2000 to 2001 – National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators

Under the leadership of President Judy Sweet, NACWAA membership grew to 1,293 and the NACWAA Foundation Fund reached $100,000 after just one year.

With its enhanced funding, NACWAA provided scholarship grants to members for the first time. These grants covered member travel and participation costs for both the NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement and the Fall Forum.

In addition to scholarship offerings, Judy, executive director Jennifer Alley, and the board of directors began discussing the implementation of the Institute for Athletic Executives (known today as the Executive Institute) and the expansion of the NACWAA/HERS Institute from one offering per year to two (east and west).

“I am impressed, encouraged and energized by the talented, knowledgeable, caring women in NACWAA. I am constantly reminded of the power of teamwork and especially the power of W.H.O.W. (Women Helping Other Women). Because of the efforts of so many wonderful women, NACWAA continues to grow, mature, assist members with professional and personal growth, and make a difference in the lives of so many” (NACWAA Summer Issue 2001).

Other major accomplishments from NACWAA during this time:

• Scholarships for Dlll women to attend NACWAA/HERS were made available via NCAA grants
• NACWAA assumed a position on the NACDA Executive Committee agenda
• NACWAA was represented at the NCAA Minority Opportunities & Interests Committee Summit

NACWAA continued to be committed to recognizing the achievements and successes of administrators working in athletics. Click here to view all NACWAA/ Women Leaders in College Sports award winners.

Lauren Anderson, University of Rhode Island
Bridget Belgiovine, Past President, NCAA
Peg Bradley-Doppes, President-Elect, University of North Carolina-Wilmington
Barbara Bolich, Dominican University
Rita Castagna, Assumption College
Dru Hancock, Big 12 Conference
Carolayne Henry, Mountain West Conference
Janet Justus, Ex-Officio, Verrill & Dana, LLP
Karin Lee, University of Alabama
Jane Meier, Northern Kentucky University
Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul University
Barbara Schroeder, Regis University
Patty Viverito, Missouri Valley Conference
Athena Yiamouyiannis, NCAA
Connee Zotos, Ex-Officio, Drew University

Judy Sweet began her career in collegiate administration as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Supervisor of Physical Education at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in 1973. Soon after she was named Director of Athletics at UCSD in 1975 when she became the first woman to lead a combined men’s and women’s athletic department. Under her leadership, UCSD teams won a total of 26 NCAA Championships and the NACDA Directors Cup for Division III successes.

In 1989, Judy became the first woman to hold the position of Secretary-Treasurer and shortly after became the first woman to serve as membership president of the NCAA where she served a two-year term from 1991-93. In 2001, Judy became the NCAA Senior Vice President for Championships and Education Services. After retiring from the NCAA in 2006, she offered Title IX consulting and was co-founder and co-director of The Alliance of Women Coaches.

Over her career, Judy served on multiple NCAA Committees, including the Gender Equity Task Force and the Subcommittee to Review Minority Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletics. She was awarded with the Big Ten Conference Centennial Award, the Honda Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women’s Collegiate Athletics and received the NACDA James J. Corbett and NACDA /Continental Division III Athletic Director of the Year awards. Judy currently co-chairs the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force and serves as a consultant for Title IX and gender equity initiatives.