Women Leaders in College Sports Internship Program

Women Leaders in College Sports is a 501(c)(3) leadership organization dedicated to empowering, developing and advancing the success of women. Women Leaders is a powerful, dynamic network of women in sports who are blazing the path for future leaders. We provide educational programming, professional and personal development opportunities, information exchange and support services to promote the growth and leadership of women as administrators, coaches and student-athletes. Women Leaders serves nearly 3,000 members representing more than 600 institutions nationwide.

The Women Leaders' internship is a powerful platform propelling women leaders forward in their career. Tangible and intangible skills learned through the internship give the experience and knowledge necessary to ascend in college athletics and beyond. Scroll down to see where some of our previous interns are now!

Former Intern Testimonials 

"All of our journeys provide exposure to elements, giving each one of us the opportunity to observe, absorb, learn and develop. This is essential for true professional (and personal) growth.  My time at Women Leaders came on the heels of a major leap of faith, leaving what I knew best (coaching and the sport of basketball) and entering into an unknown.  There was no better place for me to land.  The environment at Women Leaders promotes what is required to become truly self-aware as a professional.  In addition to being surrounded by outstanding humans, the organization gives you access to industry leaders, allowing you to learn from each of the very best in the field.  I was stretched, daily.  Women Leaders pushed me in the pursuit of becoming the very best version of me- each and every day."

Chelsea Petersen 
Assistant Director of Athletics | External Operations 
Washington University in St. Louis 
Intern 2017-18

"Interning at Women Leaders changed the trajectory of my deep dive into the world of collegiate athletics. I was challenged in the best ways to force myself to grow as a woman personally and professionally. I gained experience in networking, leadership, membership, and being a true team player. One of my greatest takeaways was to leave my excuses at the door and get the job done. Women Leaders is known for the multitude of different events they offer; Happy Hours, Convention, WLS, IAA and as an intern, I was involved in every event. Being a part of these crucial events while working with a team that operated in excellence, taught me that you get out what you put in. I put my best foot forward in everything I do because of the high expectation of greatness Women Leaders instilled in me. Through my internship I was exposed to the trail blazers and industry leaders in college athletics that ultimately led me to my first position. After interning with Women Leaders, there was no doubt in my mind that I was capable of tackling every duty and responsibility in my current role. I am forever indebted to Women Leaders for every aspect of my internship and for the lifelong connections I was given." 

Briana Vaughn 
Assistant Director | Administration 
Mississippi State University 
Intern 2017-18

 "Interning with Women Leaders has been instrumental in my development in the field of collegiate athletics. During my time, I have been exposed to a variety of operations needed to serve our members. As a Women Leaders intern, I have been able to meet many individuals creating lasting and sustaining relationships that will prove to be vital as I begin my career search shortly. During my time with Women Leaders, I have been tasked with important projects to assist in successfully connecting with our over 3,000 members. Working along side each director and attending programming such as the Institute for Administrative Advancement (IAA), I have developed skills essential to have a successful career in athletics. Not only has my lens on college athletics has become more broad and perspectives evolved but I have been pushed to excel at my highest level and learn what success truly means."

Rachel Steward
Intern 2015

"Women Leaders helped shape my career by transforming me into a more take charge individual. I can now say that in my current role I am usually the first to volunteer or step up when my team needs me. One of the important takeaways I learned from my time spent at Women Leaders is that you must be able to do things that others are not willing to do in order to advance. My advice for future interns would be to let your superiors know what you are interested because you never know who you might meet or what opportunity might arise for you to take the lead on."

Katherine Williams
Recreational Director
City of Kansas City, MO Parks and Recreation
Intern 2014-15

"Working with Women Leaders is the best life changing experience I can ask for on my career path. What we believe and what we do make this job not only a job but also a fun journey full of opportunities that allow me to learn from the best, share inspirations and achieve greatness with a group of talented and passionate women. Women Leaders has shaped me into a confident and strong person I am today. The connections with people I meet through Women Leaders continuously support me in many ways even we are thousand miles away. My gratitude toward Women Leaders will never end and whatever good things I may create in the future it all begins with the inspired year I spend at Women Leaders."

Shiang Tsao
Athlete Program Director
Taiwan Triathlon Co.
Intern 2014

"Women Leaders gave me a broad perspective on issues that affect collegiate sports as a whole. Furthermore, being around the board of directors and merely listening, I learned how to ask better questions. I think this has allowed me to approach issues with a much more critical eye."

Stephanie Baugh
Life Skills Coordinator
California State University, Long Beach
Intern 2011-12

"The greatest benefit that I received from the Women Leaders internship, aside from the pleasure of working with the wonderful people at the National Office, was exposure to key players at the highest levels of athletics administration. As a Women Leaders intern I felt that I had the unique opportunity to continue the legacy of women who overcame systemic inequality to forge fulfilling careers in collegiate athletics. Their stories inspired me to pursue my passions in the face of obstacles and to work collaboratively with those around me to achieve success. I apply those lessons every day in my work as an attorney. And although I no longer work in collegiate athletics, I have a deep respect for the work that Women Leaders does and the supportive community that it fosters."

Lisa Nash
Staff Law Clerk
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Intern 2009-11

"My experience at the Women Leaders office was the springboard to my career in athletics administration. It quickly elevated not only my skill set and knowledge of the industry, but the network of people I had the opportunity to meet was – and still is – one of the best things that could have happened to me. Sometimes it can be very difficult to get your foot in the door of an athletic department or conference office. Through the connections I formed and the number of administrators I met, I was fortunate to be in a position to make a great next step – and it was under the tutelage of an accomplished female in our industry. Win-win!"

Megan Kahn
Director of Events & Communication
Alliance of Women Coaches
Intern 2005-06

"Through that internship, I met women who became mentors with whom I still have meaningful and treasured relationships. I attended national events beyond the Women Leaders Convention where I was exposed to high level event operations and met many people who continued to encourage and inspire me. It was from the Women Leaders Advancement Institute (while an intern) that I met the woman who gave me my first full-time employment at Columbia University. Being hired into that position was my entry into this profession and it was all due to Women Leaders and the professional networking it afforded me."

Erin McDermott
Director of Athletics
Harvard University
Intern 1996-97

2020-2021 Shae Labbe, Ashylnn Fields & Carrie Shearer Women Leaders National Office
2019-2020 Meg Dowd, Ashylnn Fields & Sherrell Riley, Women Leaders National Office
2018-2019 Jessica Barquero, Monaé Khorvash & Madeline McCrary, Women Leaders National Office
2017-2018 Celine Mangan, Chelsea Petersen & Briana Vaughn, Women Leaders National Office
2016-2017 Megan Cairns & Nicole Jackson, Women Leaders National Office
2015-2016 Rachel Steward & Jasmine Wilkins, NACWAA National Office
2014-2015 JJ Archibald & Katherine Williams, NACWAA National Office
2013-2014 Emily Enos & Shiang Tsao, NACWAA National Office
2012-2013 Annie Butts & Katasha Kumar, NACWAA National Office
2011-2012 Stephanie Baugh, NACWAA National Office
2010-2012 Megan Riggs, NACWAA National Office
2009-2011 Lisa Nash, NACWAA National Office
2009-2010 Heidi Fisher, NACWAA National Office
2008-2009 Jennifer Thomas, NACWAA National Office
2008-2009 Susie Williams, NACWAA National Office
2007-2008 Jacklyn Driscoll, NACWAA National Office
2007-2008 Ayana Richardson, NACWAA National Office
2007-2008 Erica Wilson, NACWAA National Office
2006-2007 Shaniqua Simmons, NACWAA National Office
2006-2007 Colleen Murphy, NACWAA National Office
2005-2006 Megan Kahn, NACWAA National Office
2005-2006 Shelana Poindexter, NACWAA National Office
2004-2005 Cynita Hoskins, NACWAA National Office
2003-2004 Natalie Moretz, NACWAA National Office
2002-2003 Lisa Danner, NACWAA National Office
2002-2002 Liz Padgett, NACWAA National Office
2001-2002 Kris Ruffo, NACWAA National Office
1996-1997 Erin McDermott, San Francisco State University
1995-1996 Dawn Darby, Atlantic Coast Conference
1994-1995 Katie Ahrens, Northern Illinois University
1993-1994 Laura Fawcette, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1992-1993 Kelly Costello, Washington State University
1991-1992 Susan Colodny, University of Minnesota