As Women’s History Month kicks off, we will be shining the spotlight on the women in college sports leadership, starting with Denise Thompson, Assistant Commissioner/Communications and External Affairs Director for the Big Sky Athletic Conference. Tune in to this episode as Diverse VP Ralph Newell speaks one-on-one with Denise Thompson about her experiences as a former student-athlete, navigating sports play during COVID, diversity in the sports leadership pipeline, and much more. As she takes us on her journey, from being an aspiring radio DJ to student-athlete to a change-making leader in sports, uncover how her passion for sports developed as well as her advocacy for diversity in the sports arena for student-athletes. This is an episode you won’t want to miss.
KEY POINTS / MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
- Denise’s student-athlete experience.
- Considerations for going to an HBCU.
- Diversity efforts by the Big Sky Athletic Conference.
- COVID-19 impacts on budgets for sports events.
- How to make effective change in policies and attitudes.
- Social justice and diversity actions by the conference.
- Venturing into Esports.
QUOTABLES:
“You can’t go to the same Black student-athlete every year for Black History Month and ride that one-person story all the time. There are so many stories to tell.”
PRODUCTS / RESOURCES MENTIONED:
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