University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Student-Athlete Mia Dansby Named Winner of 2026 John Thompson Jr. Award
9/2/2026 11:05:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
NEW YORK – University of Connecticut women's track & field student-athlete Mia Dansby has been chosen as the winner of the sixth annual John Thompson Jr. Award, which recognizes significant efforts within the BIG EAST Conference to fight prejudice and discrimination and advance positive societal change. Today's announcement comes on what would have been Thompson's 85th birthday.
A selection committee made up of personnel from all 11 BIG EAST schools, together with a representative of the Thompson family, selected the winning nomination. The award considered efforts undertaken during the 2025-26 academic year.
"Mia Dansby embodies the leadership, courage and commitment to making a difference that the John Thompson Jr. Award represents," said BIG EAST Commissioner Tim Brosnan. "Through her actions and her example, Mia has demonstrated a genuine commitment to creating a more inclusive community and using her voice to positively impact those around her. Coach Thompson believed deeply in the power of young people to lead, inspire and create change, and Mia is carrying that spirit forward in a meaningful way. We are proud to recognize her with this award and celebrate the impact she is already making within the UConn community and across the BIG EAST."
The John Thompson Jr. Award was created in 2020 to annually recognize a BIG EAST athletic department, team or individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, perseverance and creativity in promoting an environment of inclusiveness or championing the end of discrimination, racism and bigotry. Prior recipients have included former Seton Hall head men's & women's cross country coach John Moon in 2025, St. John's University in 2024, the Villanova University athletic department in 2023 and 2024, Providence College athletic director Bob Driscoll in 2022 and the Georgetown University athletic department in 2021.
Throughout her career in Storrs, Dansby's impact was evident, both on and off the track. A sprinter on the Huskies' women's track & field team, she served as team captain for the 2025-26 season. Dansby was a member of the Huskies' 4x100m relay team that captured the 2023 conference crown while garnering a pair of runner-up finishes in 2025 and 2026. Originally from Brockton, Mass., Dansby graduated this past May with a bachelor's degree in management, with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
"Receiving the 2026 John Thompson Jr. Award means so much to me. I am especially grateful to UConn Track & Field for bringing me into such a diverse, supportive team and family, and to UConn Athletics for showing me what it means to come together to be one team across all sports," Dansby said. "I'm thankful for the people who have supported me in using my voice advocate for equality and create change. A special thank you to the UConn Athletes of Color Collective and our advisors for helping us build a community rooted in community and purpose. I'm proud of what we've created together and am excited to keep pushing forward and leave a legacy."
As a campus leader, she combined her entrepreneurial spirit with her advocacy and dedication to issues of social impact and inclusion. Dansby was responsible for the creation and growth of the Athletes of Color Collective - a dedicated space where student-athletes of color could feel supported, empowered, and heard. As president of the organization, she formed partnerships with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to broaden the reach of its programming, while strengthening connections among the diverse backgrounds that make up the UConn Athletics community. Through her efforts, the Athletes of Color Collective is an officially recognized student group at UConn, ensuring its long-term sustainability and impact on future generations of student-athletes.
In addition to her advocacy work, Dansby has continued to serve the community through initiatives such as Crown Day, where she volunteers her time providing free hair braiding services to community members.
"Congratulations to Mia on being named this year's John Thompson, Jr. Award recipient," said UConn Director of Athletics David Benedict. "Throughout her four years in Storrs, Mia's impact extended well beyond her success on the track. As founder and president of the Athletes of Color Collective, she created a space for our student-athletes of color to feel supported and empowered, while building partnerships with SAAC that strengthened our entire department. Her vision helped establish the Collective as an officially recognized student group, ensuring her impact will be felt by UConn student-athletes for years to come. She is a tremendous representative of the values this award was created to celebrate."
Thompson, who died on August 30, 2020, was the head men's basketball coach at Georgetown from 1972 to 1999. He led the Hoyas to 24 consecutive postseason appearances in 27 seasons, six BIG EAST Tournament titles, and three NCAA Final Four berths, including the 1984 National Championship. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Beyond his basketball accomplishments, Thompson was a national leader and fierce advocate for racial equality and social justice. He was a 1964 graduate of Providence College.
