Women In Sports

By: Valerie Reyes Editor-in-Chief

Alyssa Nakken, assistant coach for the San Francisco Giants, made history April 12, 2022, as the first woman in Major League Baseball (MLB) to coach on-field in a regular season game.

Nakken unexpectedly took over as the first base coach when Giants’ first-base coach, Antoan Richardson had been ejected from the game. Alyssa had been hired in January of 2020 and works with baserunning, outfield defense and has previously coached the position in spring training.

As she took her position, she was welcomed with a handshake from San Diego Padres first basemen Eric Hosmer and the home plate umpire. Now her helmet she wore from the Giants game is making its way to Cooperstown, New York where it will join her Jersey from the Opening Day of the 2020 season at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Nakken is not the only woman to have made history in the sports industry. During the 2021 MLB season, sports announcers Melanie Newman and Jessica Mendoza were part of ESPN’s first all-women broadcast team for a nationally televised MLB game. Becky Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2020, Katie Sowers was the first female to coach at the Superbowl and the first openly gay coach in the National Football League (NFL). In 2021, Jennifer King became the first black female assistant coach in the NFL.

University of St. Francis freshman, Quetzalli Garcia says, “It’s great to see that slowly but surely women are getting more representation in sports. These women are inspirations for girls who want a career in sports and are opening the door to their future.” There are more influential women in the sports industry who have worked hard to defy these gender roles and are proving to show that men and women are equals. Their journeys are inspiring and are providing girls, and women with role models in an industry dominated by men.

“The contributions of women, particularly in leadership positions, can bring diversity and alternative approaches and expand the talent base in areas such as management, coaching and sport journalism.” says un.org. Women in sports are empowering girls and women allowing them to become more confident and showing that females can have leadership positions.

The more women are represented in professional sports the more awareness it brings. It’s amazing to see women make history, they are creating a future for girls and women who want to pursue a career in sports.

Alyssa Nakken

Congrats Encounter Seniors! Congrats Encounter Seniors!

Shayna Griffith

I have learned so much during my time at USF. Although I am so happy to be graduating, I will miss being a student here. I have met so many amazing professors and staff, and I will miss seeing them every day! My plans after graduation include moving to Chicago to start my professional career. I am so excited for what the future holds and can’t wait to see where my post-college life takes me.

Cosme Lozano

Looking ahead to the future, I have a lot of excitement for graduation. Over the last four years, I have had the privilege to work with some of the best people I have ever encountered. I've learned so much from everyone in this department and especially here at the Encounter. I have always said that the Communication Department is the University of St. Francis' least known jewel. I want to thank everyone in the communications program for always making me feel at home. I also want to thank all the members of the USF Encounter, past and present. Specifically, I’d like to thank Richie, Janelle, Emily, Sarah and Jessica. Thank you for always allowing me to have a space where I could babble on about sports or commentary. You guys are what makes the work we do so special. Finally, thank you reader for joining me on my journey over the course of the last three years. It has been an honor and my pleasure to write for you. Until our paths cross again!

Dallas Matlock

My plan after graduation is to eventually pay off my student debt and use my degree for a job of my choosing. I hope to take my skills that I have learned here and apply them in the “real” world. At the University of St. Francis, especially in communications, I've learned to never quit on something just because it seems hard or impossible to do. You can do anything even if all hope seems lost. Don’t worry: God has a reason for it, you just haven’t seen it yet. I’ve been blessed with the amount of people that I’ve met over the past four years that have been here to help me overcome things that I've struggled with. I thank Jesus Christ for everything he has done for me, and my parents who have helped me become the man I am today.

ConGRADulations

Class of 2022

Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 7, 2022

UNDERGRADUATE - Bachelor's Degree Ceremony

College of Arts & Sciences / College of Education 8:15 AM - Graduation Line-Up 8:45 AM - Procession 9:00 AM - Ceremony

10:45 AM - Graduation Line-Up 11:15 AM - Procession 11:30 AM - Ceremony

GRADUATE - Master's & Doctoral Degree Ceremony

College of Arts & Sciences / College of Business & Health Adm. / College of Education / Leach College of Nursing UNDERGRADUATE - Bachelor's Degree Ceremony

College of Business & Health Adm. / Leach College of Nursing

Location - Sullivan Recreation Center

1:15 PM - Graduation Line-Up 1:45 PM - Procession 2:00 PM - Ceremony *Tickets required for admission. Guests must be seated 15 minutes before ceremony.