NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland – In conjunction with the NCAA’s 103rd annual Convention this week in Washington, D.C., The NCAA News caught up with NCAA athletics administrators, student-athletes and faculty to get their observations on the importance of the Association’s annual gathering, among other topics of interest.

In Part 2 of a four-part series, today’s collection features NCAA female athletics administrators who have advanced to leadership roles during their tenure. (Click here for Part 1, Convention veterans.)

Donna Ledwin, commissioner of the Allegheny Mountain Conference

How many NCAA Conventions have you attended? This will be my 20th consecutive Convention. I’ve represented two institutions and three conferences over that time, all in Division III.

What do you remember most about the first one? It was 1990, my first year as an athletics director at Notre Dame (Maryland), and I was just so excited. Attending the NCAA Convention is a rite of passage in this field, and I felt like the training wheels were off. I remember feeling a huge burden of responsibility to raise that paddle on behalf of my institution. Back then, all three divisions still met in a cavernous Association-wide business session, which was exciting for about five minutes. There was little glamour in sitting through debate on non-relevant legislation. I am ever grateful to those who had the sense to lobby for separate voting sessions.

How has the Convention changed for women athletics administrators over time? It’s hard to speak in generalities, but there is no question that in Division III, the ranks of women have swelled. Our presidents have really stepped up in this area. I am extremely proud of Division III for the leadership opportunities extended to female administrators over the past 20 years. Judy Sweet (first female president of the NCAA and a former Division III athletics director) was certainly a pioneer and a role model in that regard.

What are the primary issues facing women in intercollegiate athletics today? Professionally – and no one wants to hear this – Title IX compliance is still a major issue. No doubt much progress has been made, but if you look at just the numbers, most intercollegiate athletics programs remain badly out of compliance. I hate to beat a dead horse, but Title IX is the law. Rather than responding to lawsuits or threats of litigation, institutions – presidents and athletics directors – need to be more active on this issue. We all got the memo – there’s just no excuse.

Personally, it’s no different than any other workplace: It’s work/life balance. I’ve seen too many good women, especially coaches, bail out of college athletics as a career because of the difficulty in handling family responsibilities. At the same time, those institutions that have made reasonable, flexible accommodations for their coaches and administrators -- women and men – have been rewarded.

What are the primary differences you see in today’s generation of women student-athletes compared to previous generations? Today’s women see no boundaries, which is good because you need to believe you can do anything, but it can be disorienting if and when you hit that first glass ceiling. They also seem much more accepting of difference. They’re in the Barack Obama generation, and they will move us forward, particularly in college athletics. But I also think they are under a lot more pressure to succeed than earlier generations; maybe it’s those pushy Baby Boomer parents. We got close, and we want them to have it all, and that is an unrealistic expectation. They’ve got to find their own way.

How does being involved in athletics administration benefit you personally? I turn 50 next week, and I am starting to feel a great responsibility for passing the torch to the next generation.  Although I am technically an administrator, I used to be much more of an educator, and I still enjoy that role whenever I can work it in. At this Convention, I am “mentoring” four students from my member campuses who are interested in pursuing a career in athletics or are members of their campus SAAC and want to learn more about how the NCAA works. While this is primarily for their benefit, I can’t tell you how enjoyable this is for me.

Sallie Beard, athletics director, Missouri Southern State

How many NCAA Conventions have you attended? This will be the 19th NCAA Convention I’ve attended.

What do you remember most about the first one? In general, I remember the energy of the political environment of that first Convention in 1991. The debate on the floor of the Convention was heated, passionate and educational. That was before the federation of the three divisions, and at that time, all divisions met in one general session to vote on legislation. That also meant there were long periods of boredom when another division was conducting business specific to that division.

How has the Convention changed for women athletics administrators over time? Within the Association and its membership, significant strides have been made in the role women play within our industry.… There is widespread acceptance of women in decision-making positions.

What is the primary issues facing women in intercollegiate athletics today? There is still much to be done, however, especially on many of our campuses and within our communities. We still find those who have the mind-set of “What could a woman possibly know about athletics?”

Not unique to women, but still very much a problem for anyone involved in athletics, is the issue of “life/work balance” and the barriers that issue creates to recruiting and maintaining a strong workforce for our profession. Our profession is one that requires many hours, and those hours rarely fit into a nine-to-five schedule. That forces men and women to make some tough choices about their lifestyle and career plans. 

What are the primary differences you see in today’s generation of women student-athletes compared to previous generations? Female athletes today are much smarter, better prepared and battle tested when they arrive on our college campuses. In addition to being more mentally and emotionally prepared for the rigors of college athletics, their physical maturity has changed dramatically.

How does being involved in athletics administration benefit you personally? Athletics administration has afforded me the opportunity to help shape the experience of the student athlete locally on my campus, regionally through league play and nationally. It has also provided me with a wealth of opportunities to work with many fine athletes and professional colleagues with whom I have developed lasting friendships. The breath of experiences I have had through athletics have broadened my perspective and, I hope, made me a more well-rounded person and administrator.