ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Femi Alao arrived at Roberts Wesleyan College in 2019 after spending nearly a decade working as a teacher, athletic director and coach in the Denver, Colorado area.
Alao, who came to Roberts as an Assistant Athletic Director through a matching grant provided by the NCAA Division II Strategic Alliance, was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA)Â in 2020 and serves on several committees at Roberts and for the East Coast Conference.
Alao holds two Master's degrees from Ball State University and played four seasons of Division I soccer, three at Grambling State University and one at the University of Southern Mississippi.Â
She serves as the Title IX Coordinator for Roberts' Athletic Department and is passionate about being a champion and mentor for student-athletes and the campus community.
"Students can look at me as a safe space to help process whatever issue they may be going through or to speak up on behalf of a peer who may not have the voice to speak up for themselves," Alao says.
On March 30, Alao moderated "Women At The Helm: Celebrating Women's History Month and the 50th Anniversary of Title IX." The Zoom panel featured six other women athletic directors from East Coast Conference institutions.
Alao took a few moments to discuss the panel, Title IX and some of the issues facing administrators in college athletics today. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did Women At The Helm come about?Â
"I chair the Senior Women's Administrators group for the ECC and I wanted to pay homage to Women's History Month, the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, and the contributions of women in athletics. I had a conversation with Dr. Bob Dranoff (ECC Commissioner) and he loved the idea and was on board! Bob and Melissa Reilly (ECC Senior Associate Commissioner/SWA) supported the idea and helped make it a reality. … I had the opportunity to interview the women athletic directors of the ECC. Each panelist is an extremely talented, brilliant, accomplished leader. Everyone had a unique career path, but it was helpful to not only highlight their career paths but to share lessons in leadership in hopes of inspiring the next generation of administrators."
What is something the East Coast Conference is doing right when it comes to providing opportunities for women?
"Within the East Coast Conference, we have five out of 10 women who are athletic directors and one Senior Associate Commissioner who is also a woman. The ECC is leading the way when it comes to conferences providing opportunities for women.
Were there any recurring themes that you heard throughout the discussion in terms of how to make progress?
"Some of the themes discussed centered around finding allies and sponsors to support your professional journey, empowering people, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. There were so many gems!"Â
What is the ECC doing right in terms of equality?
"The ECC offers grants and funding for continued education and professional development opportunities. There is MOAA (Minority Opportunities Athletic Association), which partners with the NCAA to have a Division II governance program. I was a former participant and the experience introduces participants to NCAA committee work and prepares young minority administrators for Division II committee service. The East Coast Conference has many committees you can serve on to continue to learn and grow. …The ECC has a Diversity and Inclusion Committee which I serve on. The goal of the committee is to support the conference when it comes to creating and implementing strategic initiatives around diversity equity and inclusion.Â
"Over the last few years, education has been a focus for the ECC. The ECC has hosted a virtual Town Hall on race and social justice. I had the opportunity to serve as a panelist.Â
"There is also a partnership with RISE. RISE is a national nonprofit educating and empowering the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve race relations."
What are some of the things that you hear from athletes in discussing equality?
"Funding will always be a topic of discussion. Oftentimes students want to understand the rationale for how and why dollars are allocated and spent. There are conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Serving as the Chair for the Gender Equity committee has given me a better understanding of the inner workings of the department and the opportunity to better answer student questions and concerns ."Â
Coming back to the roundtable, what were some of your personal takeaways about how you move forward?
"Some of my takeaways are to continue to work on building relationships. Some of the women on the panel spoke about empowering people and that is one of my ongoing goals. Through my roles and committee work, I am able to foster some of those relationships. I am a member of Women Leaders In College Sport, I serve on their membership committee, I also do work with MOAA, with the Rising Stars. I am super passionate about supporting the next generation of administrators and I would love to continue to mentor and teach from lessons learned along my journey. I would love to do a lot more intentional work around professional development.``Â
Who are some of your role models?
"My mom is my role model. Both of my parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. They left behind their old lives with the hopes that America would bring the promises they prayed for. My mom dedicated her life to sacrificing for her children, to ensure that my siblings and I were best positioned for success. This was done while navigating the dilemmas facing African immigrants, continuing education, navigating professional spaces, and raising five children on a continent with no immediate family support. My mom wore many hats. She had a heart for service and bettering her community. This is evident in her life's work. She has also spent decades lending her voice and position to serve as an agent of change for the immigrant community in the Denver area and across the African diaspora. Her impact is immeasurable. When I look back on her life thus far and her sacrifices, I can say 'because of her I can' and that is a large part of who I am. She has sacrificed so much for me to have opportunities that have paved the path to where I am today."
Is there anything more that you would like to share?
"I love serving on committees with MOAA and Women Leaders in College Sports. So many people have invested in me and my own personal life and in my professional career. Committee work allows me to pay it forward. I have a heart for service."
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