Central Islip, N.Y. -The latest ECC On Campus focuses on one of our newest members, the University of the District of Columbia. Though relatively new to the ECC, the Firebird athletic department has a rich history that they continue to build on today. Through written and recorded interviews, this feature will take a look at some of the positive people, activities, and acheivements that are connected to the athletic programs at UDC.
Current Student-Athlete: Janelle Junior, Women's Basketball
Janelle Junior’s family always focused on academics first
and then athletics as she was growing up. Her decision to
attend the University of District of Columbia to study and play
basketball after beginning her athletic career at San Bernadino CC
in California was not an easy one. However Janelle felt that
the opportunity to move to the East Coast and especially
Washington, D.C. from her hometown of Riverside, California was the
right one after she met Coach Jay Butler and several of her
future teammates during her recruiting trip to UDC.
On the court, team captain Janelle finished second on the team
in scoring and she is also doing the job in the classroom. An
Administration of Justice major, Janelle has a GPA which stands
over 3.7 and had a perfect 4.0 last spring. Following graduation,
she hopes to find a career in Homeland Security and is considering
starting that path by entering the Air Force. A leader on the
court, Janelle also brings those talents to her involvement in
activities on campus, especially on the UDC SAAC where she serves
as Secretary.
Janelle has clearly made an impact in her short time at UDC, as
shown by what the UDC athletic staff had to say:
Janelle is a team captain and standout on the women’s
basketball team. She is an exceptional leader and role model
for younger team members and other student-athletes. She
serves as secretary of the UDC SAAC and is very active in that
capacity. …Janelle is a leader on the court and in the
team’s community service efforts. The women’s
basketball team won the Competition Cup at UDC, which is an annual
award presented to the program that has the highest average GPA,
participates in the most community service, and exhibits the
highest school spirit by attending other team’s athletic
event. Janelle was a driving force behind the women’s
basketball community service efforts and their Competition Cup
victory.
As she notes in this January 2013 interview, Janelle’s
experience as a student-athlete and leader at UDC has had a big
impact on her and she has had a positive impact on UDC as well.
Janelle, can you tell me why you chose to attend
UDC?
I chose UDC because of its women’s basketball program. I
didn’t know about the school really because I am from the
west coast. Besides the fact that I wanted to move away from what I
was used to and explore something new, my coach and future
teammates made me feel really welcome when I came to visit the
school. I liked the atmosphere of Washington, DC as well. After
knowing I could receive a good education from the school, I decided
that this was the place for me.
Why did you get involved in SAAC at UDC? Are you
involved in any other extracurricular activities?
This is my first year being a part of SAAC. I was chosen by my
coach to be a representative in SAAC and I quickly became the
secretary for it. I’m glad I am a part of SAAC, because it
gives me the chance to make a difference on campus and in the
community and to express concerns to the higher-ups in our athletic
department about my concerns as a student-athlete and those of
others who are on teams.
As a leader in SAAC, what are some of the important
projects you have been involved in while at UDC? Why are these
important efforts?
At the start of the semester, we put on a back-to-school event for
the student-athletes where we had an ice cream social and then a
pick-up volleyball game afterwards. We were doing this to welcome
back current students and welcome new team memers.
Also, this year we helped out with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We
sold bracelets and donated all the money to the foundation. We also
plan on doing another welcome back party at the start of our spring
semester and doing a food drive this year.
Why are athletics important to you?
Athletics are important to me because they are in my blood. My
mother and father were athletes, even though neither one of them
played basketball, they still instilled that competitive drive in
me. Sports are just fun to me, and I love playing basketball. I
don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t playing
basketball. It has brought me a long way in my life and has allowed
me to travel and meet new people. I think sports are important to
be involved in, because it can teach life lessons and overall just
keeps you in shape.
Why should students and student-athletes attend
UDC?
I think people should attend UDC because it is a diverse campus
and you can experience the city life by attending the university.
If people like a small setting type of university where you can
really get to know your teachers and receive a good education, then
UDC is also the place for them. Our sports programs are pretty
successful and will get better in the future as well.
To hear the full interview with Janelle, click on the link below.
Former Student-Athlete: Amadou Gallo Fall ('93), Men's Basketball
The story of Amadou Gallo Fall’s journey to the U.S., the
University of the District of Columbia and now to an important
leadership position with the National Basketball Association is one
of hard work, determination and achievement. Growing up
in Senegal, Amadou began playing basketball as a teenager with the
Dakar University Club. While attending a clinic, he met a
representative from the Peace Corps who helped him learn of an
opportunity to enroll at UDC on a basketball scholarship.
A 6-foot-9 center, Fall started in all 30 games for University
of the District of Columbia in the 1989-90 season, during which he
averaged 6.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per-game for the Firebirds.
His career was cut short due to a wrist injury, but he went on to
graduate magna cum laude in 1993 with a degree in Biology.
Upon graduation, Fall went on to work for the Ministry of Youth
and Sport and the Senegalese Basketball Federation. He helped build
a strong squad which won the 1997 African Championship and
went on to participate in the 1998 World Championship. Building
contacts and knowledge in international basketball, Amadou was
hired in 1998 to be a scout for the Dallas Mavericks. He moved from
that job to the role of Director of Player Personnel and Vice
President of International Affairs, and served in that capacity for
12 years. In 2010, Fall was appointed Vice President of Development
for the NBA in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he leads the
NBA’s efforts to develop and promote basketball in
Africa.
As Amadou notes in an article discussing the NBA and Africa
partnership, “The opportunity for basketball in Africa is
tremendous and we are poised to use the excitement of the NBA brand
to grow the sport. NBA Africa offers an exciting proposition to all
partners looking for a fresh global sports property that is
committed and deepening its roots in Africa.” His
work was the focus of a recent piece on CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2013/01/28/inside-africa-senegal-basketball-a.cnn
In this interview podcast taped in January 2013, Amadou discussed
his time at UDC and what those experiences meant to him and his
personal development including the chance to meet and study with a
really diverse group of students and professors and to play the
game he had come to love. He also spoke about his work in pro
basketball and especially the exciting opportunities he has with
NBA Africa. One of the big efforts Amadou discusses in this
interview is the work the NBA is doing in developing the game
through the program “Basketball Without Borders”
a developmental program that goes beyond the sport to encourage
education and social responsibility. The program also is
aimed at improving the quality of basketball in
Africa by working with coaches, athletes and officials and to
also use basketball as a tool for
development.
A true man of the world, Amadou Gallo Fall has not forgotten his
time at UDC and what that meant to him and the person he is
today. He is committed to helping others grow and flourish
and have a chance to gain opportunities to become successful.
To hear the interview with Amadou, click on the links below.
Amadou Gallo Fall Interview - Part One
Amadou Gallo Fall Interview - Part Two
Faculty Member with Outstanding Support for Athletics: Sandra Jowers-Barber, Ph.D.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber has been teaching history at UDC since
2006. She received both her doctorate in US History and her
MA in Public History from Howard University and along with teaching
duties at UDC, she also coordinates the History Program and directs
the Oral History Project.
When asked to suggest a faculty member at UDC who has made
an impact both in the classroom and in support of student-athletes,
Athletic Director Patricia Thomas and her staff were quick to
nominate Dr. Jowers-Barber:
Dr. Jowers-Barber goes above and beyond to mentor student-athletes
and motivate them to reach their potential. She is currently
mentoring two of our student-athletes and has mentored others in
the past. She is presently assisting Milton Colquehoun
(History major) of men’s basketball as he prepares for
graduation and a career as a history teacher in the greater
Washington, D.C. area. She is also working with Mario Banegas
(double major in Political Science and History) of men’s
soccer as he attempts to acquire an internship on Capitol Hill and
prepares to attend graduate school. Dr. Jowers-Barber continues to
stay in contact in a mentorship capacity with women’s
basketball student-athletes, Julissa Anderson and Janelle
Junior. She teaches the student-athletes to use the
leadership skills they gain from collegiate athletics and transfer
it to the real world. She is an avid fan of our basketball programs
and attends many home contests.
In the attached podcast interview that was completed in January
2013, Dr. Jowers-Barber discusses some of her work as a professor
and historian at UDC including the Oral History Project which gives
students a hands on experience with the history of their
communities. She is a “Public Historian” –
dedicated to engaging her students and helping them see
that history is learned both in the classroom and outside that
space, too. The Oral History program connects students with
other individuals in the campus and surrounding communities, where
they document and chronicle the changes and developments that have
impacted these areas. She is also involved in an ongoing
research project that focuses on documenting and interpreting the
history of the African American deaf community. Along with
her academic work at UDC, Dr. Jowers-Barber spoke about her
involvement with athletics at the University as well as what makes
UDC a special place.
Dr. Jowers-Barber was asked about this mentor role,
helping UDC student athletes as they finish their studies and
prepare for career or future academic pursuits. How and why did you
take on this mentor type role?
I have been very fortunate to have had informed and caring
advisors while an undergraduate. I also had and continue to have
excellent mentors. They provide invaluable professional guidance
and possess wonderful listening skills. I always knew that those
two individuals, advisors and mentors, were keys to student
success. I thought that former Georgetown coach, John Thompson,
Sr., had it right when the team’s academic advisor, Mary
Fenlon sat on the bench with the team.
Do you have any special connection to athletics in
general? If so, where does that come from?
I am a great sports fan and ran track in junior high school. I
wasn’t gifted enough to go further but my parents always
stressed education and the importance of it over any skill in
sports. I often heard the statement, “If you break your leg
you are finished. If you have a great education you can always
soar.” Additionally, I always felt that student athletes were
unfairly burdened. Many times they battle the stigma of being
viewed as “athletes but not scholars.” They are one of
the populations on campus where the student body knows how well
they did in their respective sports, especially if it were
basketball or football, and how well they do academically,
especially if they do not graduate on time. I want my students to
understand that being gifted and talented in sports should be
balanced with being gifted and talented in academics. At a minimum
the same amount of practice that goes into their sport should be
given to their courses. The same amount of thought that goes into
understanding play diagrams and learning patterns should go into
developing career plans and making academic to become the best they
can be in their sport.
Can you briefly discuss what you think the place is of
athletics at a university? What do you see as the value based on
your experience of working with some of the student
athletes?
I think that athletics is a valuable asset for a university. It
allows students to support fellow students in sports that build
community, team pride and for many institutions provide national
recognition that translates into added revenue. …. Athletics
has provided a pathway for a college education. When student
athletes are positively motivated to be students first and then
athletes and are given the appropriate mentoring and advising they
can bring renown to the institution and obtain an education. I
think that we are in an age when there is more scrutiny of college
student athletes and their ability to graduate in a timely manner
and I think that is a good thing.
Why is UDC a good school to teach at and a good place for
students to attend?
The University of the District of Columbia looks at the entire
student and provides a holistic education. We are concerned with
cultivating a global student who can navigate locally with the
ability to provide answers to large questions affecting their
neighborhoods and the city as a whole. The faculty who support
those goals are constantly refining, enhancing and providing
challenging and engaging pedagogy that seeks to assist students in
thinking critically, writing clearly and forming creative solutions
to 21st century issues.
To hear the full interview with Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, click on the links below.
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber Interview - Part One
Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber Interview - Part Two
Community Engagement: UDC Men's Soccer Hosts Second Annual Youth Day
At the University of the District of Columbia, UDC
student-athletes are rigorously encouraged
to pursue community service and engagement as part of their
participation in
sports programs. Both UDC and the East Coast Conference create
each year a series of
events to support the community including ongoing efforts with the
Make-A-Wish
Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. UDC Athletics is truly
committed to making a difference in their Washington D.C.
community.
As part of their efforts in the community, this past fall, the
University of the District of Columbia men’s soccer team
hosted its second annual Youth Day event on Saturday, September
15th prior to its East Coast Conference clash with LIU Post.
Over 30 of the area’s youth soccer players came to UDC Soccer
Field to participate in the event, and several served as ball
runners during the Firebirds’ afternoon game.
Second-year head coach Matt Thompson and his assistant Danny
Wadeson welcomed the participants and introduced them to the
Firebirds team. From 12:30-1:30 p.m., the coaching staff and
players hosted a skills clinic which focused on passing, receiving,
possession, shooting, and short sided games. The Firebirds players
worked with small groups to teach the young, eager players the
sport’s fundamentals.
Following the skill session, there was an open forum for the youth
players and the Firebird team members to socialize. The Firebirds
signed autographs and posed for pictures with the youth players as
did the Firebird mascot.
Many of the event participants stayed to take in the
Firebirds’ ECC slate with No. 17 ranked LIU Post, including
several who served as ball runners on both sidelines.
“The Youth Day event was a huge success. The feedback I got
was that the kids thoroughly enjoyed the entire day,”
Thompson said. “We really benefitted from having them there
cheering us on during the game as well. They really rallied behind
us as we battled a man down, and that was a really great thing to
see.”