Trailblazing in Sports Information - Geneva College
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Trailblazing in Sports Information

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“This really feels like it is full circle. My career started at Geneva, now I am toward the end of my career, back at Geneva. In between, God has provided work, growth, friends, and incredible opportunities throughout my life.”

Judy Willson, the current Director of Graduate and Online Admissions, will be inducted into the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame, Class of 2023, on June 12 at ceremonies in Orlando, Florida. This award demonstrates the incredible work and leadership Judy has displayed throughout her career in sports information.

Judy first came to Geneva as a student, originally as a pre-med major, hoping to become a pediatrician. Judy had been the manager for her high school basketball team and always had an interest in sports, but the idea of a career in sports was not something at the forefront of her mind, or something she even thought possible at the time.

In her freshman year, Judy became part of the basketball stats crew at Geneva. By spring of ’86 as a sophomore, she was regularly writing recaps, news releases, and working with the stats part of sports communication.

“This was all before computerized stat programs. I would sit at a typewriter and type all of the releases. By my senior year I had three jobs on campus. I worked in the PR Department, the Athletics Department, and in the Student Center at the front desk.”

daddys-secretary.jpgJudy fondly shares a memory of typing at her dad’s typewriter when she was just two years old. “Who knew at the time writing would become such a large part of my life and career.”

Her early experience at Geneva taught her game day operations, compliance, and a lot of behind-the-scenes pieces of athletics many students do not get to see. It was working in these areas that in her senior year of college Judy realized this could become a career.

After graduating with a psychology degree with minors in public relations and business, Judy went on to graduate studies at Northwest Missouri State University where she was a graduate assistant in athletics. Here Judy learned to work with the media, pitch story ideas, and do the stories herself.

From there, Judy launched into a 30-year career in Sports Management and Sports Information. Throughout her years there have been countless opportunities, positions, awards, and notable moments, but Judy reflected on a few that stick out in particular.

Judy’s first full-time experiences were at the Mid-America Collegiate Athletics Association, and Eastern New Mexico University. Judy, early in her career, helped host the NCAA II National Softball Tournament three years in a row, learned the inner workings of the NCAA, and completed her Master’s Degree in Sports Administrations. At both institutions, Judy was the very first full-time Sports Information Director. Sports information was a rapidly growing career path in athletics, and Judy paved the way in more ways than one.

Sports information and athletics in general was, and to some degree still is, a male majority career field.

enmu-softball-press-box.jpg“When you think of athletics you do not think of female leadership. To walk into large meetings at the annual convention, one of my colleagues and I were almost always the only two women in the room. We were very deliberate to make sure when we saw other young women that we included them and encouraged them. We have made a lot of strides, there is still some way to go, but there are definitely glass ceilings that continue to gradually be broken in this field.”

As Judy applied and sought next steps in her career, at times she was met with obstacles and frustration because of the lack of representation in the field.

“I had never really considered jobs at a D1 level because up until this point I was barely getting interviews. And the interviews I was getting was because I was ‘the woman candidate.’ It was frustrating to know I was the only female candidate and that was why I got the interview, but me having those interviews, experiences, and positions opened doors for other women to get interviews and jobs in the field, so I am fine that I experienced those frustrations because it led to good.”

At this point in Judy’s career 10 out of 260 NCAA Division II schools had female sports information directors. Judy was fighting an uphill battle against long-standing gender norms in athletics.

willson_2003ffcommcrew_at-sun-belt.jpgAfter many accomplishments and firsts in the world of DII sports, Judy unexpectedly made the jump to DI and spent the majority of her career, 23 years, working for DI schools.

One of Judy’s most notable experiences was living in Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Judy had recently taken a position at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) after spending four and a half years working for the Sun Belt Conference in New Orleans.

“Being in the sports world of New Orleans was so fun because so many major sporting events came to the city. The team there was a family, we all helped each other out. In 2005, when Katrina hit, the college staffs I worked with became scattered. Thankfully, we did not lose anyone, but it was a hard time.”

One of the awards Judy has received throughout her career was related to her work and service to the community during this challenging time, she was presented with the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award for helping the athletics communications community during Hurricane Katrina.

Judy comments that colleagues from around Louisiana truly became a family and many of them still keep in touch to this day.

Through the awards, promotions, and leadership roles, Judy still looks to the students she got to know as having the greatest impact on her and is truly what has motivated her throughout her career.

willson_2008_91508vbmedia.jpg“There are always wins and losses in competition. The greatest wins are the successes in the students’ lives after graduation or things they did in school to make their education better. To be able to be involved in that and help with that part is a big part of it; it is why I do it.”

Judy has made a lasting impact on many lives of students, coaches, colleagues, and the industry as a whole. Being a trailblazer comes with difficulties but leaves lots to be proud of.

“The thing I am proudest of the most is the impact I have tried to make on the profession. I am so proud of the many young women who have made a path in the business and have become leaders and went on to make their own differences in the business. To be a small part of that is an honor. So many juggle being a wife, a mom, and their careers, so they have to be creative on how to cover events, support their teams, and take care of their families. I am so proud that there are more women in the industry. It is important. I am also proud that men in the business have learned to adapt, and it has benefitted them in their role as husbands, dads, and co-workers.”

Although Judy’s full-time career in sports information has come to a close, her impact has not. Judy now works as the Director of Graduate and Online Admissions, still helping students pursue their education and accomplish their goals.

On top of her full-time position, Judy volunteers with Geneva’s athletics department as an assistant in the sports information office, volunteering with the women’s golf team, substituting on the scorer’s table at volleyball and basketball, and other tasks.

“I have seen God’s hand in all of it. The open and shut doors along the way have been God revealing His plan to me. Now I am able to be back at Geneva where it all started, use my skills in athletics, be close to my family here in Beaver Falls, and embark on a new adventure where I get to continue serving students.”

Mar 20, 2023

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