MCLA's Smith earns NACWAA Administrator of Tomorrow and Judith M. Sweet Commitment Award

Kansas City, Mo. ─ The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) announced today its 2014 Administrator of Tomorrow and Judith M. Sweet Commitment award recipients. Julia Martin (University of Pennsylvania), Kaylyn Smith (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) and Sara Steinman (Moravian College) were named Administrator of Tomorrow Award winners, and Katherine (Katie) McGann (University of California, San Diego) was honored with the Judith M. Sweet Commitment Award

“NACWAA is thrilled to honor these outstanding young and aspiring athletics administrators,” said Patti Phillips, NACWAA chief executive officer. “Their passion and commitment is not only inspiring, but also contagious. We cannot wait to stand alongside these bright, young women as they grow and excel in their athletic careers.”

The Administrator of Tomorrow Award is presented to an undergraduate/graduate student, intern or volunteer who aspires to a career in intercollegiate athletics, and recognizes involvement and a leadership role on campus, in a conference office or an organization and in the community. Named for the former NCAA President, athletic director and NACWAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, the Judith M. Sweet Commitment Award recognizes athletics administrators below the senior ranking level who are committed to providing high-level leadership and guidance within intercollegiate athletics. Honorees are nominated by NACWAA members and selected by the NACWAA Awards Committee.

Award recipients will also receive scholarships to attend the 2014 NACWAA National Convention, October 12-14 in Louisville, Ky. The National Convention is the premier conference for women working in intercollegiate athletics, offering unparalleled leadership and professional development, industry training and networking opportunities.

About the Honorees

Julia Martin is currently completing graduate studies in organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania where she also serves as a volunteer coach of Women’s Lacrosse. In addition, Julia was recently selected as the Administrative Assistant for the Federation of International Lacrosse.

Nominated by her former supervisor, Peel Hawthorne, Associate Athletic Director/SWA at the College of William & Mary, Peel states, “One might be tempted to attribute Julia’s energy and power of influence to personal charisma and youthful exuberance, but it is obvious that she has intentionally developed her skills.  She has paid close attention, studied others’ behaviors and has thought deeply about management and coaching philosophies, leadership styles and organizational structures.”

Kaylyn Smith is completing her second year of the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women Grant internship at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at the end of this academic year. She co-advises the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has worked with the Faculty Athletic Representative to create a new program for student-athletes called SAMs (Student-Athlete Mentors).

“Our immediate reaction to Kaylyn was one of passion for this profession and for the student-athletes,” said her nominator Dot Houston, Assistant Athletic Director/SWA as MCLA. “Kaylyn is a person who values her colleagues, respects their opinions and utilizes her resources wisely. She is astute and familiar with the political arena. She positions her students to succeed and has gained their respect. She has grown professionally in her two years at MCLA and also has provided us with a fun, high energy colleague whom it has been a pleasure to mentor.”

Sara Steinman is an intern in the department of athletics at Moravian College. At Moravian, she is responsible for running the Intramural Department and serves as the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach. Additionally, Steinman is also pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management at East Stroudsburg University and maintains a 4.0 GPA.

“I honestly cannot think of a young woman more deserving of this prestigious award. Sara is one of the hardest working and most driven people I know,” said nominator Brienne Smith, Head Women’ Soccer Coach at Moravian College. “She is genuinely excited about the work that she does in our department and our community, and she continually goes above and beyond expectations.”

Katie McGann is the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services at University of California, San Diego, where she has worked for the last seven years. She currently handles all aspects of the university’s compliance and student services programs, including eligibility, academics and financial aid for approximately 600 student-athletes across the department’s 23 intercollegiate teams. In addition, Katie was selected to serve on the Division II Academic Requirements Committee, and will Chair the committee in 2014-15.

McGann has also served on the NAAC Board of Directors as the national representative for DII, and on the NCAA DII Men’s Tennis Regional Ranking Committee (RAC). She served on the NAAC Convention Planning Committee, running the DII sessions for the 2010 and 2011 national conventions and has attended NACWAA HERS. “The time and effort that these roles require are in addition to her own demanding workload: she embraces the challenges because she is dedicated to the greater good of athletic programs nationwide,” said nominator Wendy Taylor May, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Internal Operations at University of California, San Diego.

About National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators

NACWAA is the premier leadership organization that empowers, develops, assists, celebrates, affirms, involves and honors women working in all fields of intercollegiate athletics. NACWAA is dedicated to empowering, developing and advancing the success of women throughout the profession. Learn more at www.nacwaa.org.