DSU students host inaugural Women in Sports Conference
Delaware State University’s student-run Sport Management Organization recently hosted its inaugural Women in Sports Conference, bringing together students, industry professionals and community members for a day centered on mentorship, learning and celebrating the impact of women across the sports industry.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from SMO Secretary Leah Brown, who served as host for the event and introduced SMO President Kaliya Garcia, who emphasized the importance of creating spaces that highlight women’s voices, experiences, and leadership within sports. Garcia noted that the conference was designed to provide insight and real-world guidance for students interested in diverse sport-related careers, from media and business to athlete development and sport medicine.
The first panel, moderated by Akaiya Morrison of the SMO Women in Sports Committee, focused on specialized sport careers and media and communications. Panelists Paris Dupree, vice president of business and legal affairs at One Team Partners, and Tia Jarvis, senior mass communications student at DSU, shared their professional journeys and discussed the evolving landscape of sports media, name, image, and likeness opportunities, and legal representation in sports.
Through candid discussion, the panelists offered advice on gaining hands-on experience, standing out in competitive job markets, and remaining adaptable through early-career challenges. Their insights highlighted the importance of persistence, networking, and storytelling within the sports industry.
Mirrah Morris, another member of the SMO Women in Sports Committee, moderated the next panel. The second session shifted focus to sports business, administration, and youth and recreational sports. Panelist Noel Maloney, Athletic Director at Lindenwold Public Schools, discussed their career paths and the behind-the-scenes leadership required to run successful sports programs.
Key topics included the growing role of technology and data analytics in sports administration, lesser-known career opportunities within youth and recreational sports, and strategies for balancing competition, athlete development, and community impact. The discussion reinforced how leadership in sports extends far beyond the field of play.
The final panel was moderated by Leah Brown and centered on academic support and sports medicine. Panelist Eulonda Pfister, an athletic academic advisor at Delaware State University, joined Taylor Price, a physician’s assistant at First State Orthopedic, to explore holistic athlete support.
Panelists discussed the connection between performance and wellness, the challenges of balancing competitive demands with long-term athlete health, and the motivations that led them into athlete support professions. Students were encouraged to begin gaining experience early and to remain committed to athlete-centered approaches as the field continues to evolve.
The keynote speaker of this event was Olympian Priscilla Loomis. She brought the energy to DSU as a native from Jersey. Her presentation explored what it truly means to build power, purpose, and sustainable careers in women’s sports. She drew from lived experience and shared a personal journey through athletics, media, and leadership, highlighting the challenges women often face in sports spaces and the resilience required to navigate them. A central theme was that strength is not innate but forged through adversity, growth, and intentional self-belief.
The session concluded with a call to cultivate growth, embrace confidence unapologetically, and recognize that personal stability, purpose, and self-worth are the foundation for meaningful impact in women’s sports and beyond.
The conference concluded with an Induction and Certificate Ceremony led by KaMaya Baines-Butler, who recognized honorees for their achievements and contributions to sports.
Following the ceremony, guests were also invited to support women in sports by attending the DSU Women’s Basketball game later that day. The women’s team won 75-66, capping off an amazing senior night.
The inaugural DSU Sport Management Organization Women in Sports Conference served as a powerful reminder of the influence, resilience, and leadership of women in athletics, while motivating the next generation of sport professionals to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose.
