National Girls & Women in Sports Day Spotlight: Athletic Administration/Staff
This year's celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day coincides with the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the landmark federal law signed in 1972 that prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. For more information about the NCAA's celebration of Title IX at 50 years, click here.
The series of stories relating to National Girls and Women in Sports Day concludes with four more testimonials from members of the Pride athletic administration and athletic staff.
Pam Roecker - Dean of Athletics
Pam Roecker brings over 30 years of athletic administrative and coaching experience into her role as Regis College Dean of Athletics. In addition, for the last 19 years, Roecker has served as a television broadcaster for college basketball games for the Atlantic 10, Big East, Colonial Athletic Association and Northeast Conference, appearing on a variety of national and regional networks. At the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, she was a two-time captain of the basketball team and a 1,000-point scorer, plus she is still the Phoenix's all-time leader in single-game, single-season and career assists.
"I am proud to say that I am an early beneficiary of Title IX legislation, having started my high school career in 1976. The strides were slow, but steady---and I can tell you that ALL of my teammates in tennis, basketball, and softball sincerely appreciated and knew we deserved the advances we were making. Thousands and thousands of girls and women have excelled and benefitted from Title IX over the last five decades, and it is astonishing to see how far we have come! As the Dean of Athletics at Regis College, I am proud of our commitment to equity and opportunity for all of our student-athletes, and while the fight is not over, I am certainly proud of where we are today!"
Laura Ladino - Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator
Laura Ladino is in her seventh year as the Assistant Athletic Director, Compliance Coordinator, and Senior Woman Administrator at Regis. Ladino is responsible for supporting the welfare of Regis' student-athletes and to assist in the educational goals of all 20 men's and women's athletic programs. She was a four-year member of the women's soccer team while at Eastern Connecticut State University, earning three Little East Conference Championships and a trip to the Sweet-16 round of the NCAA DIII Women's Soccer Tournament in 2010.
"Growing up a soccer player helped shape me into the woman I am today. The game gave me an understanding of teamwork, taught me how to fail and then succeed, helped develop my strong work ethic, and most importantly was the beginning of some of my greatest friendships."
Elizabeth Conant - Faculty Athletic Representative
Dr. Elizabeth Conant, a member of the Regis College community since 2010, was appointed to the position of Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) in 2018. Dr. Conant is currently the program director and assistant professor of sport management, a title she has held since 2015. In addition, she is the Chair of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) FAR group. She was a member of the Wheaton women's soccer and lacrosse programs between 1993 and 1997 as well as the head coach of the Regis women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams between 2010 and 2014.
"At Wayland High School and Wheaton College, my teammates elected me as team captain for soccer, track & field, and lacrosse. Being a captain gave me experience leading others, public speaking, managing different personalities, and representing student-athlete interests to the coaches and administrators. Most of all, being a team captain gave me confidence. That confidence motivated me to embark in a career path of athletic administration, coaching, and sport management, which 20 years ago were less common career choices for women. But here I am now, as the Regis Sport Management Program Director and Faculty Athletic Representative. I wouldn't have predicted it at the time, but my playing and leadership experiences in sport absolutely prepared me for where I am today."
Emily DeAngelis - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Emily DeAngelis spent five years as a member of the athletic training staff at Bridgewater State University. She provided athletic training services for the football, men's wrestling, women's softball, swimming & diving, and tennis teams. She also designed strength and conditioning programs for the equestrian, softball, tennis, cross country, women's lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, and volleyball teams. As a student-athlete at Lasell, she was a four-year letterwinner in softball, serving as team captain in her senior year.
"I have played softball since I was four years old and, even after my college career was complete, I am lucky that sports are still a huge part of my identity. I have sports to thank for my empathy, time management skills, resilience, and perseverance in my professional career. I love working in athletics because there is nothing like the rush of game day! When I think game day I think SHOW TIME. The competitive and positive culture in athletics is in my opinion the best work environment one could ask for."