Lailah Shephard

Dr. Daniels

JCM 180-320

2/6/2024

Forming the Future: Women in Sports Taking Their Futures by the Horns

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—Aspiring college women gathered on campus as part of the

University of Alabama’s Association for Women in Sports Media for a resume workshop hosted

on Jan. 25 that drew in a crowd of eager participants, ready to kick start their careers and prepare

to be the next generation of female sports journalists.

The group’s main goal is to equip female students with the tools and knowledge to pursue

their goals and succeed in the dynamic world of sports.

Angelique Crawford, a program manager from the University of Alabama’s College of

Communication and Information Sciences Career Center, brought her expertise to the group on

Thursday evening in Reese Phifer Hall. Crawford received her Bachelor of Science in 2014 and

Master of Science in 2020 from UA and was keen about the opportunity to talk to ambitious

female students at her alma mater.

Crawford presented an abundance of advice to the group. However, what made the most

impact on the students was the one-on-one time she gave each student after her presentation. She

stressed the importance of resume organization. Her most crucial piece of advice to students was

having a master resume and tailoring a new resume to each job listing you submit.

“A hiring manager is only going to spend six-seven seconds looking over your resume

before making their decision,” said Crawford.

 [Last Name] 2

With her ample skills in resume review and hiring experience, she created an interactive

meeting that encouraged attendees to share their job experience and express questions and

concerns about hiring and intern processes while receiving personalized feedback.

Jennifer Stroud, vice president of UA’s AWSM and a senior public relations student,

brought her sports media specific advice to the crowd. Stroud serves as a staff photographer for

The Crimson White and Alice Magazine and a creative media producer for Capstone Agency.

During her brief presentation, she emphasized the importance of networking and researching the

industry.

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, a great way to build connections and even

score a position is to cold email professionals working in the position you want to hold one day,”

said Stroud.

After the meeting, Madison Hullett, the president of UA’s AWSM, and a senior pre-law,

media, and communication student at UA conveyed a passion for mentoring young students.

Hullett is involved in various organizations on UA’s campus, including, C&IS Ambassadors,

Student Executive Council, and Academic Honor Council.

“I wish I had an opportunity, like this workshop, earlier in my college career to learn

from more experienced mentors to help guide me along my path rather than going in blind,” said

Hullett. “Even as a senior, there were some tips Angelique gave that I hadn’t known about my

entire college career.”

This meeting is one of several meetings UA’s AWSM chapter hosts throughout the

semester. Meetings include collaboration sessions with other campus organizations, guest panels,

and skill building workshops. The organization focuses on building connections among women

in the sports industry both on and off campus.