Lisa A Kihl, PhD, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Global Institute for Responsible Sport Organizations, co-authored an article, “Why Empowering Women in Sports Is a Winning Game Plan,” in Mediaplanet’s Women in Sports campaign.

Women represent 45 percent of their leagues’ fanbases and have influence on 80 percent of all purchasing decisions, yet women are drastically underrepresented in leadership positions as only 7 percent of the NCAA Division I athletic directors are female. “By challenging power differentials in sport and intentionally advancing women’s status as coaches and leaders, we will see social, economic, and political impacts on lives both in and out of sports.”

Nancy Lough, PhD, professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, also contributed to the publication.