40th Anniversary - 40th Anniversary - Women Leaders in Sports

Women Leaders in Sports History

To celebrate and commemorate our 40th Anniversary, we launched this interactive website that documents key milestones in our history through the lens of the powerful women who held leadership roles for our organization. Since then, we've evolved our brand to be more inclusive of ALL Women Leaders in Sports. Explore our history and learn more about the women who blazed trails and laid the foundation that we build upon today!

1979
CCWAA Founded

1980 - 1982
Barbara Hedges

University of Southern California

CCWAA President 1980 - 1982 Barbara Hedges

1983 – 1987
Kay Don

Texas A&M /
Cal State University-Dominguez Hills

CCWAA President 1983 - 1987 Kay Don

1987 - 1989
Christine Grant

University of Iowa

CCWAA President 1987 - 1989 Christine Grant

1989 - 1991
Kaye Hart

Utah State University

CCWAA President 1989 - 1991 Kaye Hart

1991
CCWAA to NACWAA

1991 - 1992
Chris Voelz

University of Minnesota

NACWAA President 1991 - 1992 Chris Voelz

1992 - 1993
Marcia Saneholtz

Washington State University

NACWAA President 1992 - 1993 Marcia Saneholtz

1993 - 1994
Marilyn McNeil

California Polytechnic State University

NACWAA President 1993 - 1994 Marilyn McNeil

1994 - 1996
Jane Betts

Executive Director

NACWAA Executive Director 1994 - 1996 Jane Betts

1994 - 1995
Cary Groth

Northern Illinois University

NACWAA President 1994 - 1995 Cary Groth

1995 - 1996
Dee Todd

Georgia Tech

NACWAA President 1995 - 1996 Dee Todd

1996 - 2009
Jennifer Alley

Executive Director

NACWAA Executive Director 1996 - 2009 Jennifer Alley

1996 - 1997
Dr. Betsy Alden

San Francisco State University

NACWAA President 1996 - 1997 Dr. Betsy Alden

1997 - 1998
Sharon E. Taylor

Lock Haven University

NACWAA President 1997 - 1998 Sharon E. Taylor

1998 - 1999
Karol Kahrs

University of Illinois

NACWAA President 1998 - 1999 Karol Kahrs

1999 - 2000
Bridget Belgiovine

Wellesley College

NACWAA President 1999 - 2000 Bridget Belgiovine

2000 - 2001
Judy Sweet

University of California San Diego

NACWAA President 2000 - 2001 Judy Sweet

2001 - 2002
Peg Bradley-Doppes

University of North Carolina-Wilmington

NACWAA President 2001 - 2002 Peg Bradley-Doppes

2002 - 2003
M. Dianne Murphy

University of Denver

NACWAA President 2002 - 2003 M. Dianne Murphy

2003 - 2004
Pam Gill-Fisher

University of California, Davis

NACWAA President 2003 - 2004 Pam Gill-Fisher

2004 - 2005
Alfreeda Goff

Horizon League

NACWAA President 2004 - 2005 Alfreeda Goff

2005 - 2006
Jean Lenti Ponsetto

DePaul University

NACWAA President 2005 - 2006 Jean Lenti Ponsetto

2006 - 2007
Joan Cronan

University of Tennessee-Knoxville

NACWAA President 2006 - 2007 Joan Cronan

2007 - 2008
Bernadette McGlade

Atlantic Coast Conference

NACWAA President 2007 - 2008 Bernadette McGlade

2008 - 2009
Barbara Schroeder

Regis University

NACWAA President 2008 - 2009 Barbara Schroeder

2009 - 2010
Carolayne Henry

Mountain West Conference

NACWAA President 2009 - 2010 Carolayne Henry

2010 - Present
Patti Phillips

Chief Executive Officer

WLCS Chief Executive Officer 2010 - Present Patti Phillips

2010 - 2011
Susan Bassett

Carnegie Mellon

NACWAA President 2010 - 2011 Susan Bassett

2011 - 2012
Julie Hermann

University of Louisville

NACWAA President 2011 - 2012 Julie Hermann

2012 - 2013
Robin Harris

The Ivy League

NACWAA President 2012 - 2013 Robin Harris

2013 - 2014
Chris Plonsky

The University of Texas

NACWAA President 2013 - 2014 Chris Plonsky

2014 - 2015
Joan McDermott

Metropolitan State University of Denver

NACWAA President 2014 - 2015 Joan McDermott

2015 - 2016
Lynn Hickey

University of Texas, San Antonio

NACWAA President 2015 - 2016 Lynn Hickey

2016 - 2017
Vicky Chun

Colgate University

WLCS President 2016 - 2017 Vicky Chun

2017
NACWAA to Women Leaders in College Sports

2017 - 2018
Julie Soriero

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Women Leaders in College Sports President 2017 - 2018 Julie Soriero

2018 - 2019
Lynn Holzman

NCAA

Women Leaders in College Sports President 2018 - 2019 Lynn Holzman

2019 - 2020
Jacqie McWilliams

CIAA Commissioner

Women Leaders President 2019 - 2020 Jacqie McWilliams

2020 - 2021
Sandy Barbour

The Pennsylvania State University

Sandy Barbour - The Pennsylvania State University

2021 - 2023
Heather Lyke

University of Pittsburgh

Heather Lyke - University of Pittsburgh

2023
Women Leaders in College Sports to Women Leaders in Sports