March is Women’s History Month for many institutions and organizations. While women have played an important role since the organization’s founding, the association hasn’t always had an easy, welcoming relationship with its women members. Women were officially barred from holding membership for more than a decade, and only through the persistent, pioneering spirit of many women in NIRSA did they blaze a trail to leadership positions within the Association and on their campuses across North America.
NIRSA would not be the organization it is today without the decades of contributions from women. “While there was a stint where women were banned from NIRSA, women were part of NIRSA’s Foundation in 1950 and women continue to contribute to the development of our NIRSA in big ways,” says longtime NIRSA member Rachael Finley, Owner of Rachael Finley Coaching and Consulting. “Women like Juliette Moore, who relentlessly pushed for change and social justice, and Maureen McGonagle, who was an integral part of restructuring NIRSA’s governance model, are just the tip of the iceberg in demonstrating the impact women have had on our Association,” she adds.
Later this month, NIRSA will mark 40 years since Mary Daniels became the first woman to serve as President of NIRSA. Since then, “Eighteen different women have served as NIRSA President, with six of them serving between 2020 and 2026. The future is bright and ripe for continued growth as we evolve as an organization with women at the helm,” says Rachael.
At every level of the association, talented women lead through their volunteer service, including Lashica Thomas, Director of Campus Recreation at Columbus State University who is President of NIRSA’s Board of Directors; Jasmine Holmes, Director of Recreation & Physical Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who is President of the NSC Board of Directors and Stephanie Calhoun, Assistant Director of Recreation Facilities at Georgia Southern University who is the Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Team; and Liz Henry, Associate Director Recreation, Engagement at the University of California-San Diego who will be begin her term as the President of the NIRSA Foundation on May 1, to name just a few.
Take time this month to celebrate some of the most significant milestones lead by women in NIRSA.
Where can NIRSA members start?
If you haven’t already read them, NIRSA members should explore the “Women making history” series of articles:
- NIRSA’s founding and the early years (1950s)
- The interregnum (1959-1971)
- Trailblazing the return to NIRSA (1970s-1980s)
- Transforming the profession (1990s-Today)
Coauthored by NIRSA members Katie Geter, Assistant Director of Competitive Sports for Recreational Services at Georgia State University, Becky Todd, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Well-being at the University of Arkansas, Cheyanne Clouse, Director of Athletics and Wellness at Greensboro Country Club, Greta LeDoyen, Director of Eagle Fitness/Wellness, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, and Donavon Hailey, Community Recreation Director for the City of Lubbock, this series takes readers through many of the significant contributors to NIRSA’s history and several breakthrough milestones along the way.
Want to learn more about the complexities women experience while progressing in their professional careers in campus recreation? You’ll want to read “Passage Through the Leadership Labyrinth: Women’s Journey in the Collegiate Recreation Profession,” by Past President of NIRSA and Associate Professor at Elon University, Cara Lucia and Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness at the University of South Carolina Aiken and Past President of NIRSA, Mila Padgett. The article draws on interviews of 36 women and offers readers a qualitative study that explores the direct experiences of women.
Will you be at NIRSA 2026 in National Harbor
If you’re looking to increase your knowledge of women in campus recreation or to grow your network of dedicated women leaders in the field and you’ll want to make it to National Harbor, MD next month for the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA® World Conference & Expo!
“Women learning from other women is crucial as we develop our abilities to lead others. Connecting with other women who share similar experiences or whose journeys resemble our own helps remove feelings of being alone and can help in dealing with the balancing act of being a wife, mother, caregiver, all while trying to effectively lead others,” says NIRSA President Lashica Thomas. “Seeing other women succeed in this male dominated field is inspiring and hopefully will motivate more and more women to join the campus recreation and wellbeing profession,” she adds.
Be sure to attend the NIRSA Awards Reception on Friday, April 10, where the official 2026 NIRSA Honor Award presentation will take place. Laurie Braden, Executive Director of University Recreation at Louisiana State University and Past President of NIRSA will become the seventeenth woman to be recognized with the Association’s most prestigious accolade.
About Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.
Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
- For more information about connecting with women leaders in campus recreation, contact the membership team at NIRSA Headquarters.
- If you are interested in highlighting your campus or a NIRSA member’s achievements on your campus, pitch us your ideas.
