12 NEPSAC Schools Participate in Girls* in Sports Leadership Summit

Annual Conference at Cushing Academy focuses on “Competing with Confidence and Empathy”

by Matthew Cote

Focused on the theme “Competing with Confidence and Empathy,” Cushing Academy hosted its 6th annual Girls* in Sports Leadership Summit on April 10, 2023. More than 60 female-identifying student-athletes from 12 NEPSAC schools participated in the summit.

More than 60 student-athletes from 14 NEPSAC schools joined this year’s Girls* in Sports Leadership Summit. Photo by Phillip Wexler

Keynote speaker Erin McDermott, Harvard University’s John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics, encourages student-athletes to “play big” in all aspects of their lives.

“The idea is to recognize young leaders,” says Dr. Jen Willis, Cushing’s director of teaching and learning, who also serves as assistant varsity field hockey and jv girls’ basketball coach. “The summit gives them affirmation for the contributions they are making to strengthen their teams and schools and also connects them with strong, accomplished female role-models. Through keynotes and workshops, the hope is that students will leave the summit with many helpful tools to add to their leadership toolkit.”

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Willis and Sarah Catlin, Cushing’s director of student affairs and NEPSAC’s field hockey president, the Girls* in Sports Leadership Summit has grown in attendance every year since.

This year, the Girls* in Sports Leadership summit featured keynote speaker Erin McDermott, Harvard University’s John D. Nichols ‘53 Family Director of Athletics. As Director, McDermott oversees the nation’s largest Division I athletic program, as well as extensive recreational, club, and intramural sports programs. Ms. McDermott emphasized the message of “Don’t Shy Away,” encouraging participants to identify and go after what they want.

Students participate in “Taking the Lead: Difficult Conversations,” a workshop led by Dia Fortenberry, a DEI facilitator at Wesleyan University and 2020-21 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Defensive Player of the Year (Basketball).

NEPSAC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE 2023 SUMMIT:

BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL

CHESHIRE ACADEMY

CUSHING ACADEMY

FAY SCHOOL

THE GOVERNOR’S ACADEMY HOLDERNESS SCHOOL

MIDDLESEX SCHOOL

MILTON ACADEMY

POMFRET SCHOOL

RIVERS SCHOOL

TABOR ACADEMY

THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL

“Cushing has created a very special opportunity for girls to gather and learn from sports professionals. Their energy, curiosity, and authenticity was inspiring,” says McDermott. “Kudos to Jen Willis and her team at Cushing for executing such an impactful experience. I hope the girls got as much energy from me as I got from them!”

In addition to the keynote, attendees participated in three discussion-based workshops from a list of six options, including:

» “Dealing with Adversity on Your Team” led by Carissa Medeiros, head women’s lacrosse coach at Southern New Hampshire University

» “The Role of the Team Captain” led by Ceci Reyes, director of student activities and varsity girls’ basketball coach at Governor’s Academy

» “Mind Over Matter: The Practice of Wellness” led by Erin Fisher, director of wellbeing and head coach of girls’ varsity soccer at Pomfret School.

» “Taking the Lead: Difficult Conversations,” led by Dia Fortenberry, DEI facilitator at Wesleyan University and 202021 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Defensive Player of the Year (Basketball).

» “The Psychology of Injury” led by Kelsey Hunter, Assistant Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion and Student-Athlete Well-Being at Smith College

» “The 5 F’s of Leadership & Performance” led by Julia Allain, sports psychologist and mental skills coach

The event culminated with a wrap-up by Katie Ftorek, Cushing’s associate director of college counseling and varsity softball and varsity girls’ ice hockey assistant coach, who reflected on competing with empathy and confidence. “Today started with discussions around purpose, joy, and gratitude,” Ms. Ftorek remarked, “While you are sitting here amongst your competitors, don’t miss out on the opportunity in front of you in sports, in the classroom, in the workforce, see these relationships and interactions with other women as opportunities to empower and celebrate each other.”

Through the support of Cushing Academy alums and an Edward E. Ford Foundation grant, what started as a conference on Girls* in Sports Leadership has this year expanded into a Leaders and Learners Summit Series, featuring a Girls* in Arts Leadership conference in the fall and a Girls* in STEAM Leadership conference in the winter.

The Leaders and Learners Summit Series embraces an inclusive definition of girls and welcomes participants who identify as girls, including trans girls and those who are nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and any student who identifies as female or otherwise in a way that is meaningful to them. For information and details about the Leaders and Learners Summit Series, contact Jen Willis at jewillis@cushing.org.