!

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Kirsten Elleby.  Kirsten is the Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Syracuse University, a position she recently assumed following six years as the Associate AD for Student-Athlete Enrichment and SWA at the University of New Orleans. Prior to UNO, Elleby also spent time at Coppin State and Wake Forest.  With the Orange, Kirsten serves as the department’s liaison to the University’s Title IX office and also has direct oversight of the women’s basketball, volleyball and softball programs.  Eager to hone her craft at every opportunity, Kirsten completed the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement program in 2009 and is also a 2021 graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute.

 

Below is a summary of our conversation:

Please give me a brief history of your life/career

 

I was an army brat, so I called a lot of different places home as a kid.  I was born in New Jersey, but spent most of my childhood and adolescent years between army bases in Ft. Bragg, NC and Heidelberg, Germany.  I actually graduated from Heidelberg American High School. When people find out I spent time in Germany, the next question that usually follows is, “Can you speak German?” The answer to that is an emphatic, “No”.  I can say “Danke schön”, which means “Thank you very much” in English, but that’s about it. After high school, my family moved to their last duty station in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD and eventually settled in Baltimore, which is where they currently live. I’m a huge Ravens fan, so I guess I’d consider Maryland home. While I wasn’t a student-athlete in college, one thing most people probably wouldn’t know about me is that I was a competitive figure skater for about 10 years.  I was inspired by Debi Thomas in the 1988 Winter Olympics. It was amazing to see a woman who looked like me excelling in that sport and it became a big part of my life for a long time.  Even though I haven’t skated competitively for years, the sport is still very near and dear to my heart.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?

I actually fell into the career following some tutoring of student-athletes during graduate school. My sports management professor told me that working with and supporting college student-athletes was actually a thing.  That led to my first full-time opportunity at Coppin State, where I had the privilege to work with the legendary Fang Mitchell…and 17 years later, here I am!

What’s the biggest thing you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career?

Learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. College athletics is very rewarding, but can also be very demanding.  The environment is not always comfortable and you have to develop a thick skin and keep pushing forward.  I think my skating career probably helped a little bit with that as well.

When asked about her role models growing up? In sports, in business?

Personally, my mother, Gail Elleby, will always remain my biggest role model. She had the biggest heart and was an elementary school teacher for over 20 years, and I always admired how invested and committed she was to ensuring that her students were cared about and prepared to be successful. I try to devote that same energy to the student-athletes I work with each day.

Professionally, Todd Hairston has been a genuine advocate and amazing mentor for me in the athletic administration field.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?

You cannot be everything to everyone, so learn that it is okay to not always say yes. I’m not sure I always apply that advice in life as much as I should, but it’s great advice nevertheless.

Finish the sentence, The best part of my job is    student-athletes.  The kids keep you young!    

Kirsten might have grown up with dreams of winning gold, but throughout her career, everything she has touched has turned to gold.  From Coppin State, to Wake Forest, to New Orleans to Syracuse, she has left an indelible mark on the lives of student-athletes each step along the way.  Please join Spry in celebrating her as one of the tremendous leaders and role models in our field!

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Julie Sommer, The Drake Group.

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Julie Sommer

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sport industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Julie Sommer, an attorney in Seattle, Washington. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Drake Group, a national think tank dedicated to academic integrity and advocacy on behalf of college athletes. 

Below, please read a summary of our conversation, with answers written and provided by Julie.

Please give me a brief history of your life/career

I grew up in Martins Ferry, Ohio, a small town on the Ohio River in eastern Ohio not far from Pittsburgh. I started swimming competitively at the age of seven following my two older sisters who also swam. 

Sports have always been a big part of our family. My dad played football and wrestled at Bowling Green State University. My mom, who also attended Bowling Green, was also very athletic. However, she was steered toward being head majorette in the band as there weren’t many opportunities for women and she could twirl a mean baton. One sister swam at Bowling Green and the other at Wittenberg University. My uncle played football under coach Woody Hayes and was a part of an Ohio State national championship team. My cousin played football for West Virginia University and my grandmother was captain of her high school basketball team in Martins Ferry—back when girls only played half court and no college opportunities existed for female athletes. My grandfather played football for Martins Ferry High School and later crossed the river to play for the semi-pro Wheeling (WV) Stogies (named after the cigars made there).

All my life I’ve loved swimming. I enthusiastically worked my way up through age group swimming ranks. The 1984 LA Olympic Games proved to be a turning point for me: I witnessed for the first time how far women could go in the sport—all the way to the Olympic stage. One swimmer in particular, Mary T. Meagher (“Madame Butterfly”), the greatest butterflier in the world, captivated me. Butterfly was my favorite stroke and she inspired my imagination and motivated me to push and find ways to get better. 

I became nationally ranked in high school, made it to the big meets like US nationals, and several colleges recruited me for visits my junior year, including the University of Texas. I immediately fell in love with UT and the people there. It’s really always about the people. While UT, its campus and facilities, were (and still are) first class, it really is all about the feeling you walk away with—and, for me, it’s the people who gave me that. The program, coaches, and swimmers impressed me greatly. They were focused, positive, supportive, and welcoming. I could see they genuinely loved going through the college and swimming experience together. I canceled my last recruiting trip as I didn’t want to waste that coach’s time and money. I knew I’d be going to UT.

Texas was, and is, a dynasty in swimming; all the women that came before me served as role models. It’s a truly remarkable group of women who make up both the past and current teams at Texas. They become like family. As a team, we experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows together while going through incredibly rigorous daily workouts and competitions. We were bound to develop lifelong, deep bonds, and mutual respect. And, we have. 

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?

After college and while applying to law school, I became aware that the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York offered internships where my former Athletic Director at Texas, Dr. Donna Lopiano, served as CEO. At the time, I wanted to pursue a career in higher ed athletic administration. Given all the intersections of sports with law—compliance, equity, contracts, licensing, etc.—law school would provide additional skills to reach that goal. Dr. Lopiano selected me as her Advocacy Intern at the Foundation. It was an amazing time. My work included handling all the in-coming advocacy calls, creating and writing a gender equity newsletter, and producing the first ever Gender Equity Report Card for all the colleges and universities across the country which was quite the undertaking. Dr. Lopiano and I also met with a number of Fortune 100 companies to create a major international women’s sporting event, working closely with company executives addressing sponsorship, licensing and other contractual issues. Dr. Lopiano’s mentorship and including me in these high-level experiences instilled in me a passion for working in intercollegiate and professional athletics.

I returned to Ohio to attend law school. I also worked part-time in The Ohio State University Athletic Compliance Office where I became intimately familiar with the NCAA rule book. At times, the rule book seemed bigger and more complex than the U.S. Tax Code. While rules and regulations are necessary—then and now—the NCAA rule book is overly complex and some rules have been implemented in ways that aren’t effective, have had unintended consequences, and may be not beneficial or fair to college athletes. 

I also worked at International Management Group (IMG) headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio in their legal department. I had the opportunity to meet and work for some very smart, remarkable people in professional sports including IMG founder Mark McCormack, Cher Tate in legal, and Stephanie Tolleson in the global tennis division. 

Who were your role models growing up?  

In sports? 

When I was really young, my sports role model was iconic Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann. But despite wearing his 88 jersey and playing many pick-up games with the neighborhood boys, I sadly realized at some point there was a fundamental reason I wasn’t going to have a football career beyond the backyard. For the record, I was always picked early in those mad, scrappy pick-up games.

In business? 

Women’s sports are unique because they’re more than sport; they’ve been, and continue to be, a movement. Girls and women today have the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams because of those who paved the way for them—athletes, coaches, and administrators. Recognizing and honoring the women who led the way and inspired so many young women, including young me, by literally creating the pathways for women to find success in their sport and in life cannot be underestimated.

For me, Dr. Lopiano served as an influential role model. In 1975, she became the first Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women at the University of Texas. I was fortunate to arrive in Austin near the end of her tenure. I witnessed her work, her presence, and all she built at Texas. She was, and is, truly a force of nature. I and so many others have Dr. Lopiano in particular, along with a small group of women who also served on the national scene, to thank for the opportunities we were afforded. These pioneers in women’s athletics took risks, worked extremely hard, pushed the heavily male-dominated system, and led the way for girls and women at such a critical juncture—before Title IX was passed and in the subsequent decades. 

During her tenure, Dr. Lopiano grew the Women’s Sports Foundation tenfold, giving away many millions of dollars to girls and women through training grants to enable them to pursue their athletic and educational dreams. We provided hours upon hours of advocacy work at both state and federal levels helping young female athletes and their families. The Foundation hosted large annual events like the annual dinner in NYC, recognizing great female athletes, as well as supporting National Girls and Women in Sports Day in Washington, DC.  

Having been one of her athletes at Texas and seeing her incredible efforts at the Women’s Sports Foundation first hand, I believe her legacy and work empowers young women, like me, to do what they want to do and be who they want to be. It’s equally important to recognize her work on the national scene while she served as AD, pioneering the advancement of women’s athletics. The NCAA overtook the AIAW in 1982 in what was basically a hostile takeover. The AIAW, at first ignored by men’s sports, had become too good! 

She imbues her work with a vision fed by her remarkable drive, positivity, and intelligence. She sees around corners most experienced lawyers don’t. Her ability to develop and maintain strong alliances remains a hallmark of her professionalism. Of all her great leadership qualities, I most admire her vision and ability to build alliances. She’s not satisfied with anything but full equity for women at the collegiate level because she knows how important and how sacred these opportunities are for women. With the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Women’s History Month, and other commemorations, many focus on celebrating how far women have come in sports. We have come a long way in 50 years—and it’s important to take honest stock of where we are and recognize there’s still far to go. 

We should ask: What do we want to celebrate? Given that we’re still far from achieving equity, what do we need to do to create a level playing field? It is no hyperbole to say the future growth of sport is in women’s sports, as all the signs and current evidence point to this fact. The latest numbers of collegiate Name, Image, Likeness (“NIL”) revenue show the second highest sport behind football is women’s basketball, ahead of men’s basketball. Now is the time to recognize the proven market and value of women’s sports and to provide the space for innovation and growth for both women and men. 

And we should also ask: Given that we’re still far from achieving equity, what do we need to do to create a level playing field? The 2021 Kaplan Report reflects the NCAA stymied the growth of women’s basketball and women’s sports. This is something hard to reconcile with marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX. We must acknowledge this and move in the right direction. Women have been undervalued for too long and it holds all of us back, not just the women players. Just this year the term “March Madness” finally includes women—no longer is there a “women’s tournament.” The Kaplan Report also reflects further work is necessary to achieve equity. 

Because of the work of Dr. Lopiano and others, I remain optimistic. Her vision has proved to be right—a kind of “build it by providing the opportunities, and they will come.” The opportunities didn’t magically appear in 1972 when Title IX passed; it took hard work, dedication, and holding people and organizations accountable to make sure its implementation makes a difference. The field of dreams for girls’ and women’s sports, including women’s professional leagues, are now taking off with proven markets for them—if they are allowed to succeed and thrive. Over 75% of our summer Olympic team comes through the college ranks, yet we’re still far short of equity, and backsliding in opportunities in those critical areas of high school and college where young athletes need the coaching, training, and support to excel. All of this serves as a reminder of why we cannot rest upon the gains of the past, and the leadership of women like Dr. Lopiano. The fight for equity and parity continues in all of our work.

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be? 

I think many in our industry who have a great passion for this work are former athletes themselves. There’s a lot we go through as college athletes. You have to be a very committed person to simultaneously do both school and compete at high levels in your sport. It’s also very difficult when you suddenly stop that demanding athletic career and transition from elite sports to professional life. It’s a really tough transition for many; it’s a shock to the system mentally, physically and emotionally. Suddenly there’s no strict regimen, and your community seems gone. I remember former Texas swimmer and coach, four-time Olympian, and all-around fantastic person, Jill Sterkel, once saying, “Think about how unique that is—to retire from an intense career at around the age of 22. How many people do that in life?” It defines your life—and often your self-esteem—up to that point, and then it’s time to reevaluate and recalibrate to an uncertain future. 

It’s important to recognize what you learn about yourself during your time competing. Every athlete gains a much deeper sense of self by just participating. Swimmers learn a lot pushing our bodies to extreme limits while staring at a black line, often in a meditative state, many hours a day. Sports provide athletes with transferable skills and life lessons to carry with them even after they no longer compete. 

It’s equally important for athletes to remember and identify those skills and lessons early on in our post-athletic careers and lives outside of sports. Don’t ever lose sight of what you gained in that experience. It took me a while to realize this—that the mental muscle memory I developed in swimming was carrying me through many times in my career and life after swimming. It doesn’t matter how far or successful one was in their sport. Those lessons and skills stay with you. And they are invaluable. I would encourage others to really reflect upon, explore, and identify early on all they learned from their time as athletes—not to mention the passion you have and finding that in your work.  

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was

That’s a great question. I received so many great pieces of advice along the way from coaches, teammates, mentors, and many others. I think the most recent advice I followed was from a great friend, which confirmed what I think I already knew. I made the decision to leave the law firm where I worked for almost nine years and start my own practice to give me the freedom to pursue the work I’m passionate about and pursuing today. I’m working in the industry that inspired me to pursue law in the first place, and trying to make a meaningful contribution at a critical time in college sports. I find that kind of work deeply satisfying. Having the courage to take big risks is important—something I learned from sports. Participating in athletics is a place where one exercises that “risk muscle” every day an athlete shows up, and they carry that muscle memory with them throughout their life. 

That move finally gave me the bandwidth to follow my passion, do this work, and it’s been really fun and exciting. I’ve already met so many new people even while we’ve been limited during the pandemic. It’s amazing to think of the new relationships I’ve formed without having met any of them in person. And it’s a great time to be involved with all the fast-moving, emerging issues across sports. 

Finish the sentence, the best part of my job is _________ .

The best part of my job is having the ability to directly impact policy and the future of college sports while working with great minds and people. Reuniting with Donna Lopiano at The Drake Group, I get to work with a team of professionals who care deeply about the issues, college athletes, the future of American collegiate athletics, and by extension, all of sport in our country. As a former collegiate and national team swimmer, it’s important to recognize not just the complexities and critical moment of change we’re experiencing in college sports, but also recognize how all the moving pieces at the professional, Olympic and national team, collegiate, and high school levels are so closely related. It’s important to get the policy right moving forward and I’m really excited for the potential and possibilities before us in college sports and beyond.

 

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Kanoe Bandy, Athletic Director at Taft College and CCCAA Board Member.

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Erin Wissing

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sport industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Erin Wissing,  Senior Associate Athletics Director/Executive Director of Athletics Development.

Below is a summary of our conversation:

Please give me a brief history of your life/career:

When visiting colleges, Erin fell in love with Wake Forest.  As a member of the dance team, Erin participated in every football and basketball game.  Through her experience in the Athletic Department she got to know the administrators who helped shape her career.  Erin had several summer internships in the sports industry and upon graduation she landed in the development office at Wake Forest.  After several years Erin moved on to Kennesaw State where she launched the annual fund for athletics and helped build the ticketing and external operations for their new football program.  Erin then moved on to Furman where she started as the administrator of the external affairs team and has since shifted to overseeing all athletics fundraising.  Development and athletics are Erin’s passions. She is fulfilled when she connects donors’ passions with the mission of the institution.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?

“I want to work where people are passionate about what they do.  College athletics offers that environment. From the athletes, to coaches, administrators, and fans, there is passion all around us.”

Were you a collegiate athlete? A high school athlete? 

Erin was on the dance team at Wake Forest and in high school she was an all-state pole vaulter.

Who were your role models growing up? In sports, in business?

“Ron Wellman, the long time AD at Wake Forest.  He made a big impact and encouraged me along the way.  Ron treated all athletes the same, including me as a dancer, and would take time to talk to me about my career and future. Even as the lowest on the totem pole while on staff, he took time to invest and taught me a lot about true leadership.”

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be?

  • Speaking specifically to young women, when I started out the majority of women I encountered were not married or didn’t have families, so having the career and personal life I hoped for seemed unlikely.  While daunting, I still pursued a job and ultimately a career in collegiate sports.  
  • Don’t make decisions based on a life you don’t have yet. Work as hard as you can until you hit an obstacle, then evaluate your next move. If you put in the work and find the right culture and team, it is possible to have it all. 

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?

Don’t assume you need more degrees to have the career you want. Keep working as hard as you can until you hit a roadblock.  The roadblock may never come, but if it does, you will be ahead of your peers with experience.

Finish the sentence, The best part of my job is – 

The passion of college athletics, it’s woven between donors, student-athletes and coaches.  It is the one thing they all share that makes them great at their jobs.

What is your favorite Ice Cream?

Bruster’s – Key Lime Pie

 

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Kanoe Bandy, Athletic Director at Taft College and CCCAA Board Member.

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Kanoe Bandy

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sport industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Kanoe Bandy, Athletic Director at Taft College and CCCAA Board Member.   And while a career in intercollegiate athletics was not her original plan, Kanoe has spent her entire career coaching and leading the Taft College athletic department. Below, please read a summary of our conversation, with answers written and provided by Kanoe Bandy.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?

I did not intend to work in intercollegiate athletics.    When I got married I needed a job.  I was a former student athlete and assistant coach at Taft College so I was asked if I would like to coach the volleyball team and teach part time in the Business department.  Of course I said yes.  What I found was that I could coach.   I had instincts that I didn’t know that I had.   I was mentored by all of the great coaches on our campus including my own husband Don Bandy who was an assistant football and head softball coach at the time.  Later my sister joined me as an assistant coach. The significance is that she taught me the “passion of the game”.  As a result, I spent 34 years coaching volleyball at Taft College.  25 of those years I was also the Athletic Director.  I am grateful for the opportunity to do something that has been so rewarding.

 Who were your role models growing up?  

“My mom was my first role model growing up.  She was a teacher who began in the 1960’s.  She was a strong woman who taught me the value of hard work.” 

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be?

When asked about sharing advice with tomorrow’s leaders, Kanoe shared several philosophies that she lives by:

  • Don’t ask your students or coaches to do anything you are not willing to do.
  • Don’t just be satisfied, Be an overachiever.
  • Don’t ever get outworked.
  • Be positive.
  • Accomplish something in your day, every day.
  • There are always teaching moments and lessons to be learned.
  • Be the team player you would want  next to you in competition.

This was a big one for me early in my career:  Since I am in a male dominated profession, I found a couple of very positive male mentors that didn’t know it, but they were helping me to  navigate through the system.  The right mentor is so important.

 The best advice you’ve ever received is:  

Life is short.  Enjoy the moment.

Finish the sentence, the best part of my job is 

Knowing that I am helping students be successful.  I want to give back because so many took a chance on me as a student athlete when I was young.  I had no intention of going to college. Athletics changed my life.

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Sue Harriman, Director of Athletics and Recreation at University of California, Santa Cruz

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Sue Harriman

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sports industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Sue Harriman, Director of Athletics and Recreation at University of California, Santa Cruz.  Her career in the sports and higher education industry has spanned 4 decades and she has a wealth of experience to share.

Below is a summary of our conversation.

Please give me a brief history of your life/career 

Sue is in her 4th decade of working in higher education and sports. She attributes her love for sports to her parents and siblings and played high school basketball before the Title IX era began.  Sue’s life was full of sports, she grew up playing just about every sport that you can think of and before Title IX was enacted, she often competed against the boys for better training opportunities.  She mentioned that as a child, she and her siblings were disciplined through the attention one needs to concentrate on sports, for example being sent out in the backyard to hit a round of balls in their batting cage, shooting foul shots or getting better at jumping rope. It gave her the opportunity to think about choices, decisions, and attention to details. In high school Sue received 12 varsity letters, played the violin, worked a job, and took lessons in a variety of sports, a true testament to her devotion to sports and the growth she felt as an athlete and teammate.  Sue graduated from Springfield College and followed a winding career path.  Sue worked in health clubs, colleges, universities, and more.  At one point while studying for her master degree, working a full time job, teaching 12 classes a week, traveling to her husband’s football games with their 6 year old and showing dogs. A few highlights include; the opportunity to manage a diverse group of people as a Director of Residence Life, managing corporate fitness centers, Harvard Business and Harvard University Athletic Centers and later in life, opening the Georgetown Law and Rider University Student Fitness Centers. Sue spoke eloquently about living out of a suitcase for years as she balanced her career in a male dominated industry along with managing her home life, travel and numerous hobbies.  After years of working at colleges in both college alumni engagement, athletics fundraising, and as an Athletic Department and Senior Woman Administrator, Sue decided to pursue the ultimate chair as an Athletic Director.  She began applying for positions and ultimately was hired to be the first Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports at the University of California Santa Cruz, home of the Banana Slugs.  

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics? 

Sue was always drawn to the collegiate sports industry as a child, but when she married a college football coach she decided to jump in and work in any position that she could on the different college campuses to be involved with the industry and to better understand how much time was dedicated specifically to football. Later in her career and after several years as an Assistant AD, SWA and the number 2, Sue felt she had what it took to become an AD. 

Were you a collegiate athlete? A high school athlete? 

Sue was an amazing athlete. At 9 her parents entered her in ski races, against 12-14 year olds where she’d medal. She was a 12 time varsity athlete, lettering in basketball, softball and as the head football statistician which explains her knowledge of football. In college she played basketball her freshman year and then rode for the equestrian team and played rugby both in the fall and spring seasons. 

Who were your role models growing up? In sports, in business? 

“My parents.  They set the example, got us out there doing it and encouraged me every step of the way. We had to at least try it. I still call them for advice, as a sounding board, or to get re-motivated when I think I’ve hit a wall.” Sue’s met a lot of professional athletes, politicians and celebrities over the years but her parents are still the most impressive!

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be?

“You are welcome in every conversation, take advantage of those opportunities when they present themselves. If they don’t, make them. Leaders find one another by stepping up and taking notice even if you’re the only two in the room.”

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was? 

“Reach outside the circle for feedback, there are a lot of different ways to accomplish things. Always remember that there is no room or activity or box that “you” aren’t allowed in or welcome in.”

Finish the sentence, The best part of my job is… 

“The people, 100%. It’s all about the individual people I work with, I can hire, the ones I collide with, the introductions…. It’s all about the people. I love meeting different people with a variety of ideas and different perspectives”.  I’m grateful to have the ability to provide opportunities to include and develop people and give them the confidence to let them have impact in this industry.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

“Coffee or Maple from Fielder’s Choice in Maine.”

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Shoshanna Engel Lewis, Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Brown University.

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Shoshonna Engel Lewis

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sports industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Shoshanna Engel Lewis.  Shoshonna currently serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Brown University.  A 2003 graduate of Yale, Engel Lewis earned All-American honors as a gymnast. Shortly following her graduation from Yale she began an accomplished career in intercollegiate athletics.  Prior to returning to her Ivy League roots in 2021, Engel Lewis previously held positions at Tulane, the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, and most recently Georgia Tech. Shoshonna’s reach has also extended beyond service to her institutions, as she has been a member of the NCAA’s Interpretations Committee and also currently serves as the 2nd Vice President for the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC).

Below is a summary of our conversation:

Please give me a brief history of your life/career.

I am a middle child – and the only girl – who grew up with the understanding that anything my brothers could do, I could do too, or better! Though we were competitive, my brothers and I each took our own paths, academically, athletically, and socially. I have to believe that is in some way the result of being the children of two social workers – my parents had a very natural way of empowering us and creating a strong and tight-knit home base. This has served me well as I look to serve and impact others, namely student-athletes.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics? 

My own tenure as a student-athlete was cut short by a significant injury. While I couldn’t compete, I remained the captain of my team and through the ups and downs, I was inspired to enhance what makes the intersection of higher education and athletics great, but also work to improve the student-athlete experience. I ended up working my way up through compliance because I saw it as an opportunity to get to know all of the people, roles, and inner workings of an athletics program. Instead of seeing rules, I saw the opportunity to empower people to make good decisions en route to achieving their goals.

What’s the biggest thing you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career? 

Sometimes done is better than perfect.

Who have been your role models/mentors professionally? Personally? 

At every turn I’ve had strong role models, starting with my parents. Professionally, I have to say that Amy Herman, Larry Gallo, and Jon Fagg helped shape my professional trajectory at the very infancy of my career. They taught me, guided me, and continue to this day to be close confidants. Right now, for the first time ever, I look up my org chart and I see amazing strong women at Brown in Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Grace Calhoun and President Chris Paxson. And in an unexpected twist, I met my husband, Marvin, on the job and we continue to work together today – I learn from and with him every day. How’s that for work/life integration?

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?  

Always be yourself, but know when to turn the volume up or down. Someone shared this with me early in my career and I’ve always appreciated the encouragement to stay true to myself.

Finish the sentence, The best part of my job is building community with incredible people.

Shoshanna is a true leader in our field and an inspiration to many. We are delighted to feature accomplishments during Women’s History Month!

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Missy Conboy, Senior Deputy AD at the University of Notre Dame

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Missy Conboy

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sports industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Missy Conboy, Senior Deputy AD at the University of Notre Dame. Missy has been a steady hand within the Notre Dame Athletic Department for almost 35 years. Below, please read a summary of our conversation, with answers written and provided by Missy.

Below is a summary of our conversation.

A brief history of Missy’s life and career: 

I grew up as an “army brat”, moving often during my childhood. We lived on a number of military bases both in this country and in Germany, including assignments in Stuttgart, Heidelberg and West Berlin. I was the third of four daughters, and my two older sisters really didn’t have the same opportunities that I had to compete in either high school or college athletics. For me, sports were a way to quickly engage in a new community and to form instant friendships. I graduated from Heidelberg American High School and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame at a time when coeducation was still a new phenomenon. I was a basketball student-athlete all four years, and captained the team my senior year. Interestingly, my timing afforded me the opportunity to participate in AIAW Division III athletics my first two years, before Notre Dame transitioned to NCAA Division I athletics for my junior and senior years. Needless to say, it was a major transition and signaled a much larger commitment to women’s athletics to come. Following graduation, I attended the University of Kansas Law School, and after earning my JD, joined the NCAA Enforcement Staff as an investigator. A chance encounter with Gene Corrigan, then Athletic Director at Notre Dame brought me back to Notre Dame. What I initially envisioned as a two to three-year stint resulted in a career in South Bend that has spanned almost 35 years. During that time, I am fortunate to have worked under four wonderfully different athletic directors (Dick Rosenthal, Mike Wadsworth, Kevin White, and Jack Swarbrick), each of whom have afforded me the opportunity to diversify my work portfolio and take on new and exciting challenges. My husband, a Naval Academy graduate, is also a Notre Dame MBA grad, and all three of our daughters have degrees from Notre Dame (two undergraduate and one graduate). Given my nomadic upbringing, no one is more surprised than I am that I have stayed in one place for so long.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics? 
When I was in college, no one really discussed athletics administration as a career option. I was an English major, and when I decided to attend law school, I had no intention or goal of using my law degree as a springboard to a career in athletics. The dean of the law school used to join a lunchtime basketball game with some law students. He casually mentioned that he had contacts at the NCAA national office and that they were looking to hire lawyers in a couple of departments. Enforcement had an opening, and their focus at that time was to hire lawyers who had played college sports. There was also a push to add gender diversity, as there was only one female investigator on the NCAA staff. It seemed like a natural fit. During my time at the NCAA, I became reacquainted with Gene Corrigan, who was looking to set up a compliance department at Notre Dame. It seemed like a great opportunity to return to my alma mater and to learn the business from one of the giants in the industry. Unfortunately for me, Gene was tabbed as the next ACC Commissioner before I even arrived back on campus, but his successor, Dick Rosenthal, quickly became a tremendous mentor and friend.

Were you a collegiate athlete? A high school athlete?
My first taste of organized competition was in about 6th grade, and my dad was my first basketball coach. I competed in multiple sports in both junior high and high school (volleyball, basketball and track) but basketball was always my passion. We moved from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Heidelberg, Germany before my senior year, so I got the chance to play in two very different environments. I reached out to Notre Dame about my interest in being a part of the women’s basketball program, and was directed to fall tryouts. The program had only achieved varsity status the previous year, so it was still going through growing pains. Everyone on the team had made an application to the university without knowing whether they would be part of the basketball program. During my first two years, we had part-time coaches, traveled primarily by van, and had to wait for the men to finish practice before we got on the court. Before my junior year, the university committed twelve full scholarships to the women’s program, hired full-time coaches, and began to play a Division 1 schedule. I encountered two distinct experiences during my intercollegiate career as a result of this transition.

Who were your role models growing up? In sports, in business?
With regard to sports role models, I lived in Kansas for part of high school, and I had the chance to follow Lynnette Woodard’s incredible basketball career at the University of Kansas. She later became an Olympian and the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters. I also remember following Anne Meyers at UCLA, and Delta State legend Lucy Harris. I also had a number of favorite men’s players, including Rich Branning (Notre Dame), Jim Spanarkal (Duke), and Mike O’Koren (North Carolina). Needless to say, there weren’t many opportunities to watch women’s college basketball on TV at that time. Outside of sport, my career role model was my dad, Joe Conboy. He was a JAG officer in the Army, and as the father of four daughters, an early and active supporter of Title IX. I vividly remember him advocating for equal practice time for the high school girls’ teams both in Kansas and in Heidelberg, setting the tone for the importance of men advocating for women’s opportunities.

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be?
Practice using your voice early on issues that are meaningful to you. Value diverse perspectives, and engage in civil discourse. Look to build consensus whenever possible, but don’t be afraid to chart a new course when necessary.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?
There are so many to choose from, but I would have to say: Done is better than perfect. There are so many tasks competing for your time in this profession, and you can’t be paralyzed by perfection or the hope that tasks will get easier by delaying them. Having a working spouse, raising three children (and a couple dogs), and caring for aging parents doesn’t afford you the luxury of aiming for perfection.

Finish the sentence, “The best part of my job is….”

The best part of my job is the opportunity to develop meaningful connections.
I have always considered myself a “connector”, and this profession has afforded me the opportunity to put that skill to work often. I am awed by the sheer number of opportunities in my career to connect with students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, and community/industry leaders. Whether it is writing graduate school/job recommendations, mentoring students/administrators/coaches, serving on institutional/industry committees, speaking at alumni events, serving as a guest lecturer, or stewarding benefactors, I’ve tried to make meaningful connections to positively impact the lives of others and the university I love. Needless to say, I (and my family) have been positively impacted in the process.

My favorite flavor of ice cream is:
Chocolate Peanut Butter

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Amy Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission

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Women’s History Month: Celebrating Amy Perko

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Spry is thrilled to celebrate the many successful women in the sports industry. We are proud to work with many of these women and can’t wait to share their stories and successes with you.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Amy Privette Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The Knight Commission is an independent group focused on leading reforms that strengthen the educational mission of college sports. This independent group consists of university presidents, trustees, faculty and former student-athletes who advocate for governance and policy changes in college athletics to ensure that athletics programs operate within the educational mission of their universities.

Below is a summary of our conversation.

A brief history of Amy’s life and career: 

  • Amy is a graduate of Wake Forest University where she is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame, honored for her success on the basketball court. Though she graduated with a BA in History, Amy always wanted to work in sports. After earning her master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Richmond, she worked at the NCAA, University of Kansas, and for the NBA as Team President for one of its inaugural Development League (now G-League) teams. Amy recognized her passion for collegiate sports and in 2005, began working with the Knight Commission when it re-engage in its college sports reform efforts.
  • The Knight Commission’s purpose is to lead transformational change to prioritize college athletes’ education, health, safety, and success. Two major NCAA policy changes influenced by the Knight Commission during Amy’s tenure are factors in the record high graduation rates that Division I athletes achieve today:
    1. In 2001 and again in a 2010 report, the Knight Commission recommended that for any team to compete in a postseason championship, the team must be on track to graduate at least 50% of its players. The NCAA adopted the measure in 2011.
    2. The Commission also recommended that the NCAA revised its annual revenue distribution, which exceeds $600 million annually, to include academic incentives. The NCAA adopted this change in 2016 and began phasing in the academic incentives. By the end of the current March Madness contract (2032), the NCAA will have distributed $1 billion to schools based on the academic outcomes of college athletes.

What inspired you to want to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics? 
When asked what inspired Amy to pursue a career in collegiate athletics, she quickly responded, “passion and a love of sport.” Amy strongly believes in the intangibles learned through sports, for example, the importance of diversity (within a team), recognizing everyone’s unique skills, and working as a collective group to achieve a shared goal. Through her own experience with sports, she learned that “small things done consistently over time will yield big results.”

If you could share one bit of advice with tomorrow’s future leaders, what would it be?
When asked to share advice with future leaders, Amy said that you should never stop learning, and it is critical to continually learn from others. That doesn’t just mean learning from people who have been in “the business” longer than you. College athletes, for example, have critical perspectives that must be valued. We can also learn from others in our everyday interactions. Amy also emphasized the value of listening reflecting on the quote –“seek first to understand, rather than to be understood.”

When asked about her role models growing up? In sports, in business?

Amy mentioned several mentors who mentored her, trusted her and gave her important opportunities:

  • Bob Frederick, former AD at the University of Kansas, was an incredible leader and would end every meeting saying, “remember to treat everyone with respect.”
  • Bill Friday, founding co-chairman of the Knight Commission, was a giant in higher education who led the development of the UNC system. He was the ultimate example of a humble servant leader. He was so kind to everyone.

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received was?
“Respect the people around you!”

Finish the sentence, “The best part of my job is….”

  • …working with leaders from across the spectrum who all care deeply about the future of college sports and are trying to develop a future model that is as strong as it can be for college athletes.
  • … seeing the impact of our work in national policy changes that ultimately impact the experiences of millions of college athletes. For example, the current standard, in place since 2011, that requires APR scores that show at least half of a team’s players are on track to graduate, has been an influential factor in the record-high graduation rates that DI athletes experience today.
  • … working with others to create innovative solutions for the future. Over the past two years, the Knight Commission has been working on recommendations to transform the D1 Model. This includes research-based recommendations to change the DI structure, governance, and financial framework.

My favorite flavor of ice cream is:
Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Read the next article in Spry’s Women’s History Month series: Celebrating Missy Conboy, Senior Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame

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