Published on October 23, 2015 by Emily Duval  
Women in Sports

Samford University recently hosted a “Women in Sport” panel discussion featuring five successful women working in the field. 

Cosponsors were the sport administration program in the Department of Kinesiology, the sports media minor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the sports marketing concentration in the Brock School of Business. 

“The heart of this event is that we want our students to see how Christian women navigate their professional and personal lives,” said Nathan Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of sport administration. “Most importantly, we want our female students to see how women professionals use their platforms as opportunities to share and show Jesus’ love regardless of someone’s personality or skill set.” 

During the event each panelist spoke about their faith as an important element in both their personal and professional lives. After the speakers shared their stories, the floor opened for questions from students interested in working in the world of sport. 

Associate Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator for the Southeastern Conference Tiffany Daniels advised the group, “Be open, you never know what kind of opportunities will present themselves. Cultivate your skill set, so others want to invest in you.” 

Alongside Daniels, the panel included Samford University’s Director of Football Academic Services Christina Harris; Director of Marketing and Culture at Knight Eady Sports Group Suzanne Alvarez; and Senior Vice President of Store Operations at Hibbett Sports Cathy Pryor. Samford also welcomed back 2012 alumna Claire Waggener who currently serves as the associate director for the National Commodore Club at Vanderbilt University. 

Pryor encouraged, “Be a voice and example for strong values and don’t be afraid to stand for things, your career is not just about achieving the next goal.” 

Emily Duval is a journalism and mass communication major and a news and feature writer in the Office of Marketing and Communication. 

Additional reporting by Allison Kanne, a senior journalism and mass communication major.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.