1996 to 1997 – National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators

Betsy Alden’s first act as President was naming Jennifer Alley the second executive director of NACWAA. Betsy and Jennifer quickly got to work and put long-range strategic planning at the top of their list.

“We must undertake this especially important initiative with respect to our future direction: a broad-based and long-range view of NACWAA’s mission and goals. We must begin to identify our priorities as an association so that we can better prepare for the future and for the needs of our younger membership” (NACWAA Fall Issue 1996).

Betsy continued: “My goal as president is to organize this review in such a way as to tap the creativity, enthusiasm and best thinking of every member of our organization” (Fall Issue 1996).

The Long Range Planning Committee and Board of Directors identified a list of priorities, highlighted by the first-ever NACWAA website.

“NACWAA has entered the information technological age and can be found on the World Wide Web for members and other ‘surfers’ interested in women’s sports groups to access the site and learn more about NACWAA” (NACWAA Spring Issue 1997).

The NACWAA website included information on the following: the association and its philosophy, governing structure, the national office staff and location, membership offerings, Fall Forum, NACWAA/HERS IAA, awards, sponsorship partners, and events. The website was designed by Lori Kressin from the University of Virginia.

All of these resources continue to live on our website today.

Other major accomplishments from NACWAA during this time:

• National office was established in Wilmington, NC
• “NACWAA News” page inclusion in the NACDA Athletic Administration magazine
• NACWAA’s work with corporate sponsors continued to expand and develop under Betsy’s leadership
• Erin McDermott served as the full-time NACWAA intern—she is now the Director of Athletics & Recreation at the University of Chicago and has served on the NACWAA Board of Directors
• NACWAA joined the National Coalition of Women & Girls in Education (NCWGE) in Washington DC

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.

Dr. Betsy Alden is the current Chief Executive Officer and founder of Windsor Consulting, an executive coaching endeavor where she assists professionals with career-related counseling. She began her professional career as Director of Athletics, Physical Education & Recreation for the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 1984. Following her time at NDM, Betsy spent two years as Director of Athletics at Webster University, three years at San Francisco State University, and two years at Ithaca College. Betsy then left Ithaca in 1999 to start Alden & Associates, Inc., the first female-owned consulting and executive search firm for intercollegiate athletics, which she owned for 16 years.

Betsy earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from State University of New York College at Cortland, her master’s degree in sports history and sport philosophy from the University of Maryland, and her Ph.D. in athletics administration and sports studies from The University of Iowa.

On April 24, 1996, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded as the women’s counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA) after receiving approval from the NBA Board of Governors. Since then, the WNBA has been the home for the best women’s basketball talent in the world. Eight teams were announced for the WNBA’s inaugural season, which has since grown to 12.

Val Ackerman was named the first president of the WNBA in 1996. Val became the commissioner of the Big East Conference in 2013 and currently serves on the Women Leaders Board of Directors.

Additional news in 1996:

Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the nation’s first female secretary of state.