Cohon, NACWAA Welcome National Convention to Pittsburgh

Oct. 10 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) is hosting its annual convention in Pittsburgh this week. Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon welcomed Convention attendees on Monday morning. Cohon, who has been president of the university since 1997, spoke about the importance of intercollegiate athletics within the mission of higher education. Cohon also discussed the importance of diversity on college campuses and commended the athletics administrators for their efforts on behalf of students.

Carnegie Mellon Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation Susan Bassett is president of NACWAA and welcomed more than 500 colleagues to the event at the historic Omni William Penn Hotel. Bassett is the first active Division III athletics director to serve as NACWAA president.

"We are honored to bring the premier conference for women in intercollegiate athletics to Pittsburgh," Bassett said. "It's important that we continue to see the rise of women in athletics departments, institutions and communities--and bringing together so many capable women for professional development in Pittsburgh is a testament to this movement."

On Monday afternoon, Carnegie Mellon Vice President of University Advancement Robbie Baker Kosak addressed attendees about leading a capital campaign and fundraising for athletics. At the forefront of Carnegie Mellon's $1 billion Inspire Innovation campaign, Kosak spoke about ways athletics administrators can most effectively raise funds on their respective campuses. Kosak also impressed upon attendees the importance of building relationships.

Bassett and Donna Sanft, Executive Associate Athletics Director at the University of Pittsburgh, have led a team of volunteers from Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, Duquesne University, Slippery Rock University, VisitPittsburgh, Allegheny Mountain Conference and Women and Girls Foundation through a year-long process of convention planning and support. The three-day event brings together women working in all areas and levels of intercollegiate athletics for professional development, leadership training and networking opportunities.

Lisa Caputo, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communications, at the Travelers Companies, Inc., will give the opening keynote address Sunday at 4 p.m., and Dr. Vonda Wright, UPMC orthopedic surgeon, will give the Tuesday keynote at 9:15 a.m.

NCAA President Mark Emmert will join Radford University President Penelope Kyle, Ohio State University Athletics Director Gene Smith and Duke University Athletics Director Kevin White Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for a panel discussion on the recent NCAA Division I Presidential Retreat and key outcomes to drive change in NCAA Division I athletics.

“Throughout my career in higher education, I have worked to champion diversity and inclusion, including efforts to promote women into leadership positions,” President Emmert said. “I am proud of those efforts. Now, I have the opportunity to champion the role of women in the leadership of intercollegiate athletics, and this is a major part of my focus as president of the NCAA.”

The Jostens Administrator of the Year Dinner will close out the convention general sessions Tuesday at 6 p.m. with U.S. Soccer’s Women’s National Team captain Christie Rampone receiving the 2011 NACWAA Honor Award on behalf of the 1999 Women’s World Cup team. Rampone is the longest-standing active women’s soccer player in the world and the only remaining player from the 1999 Women’s World Cup championship squad to still don a United States uniform.

“NACWAA is thrilled and honored to celebrate the inspiring, game-changing heroes of the 1999 Women’s World Cup,” said Phillips. “This team has not just dedicated their lives to a sport--they’ve changed the way an entire nation views women in athletics.”