Women in Sports: Navigating the Dynamic World of Athletics

WATCH EVENT VIDEO!

FACILITATOR AND PANELISTS:

FACILITATOR:

Senior Softball player from Portage Michigan. Madyson is the Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

PANELISTS:

Kerrie James-Hunter is the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services

James-Hunter returned to her alma-mater where she serves as the academic advisor for men's basketball, women's basketball and softball programs. Additionally, Kerrie works directly with the student-athletes, helping them build class schedules based on educational goals, helps with career and major choices as well as provide advice and support for student-athletes as they transition to life after graduation.

James-Hunter also helps to oversee and track NCAA eligibility requirements and ensure that student-athletes continue to progress towards their degree(s). She also works with faculty, staff, and coaches to assure classroom attendance and works with student-athletes who fail to meet attendance and/or academic goals. She helps coordinate tutoring and learning specialist appointments for student-athletes.

Prior to 91�ֿ�, James-Hunter was an assistant women's basketball coach at Canisius College from 2015-16. Before her stint with the Golden Griffins, she served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lewis University from 2012-15. She got her start in college basketball coaching at 91�ֿ�, serving as the women's basketball Director of Operation from 2008-10 and as an assistant coach from 2010-12.

Judy Devine has been a champion for student-athletes throughout her career at 91�ֿ� and her commitment for equity for all continues to shape the culture and policies within the 91�ֿ� athletic department. She is considered the matriarch of 91�ֿ� athletics.

Devine played five varsity sports in college, earning 18 letters, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Colorado State in 1969 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education and earned her Master’s in Health and Physical Education from 91�ֿ� in 1970.

Devine served as 91�ֿ�’s assistant coach in women’s basketball (1969-72), field hockey (1969-70) and softball (1969-70) before becoming women’s head basketball coach (1972-77), head field hockey coach (1970-80) and head women’s athletic trainer (1969-75).

When the men’s and women’s athletic programs merged in 1975, Devine was selected as an Assistant Athletics Director and was elevated to Associate Athletics Director in 1978. She retired from her post as Senior Associate Athletics Director in 2000 following 31 years of service in numerous roles within the athletic department.

She also served on many institutional, conference and NCAA committees during her career.
In 2012, Devine was one of 25 candidates nationwide for the Title IX Trailblazer Award, which honored individuals who made significant contributions in the area of gender equity. In 2014, she was awarded 91�ֿ�’s Diversity Trailblazer Award for her contributions of diversity to the university community.

Dr. Kathy Wilson joined 91�ֿ� in 1996 and serves as the Chair of the Economics Department and a Professor of Economics. She also serves as 91�ֿ�'s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).

In her role as FAR, Dr. Wilson's duties include ensuring the academic integrity of intercollegiate athletics, facilitate institutional control, and enhance the student-athlete experience. She works with the athletic department to ensure we have procedures in place that comply with NCAA and MAC regulations. Dr. Wilson also signs of on eligibility and reviews all NCAA infractions. She also meets regularly with the athletic director and works with faculty to implement the University's missed class policy when student-athletes are traveling for competition. Dr. Wilson has also chaired the athletics gender equity study, and most recently the department Strategic Plan.

Johnson is one of the most decorated pitchers in 91�ֿ� and Mid-American Conference history. She won two MAC Pitcher of the Year awards and is a two-time NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team selection and a four-time conference selection.

A year later, Johnson helped to coach Andrea Scali to Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Scali went 22-9 with a sterling 2.15 earned run average. The freshman struck out 269 batters in 199 innings and was

After her college career, Johnson was drafted by the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch League) with the 25th overall selection and played two seasons. In her rookie year, she pitched 66.0 innings and held the league’s seventh-best ERA (2.23) and held opponents to a .189 batting average.

Johnson graduated from 91�ֿ� with bachelors degrees in accounting and finance and worked in accounting for a year before returning to coaching. Since returning to 91�ֿ�, she has earned her Master's in sport and recreation management.

91�ֿ�