Women's Sports at U-M
Although U-M women's participation in intercollegiate varsity sports is fairly recent (1973), it has deep roots, going back to the 1890's. Dr. Sheryl Szady (AM '75) has documented its history and been its advocate.
- Sheryl's advocacy for women's athletics began as a student, when she and another student athlete, Linda Laird, lobbied the Board of Regents requesting varsity status for U-M women's sports. Read about it in "Teaming Up," Michigan Alumnus, Summer 2017.
- Sheryl was a member of Field Hockey's Team 1 in Fall 1973. After getting her Physical Education Certificate and BSED in 1974, she went on to earn her Masters in Kinesiology in 1975 and Doctorate in Education in 1987. Her thesis, The History of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women at the University of Michigan, is a source for Bentley Historical Library's feature, "A Sporting Chance: Women's Athletics at the University of Michigan."
- More recently, Sheryl campaigned for varsity jackets for female athletes. For many years, 1973-1991, female varsity athletes received a sweater with a small orange Block M -- they were not offered a leather jacket, like their male counterparts. She successfully lobbied then-new athletic director, Warde Manuel, and the jackets were offered to female varsity athletes. Read more about this initiative, "The Right Varsity Jacket, at Long Last" in Michigan Alumnus, July 2016.
Sheryl has also served on the Kinesiology Alumni Society's Board of Governors, and been awarded the School of Kinesiology's Distinguished Service Award in 2014. Thank you, Sheryl!