Women in Sport Spring Series Exposes Students to Long List of Career Opportunities
North Carolina State University is making significant strides in its goal of becoming a hub for young adults interested in pursuing careers in women’s sports — particularly through the College of Natural Resources.
Kim Bush, a teaching professor in the Department Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, led a team of students and faculty in securing a generous grant from Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy to launch the Women in Sport Spring Series.
The series couldn’t have come at a better time: Revenue from women’s sports is skyrocketing. Bush said this rapid growth means students are plotting their educational journeys without knowing about the job opportunities available in today’s sports industry — jobs in leadership, marketing, logistics, analysis, reporting, event planning and much more.
Students Inspire First Step to Leadership Summit
Bush, who leads courses covering topics ranging from the psychological and cultural dimensions in sport to sport administration and pedagogy, wants to prepare students of all genders to create a better balance in the industry when they enter it. Referencing data published by the NCAA, Bush said that less than 25% of high school and college athletic directors are women.
“My Ph.D. was in the teaching side of sport and physical education, then I examined inequities in sport,” she said. “I see both the desire and the need for more involvement from people of marginalized genders in all the roles surrounding athletics.”
Bush’s journey toward a series of educational programs about those roles got a boost from her students in 2022.
“A few students in a special-topics course wanted to develop a Women in Sport Leadership Summit. I was thrilled. We went to work immediately,” she said. “I’m grateful NC State Athletics got completely on board with us. The summit would not have been possible without their partnership”
The inaugural summit in 2023 drew 75 college students. The following year, 115 attendees included administrators from local sports and recreation organizations as well as nearby universities.
Donor Support Powers Program Expansion
Based on this success, Bush and departmental colleague Bryan Clift applied for a $10,000 Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy Alumni Impact Fund grant to develop a broader range of events leading up to a bigger-than-ever Women in Sport Leadership Summit. The fund supports initiatives that focus on empowering women and enhancing the university experience for all students.
Jennifer Piercy, assistant dean of philanthropy in the College of Natural Resources, said Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy’s support is a “testament to the impact alumni donors can have on students and student-led programs now and in the future.”
Speaking of alumni, Bush said one particular graduate played a substantial role in implementing all the ideas: Ashley Correa, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the College of Natural Resources in 2019.
“She and other alumni worked alongside current students. That’s what I’m most proud of: It has been former students reaching back to create opportunities for current students.”
Intentional Collaboration for Positive Outcomes
Built on the existing Girls and Women in Sports Clinic and a mentoring program with Washington Magnet Elementary School, the 2025 Women in Sport Spring Series comprised the following programs:
- Women in Sport Networking Event — Industry professionals joined NC State College of Natural Resources faculty and staff to offer students insights and internship opportunities.
- Saint Mary’s Mentoring — NC State women mentored female high school students from Saint Mary’s School by designing and delivering curriculum about leadership development.
- National Girls and Women in Sport Day Clinic — NC State and North Carolina Central University students delivered hands-on sports drills and skill development stations to K-5 students.
- Women in Sport Leadership Summit — Keynote and breakout-session speakers spoke on current issues and shared professional development opportunities with an audience that included students from nine universities.
Throughout the series’ development, Bush insisted on using the expertise of real athletes and addressing the needs of all genders and gender identities.
“We are very intentional about everything that goes into our programs,” Bush said, in part by working with NC State’s women’s athletic department leadership and student-athletes to determine best practices.
Bush now plans to work with student leaders to add the newly formed NC State Women in Sports Club to her list of collaborators to create programming focused on uniting students and others through sports.
This article was written by Cindy Dashnaw Jackson for the College of Natural Resources.
This post was originally published in College of Natural Resources News.