UNC Greensboro Athletics: Women's Equality Day: A Salute To UNCG's Influential And Powerful Women

Greensboro NC

27 August, 2021

1:32 PM

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Press release from UNC Greensboro Athletics: 8/26/2021 12:30:00 PM Story Links "I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me." Maya Angelou "Phenomenal Woman" GREENSBORO, N.C. – Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to continuing efforts toward full equality for all women. Currently through 2022, UNC Greensboro is doing a diverse two-year series of events, discussions, and performances that examine the history and cultural context of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (women's right to vote), and issues of equity and equality in our own time. The theme is "She Can, We Can." "While Women's Equality Day was historically created to commemorate women's right to vote, it's come to develop a much greater meaning," UNCG women's soccer player Caroline Fiorella said. "To me, it's a chance to celebrate every single woman who has had to fight harder for their voice to be heard and their ideas to be respected. It's also especially important to celebrate Black women and women of color who struggled long after the ratification of the 19th amendment to gain the freedom of voting." Women's Equality Day is also a special reason to celebrate the resilience, strength, character, and diversity of the UNCG athletics department. More than 40 percent of its staff are women working as administrators, coaches, and/or staff members. It's tremendous to be part of an athletics department in which women have plenty of prominent positions of influence. Kim Record is in her 12th year as the UNCG Director of Athletics. According to the latest report released in December 2020 by Women Leaders in College Sports, 24 percent of athletics directors are women. Record is part of the 15 percent of Division I athletics directors that are women. She sets the tone with her leadership, vision, and intentionality. It's noticed by UNCG's student-athletes who benefit from seeing UNCG's phenomenal women throughout the department lead, excel in the face of adversity, challenge convention, influence culture, and make an impact every day. Hailey Joy, Women's Golf "I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride when I think about all of the amazing women that have come together to make our athletic department so successful. It's inspiring to me and makes me feel as though I too can achieve great things after leaving UNCG!" Caroline Fiorella, Women's Soccer "Being surrounded by hardworking and dynamic women in UNCG athletics honestly just makes me happy. It's cool to see so many women, not just working, but also excelling, in a field typically dominated by men. We have so many female coaches and I think that's so important for women in sports to have, especially at the collegiate level." Samantha Lagrama, Softball "The leadership roles of our women coaches, staff and administration inspire me to be the best version of me that I can be. They are strong and enthusiastic about being a positive impact on everyone around them. This helps me to know that as I learn from them I also can influence other women in that way. So, to these women I say, Thank You!" Amber Redmond, Women's Basketball "When I think about the dynamic women that work in our department I immediately get an excited feeling. Excitement rushes through my body because I begin to feel like if they can do it , then someday, I can be just as dynamic in my career. Seeing the number of women working in coaching inspires me because It shows that if you put the work in you will be able to accomplish the goals you set for yourself no matter the gender. I'm sure when they were my age they had dreams and careers they couldn't wait to fulfil. So, to see them actually living out the careers that they went to college for inspires me and gives me hope." Camille Anderson, Volleyball "When I see all of the women working in the athletic department it makes me appreciate all of the work that they had to put in to get in those positions. It is especially cool since the fight toward women's equality in athletics is still fairly new and not that long ago you wouldn't see that many women in these kinds of positions. Seeing the number of women in our athletic department inspires me to not be afraid to go into a male dominated field which as an aspiring physician is a challenge that I am going to have to face." Ariana Chan, Women's Tennis "Seeing so many powerful women working around me is inspiring. I feel nothing but respect for the women that work with us in the athletic department. They set up an example for us. I love to see women being in charge. It makes me proud and it makes me feel powerful. There's an unbelievable amount of smart and strong women working in the UNCG's athletic department and being able to work along with them and being coached by them is just amazing and I'm very grateful for that." Jasmine Cullins, Women's Cross-Country/Track "What women's equality day means to me is a chance to recognize women and their ability to make a strong impact in all areas such as the workplace and through leadership. It shows that women are capable of accomplishing great things the same way men are. It inspires me to keep reaching for my goals of working at the corporate level for a retail company. In the retail industry a lot of the corporate leaders tend to be more men, but with the direction of more women becoming corporate leaders, it makes me hopeful for change and the impact these women can make in the industry." UNCG Women Staff Members Kim Record, Director of Athletics Jody Smith, Executive Associate AD & Senior Woman Administrator Jennifer Aguilar, Senior Associate AD for Internal Operations Kristin Rusboldt, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Support Services/Diversity & Intercultural Engagement Dacia Ijames, Assistant AD for Marketing Jesika Moore, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications Denise Archetto, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications Alex Daniel, Assistant Athletic Trainer Jennifer Farrell, Sports Psychologist Madeleine Meinhold, Sports Nutritionist Alfreda Hagans, Compliance Coordinator Jane Long, Director of Equipment and Apparel Megan Cunningham, Head Dance Team Coach Amber Smith, Head Cheer Coach Jennell Wade, SASS Assistant Director/Learning Specialist April Albritton, Director of the Spartan Club Christina Gregory, Spartan Club Athletics Event Manager/Volleyball Assistant Coach Kelly Self, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Trina Patterson, Head Women's Basketball Coach Cetera DeGraffenreid, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Alex Miller, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Ariel Caraway, Women's Basketball Director of Operations Abby Vampatella, Women's Basketball Graduate Manager Kaleigh Roach, Interim Head Cross Country/Track Coach Ashley Leonard, Head Women's Golf Coach Stefani Workman, Assistant Women's Soccer Coach Octavia Saunders, Volunteer Assistant Women's Soccer Coach. Janelle Breneman, Head Softball Coach Bethaney Wells, Assistant Softball Coach Kendra Kirkhoff, Assistant Softball Coach Stephanie Bryden, Volunteer Assistant Softball's Coach. Ale Guerra, Head Women's Tennis Coach Nicole Cirillo, Assistant Volleyball Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Print Friendly Version This press release was produced by UNC Greensboro Athletics. The views expressed here are the author's own.