Group Rallies for Women’s Athletics

Rory Murray Little, J93, and Lisa Gorman, J81, competed in different Jumbo sports, but they share cherished memories. 

“It was an amazing experience,” said Murray Little, who was captain of the swimming and diving team under legendary coach Nancy Bigelow. “We wanted to be our best, but we also supported each other. We felt like family.” 

Similarly, Gorman recalled that as a basketball captain, she developed skills such as resilience, leadership, and teamwork, which she transferred into her pro­fession. “When I look back on my success, I want to provide those same opportuni­ties for other women.” 

Murray Little and Gorman, members of the Athletics Board of Advisors, are now focused on securing that future as co-chairs of the Women Impact Now (WIN!) Athletics Initiative. The fundraising campaign aims to create an endowment of at least $3 million for long-term, foundational support to benefit women’s varsity teams, club sports, and intramurals and close a historical gap between philan­thropy for men and women student-athletes. Fundraising found early momentum over the past year, bolstered by the first WIN! Athletics Leadership Forum.

Alexis Mastronardi, deputy director of athletics, said about 450 women compete in varsity athletics at Tufts each year, and another 900-plus participate in 26 different club sports and a variety of intramurals.

“With an endowment, we can provide resources where they’re needed most,” she said. “It’s thrilling to think about the possibilities,” which could include enhanced travel budgets to compete against top national competition, training equipment and performance technology, nutrition and wellness experiences tailored to women student-athletes, mental health and mindfulness programming, and leadership development and networking opportunities.

“Leveraging philanthropy and the gifts of former Jumbos and people who feel passionately about Tufts athletics allows us to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience,” said lacrosse coach Courtney Shute. “Ultimately, that is what we’re all striving for within the Department of Athletics.”

Gorman and Murray Little underscored the lifelong positive impact of athletics participation, which helped them thrive personally and professionally. Murray Little followed an M.B.A. with a business-tech career; today she is vice president at a data analytics firm. Gorman went on to be the first woman to make partner in a previously all male law firm.

“We see WIN! as an opportunity for alumnae to reflect on what their Tufts experience was like and to pay it forward for future generations,” Gorman said. “If we can grow student athletes who have skills that translate into success in life, then we’re aligned with the university’s goals to help students achieve their fullest potential.”

To learn more, contact Mark Adzigian, director of development for athletics, at 617-627-0376 or mark.adzigian@tufts.edu, or visit go.tufts.edu/win.