To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Title IX, The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication and Texas Athletics are hosting a series of events.
The College of Communication’s Texas Program in Sports and Media (TPSM) has created an annual forum to advance the dialogue on women’s roles in sports, media and society.
Named “SixteenWomen” in honor of the women who organized the ancient Greek Heraea Games, the forum will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Belo Center for New Media, 300 W. Dean Keeton St. The event is free and open to the public, although space is limited.
The keynote speaker is Carol Stiff, vice president of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, a former collegiate basketball player and an advocate for women’s sports. Fran Harris, a TPSM advisory board member, College of Communication alumna and lecturer, will serve as host. Harris also was a member of the undefeated 1986 University of Texas at Austin Women’s Basketball team.
Additional speakers include:
- Eryn McMahan, senior account executive at IMG College, a U.S. collegiate multimedia, marketing and licensing/brand management company
- Patricia Lowry, coordinating producer at the Longhorn Network
- Mimi Griffin, owner and operator of MSG Promotions, a full-service event management and marketing firm with an emphasis on golf
In addition to the discussion, University of Texas Women’s Track and Field Coach Bev Kearney will present TPSM’s inaugural Title IX Legacy Award to Jody Conradt, who served as head coach of the Women’s Basketball team from 1976 to 2007. Her 1985-86 team earned the 1986 NCAA Championship, becoming the first team to go undefeated (34-0) en route to the national title. Conradt also served as Women’s Athletics Director from 1992 to 2001.
Texas Athletics will also dedicate a statue in honor of Jody Conradt at a private event on Friday, Oct. 5. The statue recognizes her service to the university as a teacher, coach, mentor and inspiration to thousands of young women who received opportunities through education and sports.
About The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication
One of the nation’s foremost institutions for the study of advertising and public relations, communication sciences and disorders, communication studies, journalism and radio-TV-film, The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication is preparing students to thrive in an era of media convergence. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is nationally recognized for its faculty members, research and student media. For more information about the College of Communication, visit https://moody.utexas.edu.
