University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Plays Host To espnW Event
4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut was one of three schools to participate in espnW Campus Conversations - a recently launched initiative that espnW hopes to turn into a series on college campuses nationwide. The event at UConn was held on Monday night and the other two schools that were invited to be part of this program were Texas and Duke.
The event was attended by approximately 150 UConn female student-athletes and focused on a pair of topics. "The Great Pivot" - how to prepare personally and professionally for life after college and college athletics; and "Open Look" -- the importance of being your true, authentic self.
A prestigious panel led the conversation, including former UConn women's basketball All-American and current ESPN announcer Rebecca Lobo ad former Husky field hockey All-American Nicki Maher.
Lobo is former WNBA All-Star was one of the first players to sign with the league in 1997. As team captain her senior year, Lobo led UConn to a perfect season, winning the NCAA Championship that year to go 35-0. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, NCAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year; Woman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation, and she also received an ESPY for Outstanding Female Athlete.
Maher currently serves as the Senior Vice President-Global Brand Relations of Alex and Ani. She oversees the connection between consumers and the powerful mission behind Alex and Ani. Alex and Ani is a Cranston, R.I.-based jewelry company that creates pieces with various charities to promote their fundraising efforts.
Also on the panel were Nefertiti Walker, Ph.D., MBA, a professor at UMass, and wellness instructor Carol Pandiscia. Pandiscia is a performance and well-being coach helping athletes and corporate athletes to improve their performance. Formerly, Pandiscia was the Senior Vice President, Technology PMO and Business Operations at ESPN. She currently works with UConn student-athletes with yoga and meditation.
Walker is a former collegiate women's basketball coach and student-athlete. Her research interests are women in leadership and developing diverse and inclusive cultures in sport organizations. Walker has over 30 publications and presentations. The emcee of the event was ESPN personality Jemele Hill. Hill currently serves as the co-host of His & Hers and has been with ESPN since 2006.
