Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda, announced today the appointment of two new board members to the CWSA. The CWSA Board of Directors is pleased to include Lindy Roberts-Ivy, Senior Associate Athletics Director - Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at the University of Oklahoma and Emilie Deutsch, Vice President of Original Programming & Features for CBS Sports and CBS Sports network.
The CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women student-athletes for the past 41 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.
“University of Oklahoma has been no stranger to the Collegiate Women Sports Awards over the years. So it is with much satisfaction that we add Lindy, with her enthusiasm and her skill sets, to our Board of Directors,” said Chris Voelz, Executive Director.
Board Chair, Jeanne Lenti Ponsetto said, “Our Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome Lindy ,whose expertise and experience will no doubt help us further promote the values and mission of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.“
In her Senior Associate AD role, Roberts-Ivy is a member of the department’s Executive Team and is the liaison to the Big 12 and NCAA through her SWA role. Additionally she oversees the department’s gender equity/Title IX initiatives, and plays key roles on the department’s strategic planning committee and all diversity initiatives. She is also a member of the Athletics Council and Athletics Department Staff Council.
Roberts-Ivy’s professional memberships include NACWAA and NACDA. She has participated in ongoing education efforts through her attendance of the Collegiate Athletic Operation Services Conference, the Big 12 Event Management Conference and the NACDA/Center for Spectator Sports Safety Security Management Forum. She is also on the Board of Directors for the OKC Boathouse Foundation and has served on numerous committees, including the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee in 2013 and 2014, while acting as Chair in her last year.
Roberts-Ivy, a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, received the Judith M. Sweet Commitment Award in 2009 from the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. The award honors athletics administrators who are committed to providing high level leadership and guidance within intercollegiate athletics and is presented to staff who are just beginning their administrative career.
"I could not be more thrilled to join the CWSA Board of Directors,” said Roberts-Ivy. What an exciting time for women's athletics and I am so excited to work with the best of the best!”
Deutsch has served as Vice President, Original Programming & Features at CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network for the past 13 years. During that time, she has originated impactful initiatives such as a documentary series on African-Americans in sports, and CBS Sports’ all-access programming during the NCAA Tournament, NCAA Confidential. In addition, Deutsch helped develop, launch, and currently oversees the first-ever all female national sports talk show, We Need to Talk. Before coming to CBS, Deutsch spent 18 years at ABC Sports covering events such as the Olympic Games, Monday Night Football, College Football, and Wide World of Sports. She created and oversaw ABC Sports’ documentary and feature group whose productions included a ground-breaking 12-part series on women in sports, A Passion to Play.
A graduate of Stanford University, Deutsch is a 6-time Emmy Award winner and has received other industry honors including a Christopher Award, multiple Gracie Awards, and the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award. She currently serves on the board of the Muhammad Ali Center.
“Given Emilie’s impressive resume, you can imagine how excited we are to add her to our Board of Directors,” said Voelz. “Her familiarity of CWSA through the live broadcast gives her a jump start on her impact as a board member.”
“CBS Sports Network is proud of our partnership with the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards, bringing recognition to the tremendous stories and accomplishments of collegiate women athletes,” said Deutsch. "It is an honor to serve as a media member on the CWSA board and to help shine a brighter light on women’s sports."
“The media positions on our Board of Directors have always been critical to our growth as an award program,” stated Lenti Ponsetto. “We are pleased to welcome Emilie whose broadcast background will certainly serve the Board well as we seek increased exposure and brand recognition.”
Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.