Ajah Hawley-Alexander, clinical lecturer in the media & strategic communication (MSC) department at Iona University, wants to create opportunities for students to learn directly from the professionals they hope to become. Prior to joining the faculty at Iona, Hawley-Alexander worked in sports media, including nine years with Madison Square Garden (Knicks and Liberty).
“My thing has been to ensure that students are able to network, talk with professionals, understand the various verticals within this very diverse and dynamic field and hear firsthand accounts,” said Hawley-Alexander. “It enables the students to ask questions and take in the information in a way that I think is instrumental.”
On Oct. 22, MSC presented the panel discussion Women in Sports and Media, which featured six-time Emmy winner Emilie Deutsch; author, TV personality and executive director of Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program Katrina Adams; CBS Sports social media producer and director Liz Edwards; CBS Sports producer and director Suzanne Smith; and award-winning documentary producers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern, founders Lookalike Productions.
“When you think about the popularity and the growth of women’s sports, think about the people who are behind that,” Hawley-Alexander said. “Also, women can cover any sport and the various ways that they can do that. Whether it’s in production, live events, social media, sideline reporting and those types of things. It gave more depth to the opportunities that are out there.”
When Hawley-Alexander was an undergraduate and graduate student at Fairleigh Dickinson University, she at times created internship opportunities for herself. With the panel, she wanted students to hear firsthand how these professionals achieved their current positions. “Trying to find that balance of a professional that can lend their experience in a way that students understand and feel inspired by but not intimidated by,” she said.
Ana Mejia-Valdez, who is pursuing a master’s degree in sports communication and media, was among the event’s attendees. Her goal is to work in the field of digital content for either the NBA, WNBA or Unrivaled. She was particularly interested in hearing from Edwards.
“I do a lot of video content and … I try to add my own creative flair,” said Valdez. “This panel really allowed me to see the broad aspect and range that women in sports can go into.”