University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass To Celebrate National Girls And Women In Sports Day On Feb. 2
January 25, 2021 | Field Hockey, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Lacrosse, Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. – Six prominent UMass alumnae will come together on a panel to mark the 35th anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on February 2, presented by UMassFive College Credit Union. The panel, hosted by Jenny Dell ('08) features Hannah Burnett ('18), Pam Bustin ('90), Heather MacLean ('17), Rachael Rollins ('94) and Paula Wilkins ('94).
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Established by the Women's Sports Foundation, NGWSDÂ celebrates the accomplishments of female athletes, recognizes the influence of sports participation for women and girls and honors the continued progress towards equal opportunity for women in sports.
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Registration for the panel, which is scheduled for Feb. 2 at 6 p.m., is now open. Space is limited so be sure to sign up today to hear our panelists discuss the impact of sport in their lives and their efforts to create similar opportunities for the next generation. To register for free, please click here!
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Below is more information on the panel:
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Jenny Dell – Class of 2008
Dell, who was a BDIC major at UMass with a concentration in Sport Event Marketing & Operations, was NESN's on-field reporter during the 2012 and 2013 World Series Championship season before joining CBS Sports' NFL and College Football coverage as a sideline reporter. In the football offseason, she hosts "Campus Eats" on Big 10 Network.Â
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Hannah Burnett – Women's Lacrosse – Class of 2018
Burnett, a three-year letterwinner with the women's lacrosse team, helped the program to Atlantic 10 Tournament titles in 2016 and 2017 and was also a two-time A-10 All-Conference First Team selection as both a junior and senior. Burnett got involved in the NFL as an event operations intern with the Buffalo Bills in 2017, and also served as a player personnel assistant in the NFL office. After working with the Atlanta Falcons in a variety of player personnel roles, she was hired by the New York Giants as their Midlands scout in 2020, the first woman in a full-time scouting position in franchise history. Â
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Pam Bustin – Field Hockey – Class of 1990
Bustin was a four-year letterwinner with the field hockey program, where she helped the program to four straight NCAA appearances, highlighted by a national semifinal appearance in 1987. The head coach at Duke since 2011, Bustin is a two-time ACC and NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year and a member of the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame. Bustin was also the head coach of the United States National Team in 2008, guiding the organization to its first Olympic appearance since 1996.
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Heather MacLean – Women's Track and Field and Cross Country – Class of 2017
MacLean was a three-time All-American at UMass and a finalist for 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year. MacLean became UMass' first women's cross country All-American in 2017, and was also a four-time NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary qualifier, eight-time New England champion and 10-time Atlantic 10 champion on the track. For her work in the classroom, MacLean was a six-time A-10 Academic All-Conference honoree and was among 10 graduating seniors honored for exemplary achievement, initiative and leadership as 21st Century Leaders during UMass' Undergraduate Commencement in 2017. MacLean now races professionally for New Balance.
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Rachael Rollins – Women's Lacrosse – Class of 1994
Rollins, a former captain for the UMass women's lacrosse team who scored 70 goals and 19 assists during her career with the Minutewomen, is currently the Suffolk County District Attorney and chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. She was the first woman elected as District Attorney in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected to serve in the role in Massachusetts. An attorney for 20 years, she previously worked as a field attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, as an associate at the law firm Bingham McCutchen and as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney's Office in Boston.
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Paula Wilkins – Women's Soccer – Class of 1994
Wilkins was a four-year letterwinner with the women's soccer program, captaining the 1993 squad that went 17-3-3 and reached the NCAA College Cup semifinals. A defender, Wilkins scored seven goals and collected 18 assists and was named NSCAA first-team All-American and to the Soccer News All-America first team in 1993. A head coach since 2001, including at Wisconsin since 2007, Wilkins has led her programs to 12 NCAA appearances, including College Cup appearances in 2002 and 2005. She led Penn State to the College Cup in 2002, she became the first person in NCAA history to both play and coach in the event. Wilkins is third in Big Ten history in career wins (270) and second all-time with eight Big Ten titles including three tournament championships.
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Established by the Women's Sports Foundation, NGWSDÂ celebrates the accomplishments of female athletes, recognizes the influence of sports participation for women and girls and honors the continued progress towards equal opportunity for women in sports.
Â
Registration for the panel, which is scheduled for Feb. 2 at 6 p.m., is now open. Space is limited so be sure to sign up today to hear our panelists discuss the impact of sport in their lives and their efforts to create similar opportunities for the next generation. To register for free, please click here!
Â
Below is more information on the panel:
Â
Jenny Dell – Class of 2008
Dell, who was a BDIC major at UMass with a concentration in Sport Event Marketing & Operations, was NESN's on-field reporter during the 2012 and 2013 World Series Championship season before joining CBS Sports' NFL and College Football coverage as a sideline reporter. In the football offseason, she hosts "Campus Eats" on Big 10 Network.Â
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Hannah Burnett – Women's Lacrosse – Class of 2018
Burnett, a three-year letterwinner with the women's lacrosse team, helped the program to Atlantic 10 Tournament titles in 2016 and 2017 and was also a two-time A-10 All-Conference First Team selection as both a junior and senior. Burnett got involved in the NFL as an event operations intern with the Buffalo Bills in 2017, and also served as a player personnel assistant in the NFL office. After working with the Atlanta Falcons in a variety of player personnel roles, she was hired by the New York Giants as their Midlands scout in 2020, the first woman in a full-time scouting position in franchise history. Â
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Pam Bustin – Field Hockey – Class of 1990
Bustin was a four-year letterwinner with the field hockey program, where she helped the program to four straight NCAA appearances, highlighted by a national semifinal appearance in 1987. The head coach at Duke since 2011, Bustin is a two-time ACC and NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year and a member of the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame. Bustin was also the head coach of the United States National Team in 2008, guiding the organization to its first Olympic appearance since 1996.
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Heather MacLean – Women's Track and Field and Cross Country – Class of 2017
MacLean was a three-time All-American at UMass and a finalist for 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year. MacLean became UMass' first women's cross country All-American in 2017, and was also a four-time NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary qualifier, eight-time New England champion and 10-time Atlantic 10 champion on the track. For her work in the classroom, MacLean was a six-time A-10 Academic All-Conference honoree and was among 10 graduating seniors honored for exemplary achievement, initiative and leadership as 21st Century Leaders during UMass' Undergraduate Commencement in 2017. MacLean now races professionally for New Balance.
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Rachael Rollins – Women's Lacrosse – Class of 1994
Rollins, a former captain for the UMass women's lacrosse team who scored 70 goals and 19 assists during her career with the Minutewomen, is currently the Suffolk County District Attorney and chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. She was the first woman elected as District Attorney in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected to serve in the role in Massachusetts. An attorney for 20 years, she previously worked as a field attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, as an associate at the law firm Bingham McCutchen and as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney's Office in Boston.
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Paula Wilkins – Women's Soccer – Class of 1994
Wilkins was a four-year letterwinner with the women's soccer program, captaining the 1993 squad that went 17-3-3 and reached the NCAA College Cup semifinals. A defender, Wilkins scored seven goals and collected 18 assists and was named NSCAA first-team All-American and to the Soccer News All-America first team in 1993. A head coach since 2001, including at Wisconsin since 2007, Wilkins has led her programs to 12 NCAA appearances, including College Cup appearances in 2002 and 2005. She led Penn State to the College Cup in 2002, she became the first person in NCAA history to both play and coach in the event. Wilkins is third in Big Ten history in career wins (270) and second all-time with eight Big Ten titles including three tournament championships.
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Players Mentioned
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