June 3, 2010
GVSU's Lisa Sweany Earns NACWAA D-II "Administrator of the Year" Award
Release courtesy of the GVSU Sports Information Department
Wilmington, N.C. - The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) will honor Grand Valley State University Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, Lisa Sweany, at the Administrator of the Year, Honor and Distinction Awards Banquet. The banquet will take place at the 2010 NACWAA National Convention on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Sweany is one of nine individuals that will be honored as the "Administrator of the Year."
"NACWAA is honored to pay special
recognition to each of these nine outstanding individuals for their
hard work and dedication to the field of intercollegiate
athletics," said Patti Phillips, Executive Director.
The Administrator of the Year
Award, sponsored by Jostens, is bestowed upon NACWAA members who
have made significant contributions as administrators of
intercollegiate athletics. In addition to Sweany, 2010 honorees are
as follows: Petrina Long (University of California, Los Angeles,
Division I Football Bowl Subdivision), Vicky Chun (Colgate
University-Division I Football Championship Subdivision), Julie
Davis (University of Maine-Farmington-Division III), Susan Hlavacek
(Notre Dame College- NAIA)and Janet Judge (Sports Law Associates
LLC-Organization).
The Nell Jackson Administrator of
the Year Award, presented to a NACWAA member, is bestowed annually
to an athletics administrator who exemplifies the personal
qualities and professional accomplishments of Dr. Nell Jackson,
such as courage, conviction and perseverance and who is an advocate
for gender equity and diversity. This year's recipient is Marilyn
Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano (University of Hawaii at Manoa).
The Honor Award recipient,
presented annually to the individual who has exemplified support of
women in athletics and their success, is the late Dr. Myles Brand
(NCAA). Brand was a staunch advocate for Title IX, influential in
academic reform both as a University President and as NCAA
President, and was a friend to NACWAA. Without his public
statements in support of Title IX shortly after he became NCAA
President, the battle to keep Title IX strong would have been far
more difficult. He truly believed in equitable opportunities and
was an effective leader and spokesperson on that topic. Brand's
academic research investigated the nature of human action. His work
focused on intention, desire, belief and other cognitive states, as
well as deliberation and practical reasoning, planning and general
goal-directed activity.
The NACWAA Award of Distinction,
sponsored by Jostens, is presented as special recognition to a male
or female who has distinguished him/herself with any or all of the
following: unique professional contributions, extraordinary service
or professional accomplishments, personal courage. Diane
Milutinovich will be awarded the Award of Distinction. Milutinovich
served as a coach and athletics administrator at California State
University Fresno and was an advocate for Title IX and gender
equity. She recently retired following a 27-year career at Fresno
State University that ended when her discrimination lawsuit was
settled. In recognition of her distinguished service, Fresno State
conferred upon Diane the title of Associate Athletic Director
Emeritus of the Athletics Department. During Diane's tenure as
Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, she
supervised many areas in the athletics department and served as a
sports supervisor for 15 men's and women's sports.
