JSU Arts and Humanities alumna Ashley Cockrell will be returning to her alma mater to help celebrate Women’s History Month. Cockrell was the very first woman to score in an NCAA Division I American Football game with her kick in a home game against Cumberland University. During her time at JSU, Cockrell doubled majored in English and Psychology while playing both soccer and football before graduating in 2003. She looks back on her time in Jacksonville fondly, having said in a 2019 interview with JSU, “Athletics to academics, everything that was a part of my experience here at JSU has helped me become who I am today.” Cockrell is currently the Head Women’s Soccer coach at Webber International University; she previously worked as the Dean of Students at Hillcrest Elementary in Lake Wales, FL, while coaching soccer at Lake Wales High School.

Cockrell will be a keynote speaker at the first event held by the JSU Women’s History Month Committee as she talks about her journey in breaking boundaries and making advancements for women in athletics. Her speech can be heard in person at the Leone Cole Auditorium on March 2 at 4 p.m. or viewed through a live stream of the event; registration for the event can be found here.

The other events planned by JSU Women’s History Month Committee for March 2021 are as follows:

March 3 – Work/Family Balance Panel (12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

March 10 – HERstory of Success: JSU’s Women in Leadership (12 – 12:45 p.m.)

March 12 – Women in Politics Panel (12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

March 15-18 – Empowerment Photobooth Tabling (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

March 29 – Women’s History Month Awards Ceremony (12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)