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Women's Leadhership Conference a Success |
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 The Coast Guard Academy Athletic Department hosted a Women’s Leadhership Symposium on Tuesday as prominent women in the field of Intercollegiate Athletics got together and discussed leadership among other things at the Academy including the 40th Anniversary of Title IX.
Under the direction of Director of Athletics Tim Fitzpatrick, Senior Women’s Administrator Andrea Stewart spearheaded the group of professionals from both the military and athletic worlds.
The morning began with Dr. Dianne Murphy, Director of Athletics at Columbia, addressing the crowd to kickoff the day with members of the faculty and staff of the Coast Guard Academy as well as members of the Connecticut College, Mitchell College and MIT Athletic departments.
Dr. Sharon Beverly, Director of Athletics at Vassar College, Pat Meiser, the Director of Athletics at the University of Hartford, Deborah Chin, the Director of Athletics at the University of New Haven and Alfreeda Goff, Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief of Staff at the Horizon League were other featured speakers.
Goff closed out the day of professional development stressing ones ability to help each other. “If we can’t reach back and pull someone forward, why are we here?,” she asked during her presentation. “We have to do a better job of helping each other and good leaders are always helping others.”
“Tim Fitzpatrick called and asked for my help with this and here I am. I think it is important to always give back and when we can’t help others, its time to throw dirt on top of us,” added Goff after the symposium had ended.
In the summer of 2011, history was made when Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz became the first female Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy. She is also the first female Superintendent at any of the service Academies. Stosz also addressed the conference attendees.
In 1975 the U.S. Coast Guard Academy became the first service Academy to enroll women. The first class of women started in the fall of 1976 which resulted in fourteen women graduating in 1980. In that first year, gymnastics was the only varsity team for women.
This Fall, 1046 cadets enrolled at the Academy, where 31% of those cadets are women. The Academy currently supports 23 varsity athletic teams, (11 men’s, nine women’s and 3 co-ed).
Stacy Kelly, Associate Commissioner of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) and Beth Wandyes, Associate Athletic Director at Bryant College served as facilitators for the two break out sessions.
“The whole dynamic with Divisions I, II and III being present and getting to spend the day with young coaches and administrators as well as experienced women in the field and hearing their experiences in the panels and the break out sessions was outstanding,” Kelly. “This was a really great thing that has started here.”
“Here at the Coast Guard Academy, we were both pleased and honored to be able to present the Women’s Leadhership Symposium,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, Coast Guard Academy Director of Athletics. “It was a fine event, and gave our coaches and academy staff a great chance to learn from a strong faculty of women who have achieved great things in the world of intercollegiate athletics. It was very gratifying to see such a free exchange of thoughts and ideas.”
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