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Duke Athletics and ESPNW Campus Conversations
10/31/2019 2:36:00 PM | Athletics
DURHAM, N.C.-- Duke University Athletic department welcomed a group Duke Alumnae and ESPN staff members to campus Monday night for the second iteration of the ESPNW Campus Conversations series at Duke. The evening started with a panel discussion featuring former Duke student athletes Angel Brown '15 (lacrosse), Laura Gentile '94 (field hockey), Sue Gordon '80 (basketball), and Sue Harnett '91 (basketball). Moderated by ESPN senior writer Alyssa Roenigk, each of the women shared experiences on how their time at Duke helped shape their value system and life lessons from moments of adversity.
Student Athletes were advised to step outside their bubble of their sport and network with fellow student athletes from other sports teams as well as their Duke student classmates. They were also encouraged to find the joy in the little things in their day from workouts to having lunch with peers, because those opportunities become limited after your time on campus.
Laura Gentile, the founder of ESPNW and senior vice president at ESPN, and the others also spoke to the challenges they each faced when transitioning into different phases of their life: from high school to college, from reserve to captain, from college student to employee and the different life's journeys they have been a part of.
"The ESPNW program really resonated with me as I saw an example of women who went to Duke University, competed in a sport, and done amazing things." Sophomore Ade Owokoniran from the volleyball team stated. "It makes me want to follow my dreams and maybe one day achieve beyond them."
Following the hour-long panel discussion for over 240 female and male students, approximately 100 female student-athletes took part in breakout sessions with the four panelists and Duke graduates Kellie Catanach '12 (volleyball), Meeghan Ford '07 (lacrosse), and Kim McNally '98 (Track & Field).
Lindsay Sapienza, a senior on the Duke Fencing team stated, "In addition to professional advice and personal stories, the panelist at the ESPNW Campus Conversation program were incredibly candid about their experiences at Duke as student athletes – from the things they wished they had done while in college to their favorite moments at Duke. Those standout moments in the lives of successful women were something I found to be valuable. Through their openness on the panel, the breakout conversations were insightful and fostered a sense of togetherness among all of the student athletes."
Duke Athletics was the first university to host a campus conversation program in the spring of 2016.
PANELISTS
Angel Thompson Brown - (2015, Lacrosse) Diversity Coordinator, Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill
Laura Gentile - (1994, Field Hockey) Senior Vice President, Marketing, ESPN
Sue Gordon - (1980, Basketball) Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Sue Harnett - (1991, Basketball) Founder & President, Rewriting the Code
Moderator - Alyssa Roenigk (1999, University of Florida) ESPN Senior Writer
Breakout Sessions Leaders
Kim McNally - (1998, Track & Field) Director of Undergraduate Studies/Physical Education, Duke University
Kellie Catanach - (2012, Volleyball) Assistant Volleyball Coach, Duke University
Meeghan Ford - (2007, Lacrosse) Executive Director of Compliance, Duke University
#GoDuke
Student Athletes were advised to step outside their bubble of their sport and network with fellow student athletes from other sports teams as well as their Duke student classmates. They were also encouraged to find the joy in the little things in their day from workouts to having lunch with peers, because those opportunities become limited after your time on campus.
Laura Gentile, the founder of ESPNW and senior vice president at ESPN, and the others also spoke to the challenges they each faced when transitioning into different phases of their life: from high school to college, from reserve to captain, from college student to employee and the different life's journeys they have been a part of.
"The ESPNW program really resonated with me as I saw an example of women who went to Duke University, competed in a sport, and done amazing things." Sophomore Ade Owokoniran from the volleyball team stated. "It makes me want to follow my dreams and maybe one day achieve beyond them."
Following the hour-long panel discussion for over 240 female and male students, approximately 100 female student-athletes took part in breakout sessions with the four panelists and Duke graduates Kellie Catanach '12 (volleyball), Meeghan Ford '07 (lacrosse), and Kim McNally '98 (Track & Field).
Lindsay Sapienza, a senior on the Duke Fencing team stated, "In addition to professional advice and personal stories, the panelist at the ESPNW Campus Conversation program were incredibly candid about their experiences at Duke as student athletes – from the things they wished they had done while in college to their favorite moments at Duke. Those standout moments in the lives of successful women were something I found to be valuable. Through their openness on the panel, the breakout conversations were insightful and fostered a sense of togetherness among all of the student athletes."
Duke Athletics was the first university to host a campus conversation program in the spring of 2016.
PANELISTS
Angel Thompson Brown - (2015, Lacrosse) Diversity Coordinator, Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill
Laura Gentile - (1994, Field Hockey) Senior Vice President, Marketing, ESPN
Sue Gordon - (1980, Basketball) Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Sue Harnett - (1991, Basketball) Founder & President, Rewriting the Code
Moderator - Alyssa Roenigk (1999, University of Florida) ESPN Senior Writer
Breakout Sessions Leaders
Kim McNally - (1998, Track & Field) Director of Undergraduate Studies/Physical Education, Duke University
Kellie Catanach - (2012, Volleyball) Assistant Volleyball Coach, Duke University
Meeghan Ford - (2007, Lacrosse) Executive Director of Compliance, Duke University
#GoDuke
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