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CEHD Faculty Honored for her Contributions and Research on the Issue of Gender Equity in Sport
August 25, 2026
Jacqueline McDowell, associate professor in the Sport Management and Sport and Recreation Studies Programs at George Mason University, was recently named recipient of "The Legacy Award and Fund by Women in NASSM (WIN) and Dr. Brenda G. Pitts." In being selected for this award, McDowell was honored for the high-quality and consequential research she has conducted in the field of sport management focusing on the intersectional experiences of women, particularly Black women and girls, whose leadership is often underrecognized.
Photo by John Boal Photography
McDowell, who also serves as assistant dean for faculty success within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), shared her thoughts on what it personally means to her to be chosen for this award. She stated, "Being selected for this award is deeply meaningful to me. I have built my career with intention by centering equity and amplifying voices that are too often overlooked in sport. To have that work recognized means a great deal, especially because it signals that other scholars in the field see me, see the work I am doing, and value the contributions I am making."
The Legacy Award and Fund recognizes women in higher education who are rising scholars in sport management for their work in championing girls and women in the field. At its core, the award celebrates individuals who advance and share knowledge within the sport management community, while encouraging women to find and pursue their passion for teaching and research. Award recipients receive $500 and are officially announced at the WIN (Women in NASSM) event held during the annual North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Conference, which this year took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Among the many career achievements for which McDowell was honored with the Legacy Award and Fund was her defining accomplishment in serving as lead scholar on the 2024 Acosta–Carpenter Report Update, a landmark study that continues a legacy of informing national and international conversations on gender equity in intercollegiate athletics. In addition, she led a collaborative team of researchers and campus recreation professionals to develop and publish guidelines for advancing gender equity in club and intramural sports. This work was recognized with the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) President’s Award for Research of Distinction, reflecting both its scholarly contribution and practical impact.
McDowell also co-edited a special theme issue on "Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Management Education" for the Sport Management Education Journal, a scholarly publication that focuses on education and curriculum for sport management educators. The special theme issue, published in early 2022, featured contributions from more than 30 sport management scholars whose research and expertise significantly expanded the body of knowledge on inclusive pedagogical practices within this discipline. The idea for the special issue originated with McDowell.
In other areas, the bestowment of this year's Legacy Award and Fund to McDowell highlighted her commitment to equity in the classroom as demonstrated by her success in designing learning experiences that prepare future sport leaders to critically engage with issues of gender equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership. In addition, McDowell was recognized for the contributions she made in serving on the Board of Directors for the Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF), including her role as Secretary of the Executive Board. Throughout her service on the BWSF Board which began in 2017, McDowell has supported initiatives that expand access, leadership, and visibility for Black women in sport. She has also maintained meaningful engagement with NASSM in her capacity as chair of that organization's diversity committee.
At every stage of her academic career, the issue of equity in sports has remained the focal point of McDowell's research priorities. She explained, "My interest in the role of girls and women in sport has served as the primary compass for my academic career. Sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember—everyone in my family played, and those experiences shaped how I came to understand its possibilities. While working in college athletics as a student, I began to see the demographic inequities within athletic administration. Those experiences guided me toward exploring the intersections of race, gender, and class. This foundation has shaped my research, which centers on the lived experiences of women in sport."
McDowell observed that while some opportunities for women and girls in the sport field are increasing, more still needs to be done. She stated, "One of the biggest challenges for girls and women in sport and sport management is that progress doesn’t always feel steady. We have seen important gains in participation and visibility, but there are still real structural inequities that shape who receives access, who gets heard, and who truly benefits from the system. You can see this clearly in college athlete compensation where the gaps often mirror existing gender inequities in sport."
Brenda G. Pitts, the founder of The Legacy Award and Fund, shares these sentiments and points to existing gender inequities in sport management as a motivating force behind her decision to create the award. A highly respected and internationally renowned scholar in sport management and sport marketing, Pitts states, "Women have to organize and develop ways to make sure they are not left out, discriminated against, and otherwise have paths open for as much success as possible." She added, "I have always attempted to go above and beyond to recognize, support, and encourage our newly minted and younger professors in sport business management with a personally sharp focus on women because they are in an academic program area that has traditionally been heavily occupied by males whose primary focus is on a few men’s sports. This created a scenario wherein research on anything outside of men’s college football and basketball, or a few of the men’s professional sports such as the NBA and NFL, was squashed. It was not seen as 'important enough' or it was called 'outside' the real focus of our field."
Pitts credits McDowell for being a leading voice in higher education who helped expand sport management research beyond its long-standing and traditional emphasis on men's college and professional sports such as football and basketball. She stated, "Jacqueline McDowell has centered her research on girls and women’s sports and sport business. This has helped broaden the body of knowledge in our world. It is the work of experts like Jacqueline that helps cut the path for younger academics behind her who will 'see' Jacqueline and her work and will be encouraged to then do their own work."
Pitts described how McDowell's academic work aligns with the vision upon which the Legacy Award and Fund was established. She commented, "Jacqueline’s scholarship and achievements embody the purpose of what I believe The Legacy Award is intended to recognize—honoring a rising scholar, someone who has made important contributions to research and education in sport management with a focus on the experiences and inequities faced by women, girls, and minorities in this field. Jacqueline and her work are the epitome of someone creating a legacy. Her work is significant to the body of knowledge in our field and deserves to be recognized by many. She has accomplished so much in a brief time, and I am confident she will continue to accomplish much more in her career." Pitts added that beyond her academic contributions, McDowell has built meaningful connections between higher education and professionals in the sport business industry, creating pathways for practitioners, and has served as a multicultural champion in the classroom preparing the next generation of sport management professionals to be multicultural champions in their own careers.
Pitts elaborated on McDowell's qualities, both personal and professional, which make her exceptionally deserving to be honored with the Legacy Award and Fund. "I have worked with Jacqueline and know personally how she commits to a project, is a leader, and brings not only her scholarly skills but her deep passion toward supporting, cultivating, and empowering girls and women in sports and sport business. She has a commitment to not just doing research involving girls and women in sports and sport business, but she believes in actively helping and empowering girls and women in sports and sport business. As a part of this practice, she has been involved in many projects in which she works with industry professionals and organizations on issues of diversity and multiculturalism. In other words, Jacqueline doesn’t just talk the talk; she truly walks the walk."
She continued, "Jacqueline stands as a growing tower for whom young professionals see and can hope to emulate. Her research has made significant contributions to the body of knowledge and are works upon which many others will build."
The Legacy Award and Fund was started in 2022 with a $5,000 gift made by Pitts. Since then, funding of the award has been sustained through contributions from members of WIN, in accordance with a "pay it forward" philosophy upon which The Legacy Award and Fund was founded. Pitts explained, " I chose the word 'legacy' specifically because I want to instill in the hearts of everyone the idea that their work has the potential to become a legacy for others behind them; and to think about caring for and helping everyone with this path. So, I made the award a 'fund' with the message that I want everyone to be invested in their career and their legacy, but also with the purpose to build and hold the ladder in place for others behind them—that they have the responsibility to be aware of their place, and their work, and their job to help those around them."
McDowell reinforced this view as she remarked, "Beyond recognizing individual accomplishments, what makes this award especially meaningful is its focus on community. It’s really about encouraging women to support, uplift, and invest in one another, while also helping to build a sustainable fund that supports future generations of women scholars."